Esports Insight will be a regular column focusing on the esports industry in the region. This guest column was written by Drew Holt-Kentwell, former head of global esports at Razer and founder & managing director at Catalyst Esports Solutions.
I don’t think anyone truly knows how quickly esports is growing and how many people are now involved in some way or another. But this series is designed to shed some light on the industry for those people who might be new to competitive gaming as a whole, or perhaps those who have had some knowledge of esports as far as it relates to their own games but would like to know more about how the business at large works. Either way, I hope that the information here will serve to strengthen people’s knowledge, inspire action, and fuel the next group of professionals working behind the scenes to build the future of esports.
The land of opportunity. That’s how some professionals in the esports industry would describe South East Asia (SEA) to you today, if you asked about what the ecosystem is like here, especially following the news that esports would feature at the ASIAN Games moving forward; research now widely claiming the region to be the fastest growing in esports, with some even going as far as to say the number of enthusiasts (people who participate in esports by playing or viewing) here could double this year - Newzoo, 2016
In many ways it’s exciting to sit back and observe the sheer potential in this vast melting pot of cultures that we call SEA esports: the diversity of games, new and old; new platforms threatening to break the mould of traditional esports competition; a rush of new events of all shapes and sizes (for better or worse); and not least, the growing penetration of competitive gaming among today’s youth and their parents, inspiring hundreds of thousands to sit up, take notice, and join this incredible digital revolution we call esports.
Diversity thrives in the Asian market, much like it does in Europe. We’re faced with a myriad of cultures here, each one carefully building a patchwork quilt of esports at home (and abroad) in the best ways it can, some with the help of government, and others forging partnerships in the private sector. But in Asia the geography, languages, practices, laws, quality of internet, wages, all pose various challenges to the cohesiveness of esports across the region. Growing a successful domestic business abroad, for these reasons, is tricky, and therefore can breed insularity. But of course for the driven and ambitious borders are meant to be crossed.
Like anywhere else, the dissemination of esports as a pastime or sport relies largely on access to quality internet and hardware, and a willingness by the local young population to take it up – their capability to watch or read about esports and the subsequent action they take to want to play or replicate the path of their favourite streamers and players. But internet penetration, whilst improving drastically, does not allow everyone the luxury to play from home in Asia (on average): many play for cheap at LAN cafes, which generates a thriving business on its own; it’s easier to engage those customers with activities such as tournaments, or promotions by sponsors.
In the recent year competitive gaming on mobile, be it via games such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Clash Royale, or Arena of Valor, has visibly changed the landscape of esports in South East Asia, and will no doubt continue to do so. Will we see the continued rise of console esports in Asia, as publishers and even sports franchises make their way out east?
In the next article we’ll be addressing professionals in esports directly, providing insight into the realms of competitive play across SEA, some of the ways you can get involved, and exploring what it’s like to embark on the journey of a professional player, and some of the pitfalls that they face from day to day.
Drew Holt-Kentwell has over 11 years of esports industry experience, he is interested in all things esports.
