Singapore – PC and mobile gaming will continue to have notable growth for the next 5 years in the SEA market amidst post-pandemic normalcy and overall economy, according to the latest SEA-6 games market report by market research company Niko Partners.
Data from the report suggests that this increase in revenue is projected in line with the consistent rise of mobile games along with the growth of mobile gamers in SEA, as well as other factors such as the prevalence of esports and government support in the region.
The rise of mobile gaming is made clear as the report states that mobile games are making up 66.4% of the region’s games revenue in 2023, which is expected to increase by almost 70% in 2027.
Notably, Indonesia leads the region’s gamer growth with more than 4% PC and mobile gamers expected over the next 5 years. Meanwhile, Thailand and Vietnam lead the mobile games revenue growth, with more than 7% growth over the next 5 years. On the other hand, Singapore shows a particular growth for its mobile games’ revenue, surpassing more populous countries including Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam.
Another main factor is esports remaining as a major driver for gaming in the region. Esports’ inclusion as a medal sport in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, saw teams from SEA countries’ all vying for the esports medals, with Thailand and Malaysia among the highest earners of esports medals in the event. With this, the SEA esports market is estimated to generate $78.6 million in 2023.
Lastly, there is now an increased government support in SEA to strengthen the local game industry and ecosystem through various initiatives, funding, and regulatory updates. SEA also sees continuous investments from global game companies, with new offices, collaborations, and growing communities that mark the importance of the region to the video game industry.
Talking about the results, Lisa Hanson, CEO and president of Niko Partners, said, “As a mobile-first market with a huge esports fanbase, Southeast Asia offers tremendous opportunities for global game companies. Their increased presence in the region showcases how promising the Southeast Asia market is.”
“As Southeast Asian countries are culturally diverse, it is crucial for companies to understand there is no uniformed approach and consider the uniqueness of each market”, she added.
