Esports is fast becoming a global phenomenon that many people are getting hooked on. With the increasing number of Malaysians who play esports, it’s important for businesses to get involved. In this blog post, we’ll explore the current state of esports in Malaysia and what businesses can do to get started. From hosting tournaments to creating content we will cover everything you need to know to get started in this booming industry.
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Esports in Malaysia Today
The Esports industry is growing rapidly in Malaysia, with the number of fans and participants on the rise. In 2018, there were 44 tournaments held in Malaysia with a total prize pool of RM1 million. This year, the number of tournaments has already reached 58 and the prize pool has increased to RM2 million.
The Malaysian Esports Association (MESA) was established in 2016 as the governing body for esports in Malaysia. They have been working hard to promote esports culture and grow the industry by organising events, working with sponsors, and building relationships with local and international players and organisations.
Esports are becoming more popular in Malaysia thanks to strong community engagement, support from government and private organisations, as well as initiatives by MESA. The market potential is vast – according to Newzoo’s Global Esports Market Report 2019-2020, the global esports market will be worth US$1.5 billion by 2020. With further growth prospects due to increasing investment in new technology that facilitates gaming such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), we can expect esports to continue its expansion in Malaysia over the next few years!
The Growth of Esports in Malaysia
As esports continue to grow in popularity and reach, Malaysia is no exception. Esports has come a long way in just a few years, from a small niche community to one of the most popular spectator sports around the world.
Malaysia’s first major esport event, The Summit 2: The Return, was held back in July of 2016 and saw close to 1,000 gamers from all over Malaysia descend on Kuala Lumpur for some epic competition. While it wasn’t the largest or most prestigious event of its kind at the time, it was an important stepping stone for both the local esports scene and Malaysian gaming as a whole.
Since then, things have continued to grow rapidly for Malaysia’s esports community. In March of this year, Esports Malaysia (then known as MESSAGE Esports) became the first regional governing body for esports in Southeast Asia when they were accepted into International Federation of Professional eSports Associations (IFPESA). This paved the way for more region-wide tournaments and allowed Malaysian teams greater opportunities to compete against teams from other countries.
The success of esports in Malaysia has also caught the attention of international organizations and sponsors. In August, Razer announced that they would be sponsoring MESSAGE Esports as their official regional partner for Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands. This partnership will provide funding and resources towards Malaysian team growth as well as help promote Razer products within the esports landscape.
Esports is continuing to grow in popularity in Malaysia and there is no doubt that the scene will continue to develop in the coming years. With the support of major organizations and sponsors, players of esports in Malaysia and teams are poised to take the world by storm.
The Challenges Facing Esports in Malaysia
Malaysia’s love affair with esports has been going strong for quite some time now, with the country boasting a sizable esports following. However, there are still many challenges facing esports in Malaysia today.
One of the biggest challenges is that Malaysian players lack the proper training and experience to compete at the highest levels. This is because esports in Malaysia is still largely based on amateur tournaments and online leagues, which don’t offer the same level of competitive intensity as professional competitions overseas.
Another issue is infrastructure. Esports organisations in Malaysia struggle to find venues that can accommodate large crowds, meaning they’re often forced to hold their events outdoors or in smaller venues that can’t hold as many spectators. This makes it difficult for Malaysian players to gain exposure and build their name recognition, which is essential if they want to pursue a career in esports.
Thankfully, there are a number of initiatives being undertaken by government bodies and private companies to support esports in Malaysia. These efforts include creating awareness of the benefits of gaming through educational campaigns, sponsoring amateur tournaments and providing financial support for professional teams. If these measures are successful, Malaysia could well become one of the leading countries in esports!
The Future of Esports in Malaysia
According to a report by NewZoo, Malaysia ranks as the fifth most active esports country in the world. The numbers reflect the uptick in popularity of esports in Malaysia over the past few years.
There are plenty of reasons for this surge in interest. The country has a population of over 30 million people, which gives it ample potential esports fans. Additionally, Malaysia’s government is supportive of new industries and sees esports as a valuable opportunity for growth. This investment has led to widespread development and promotion of esports in the country.
Despite this positive momentum, there are still some challenges that Malaysian gamers face. For one, many young people don’t even know what esports are. In order to break through into the mainstream, Malaysian gamers need to engage with traditional media outlets and build an audience on their own terms. They also need to work on building strong sponsorships and partnerships so they can continue to support their careers long-term.
Despite these challenges, Malaysia’s growing interest in esports shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. In fact, it looks like the industry is only going to grow bigger and better in the coming years!
Conclusion
Esports is growing at a rapid pace all over the world, but Malaysia seems to be one of the frontrunners when it comes to its love for competitive gaming. The Malaysian Esports Association (MSEA) has been working hard to promote esports betting in the country and help grow the scene. In March 2018, MSEA announced that it had reached an agreement with Astro Gaming Berhad (AGB), one of Southeast Asia’s largest video game publishers, to operate and manage two official esports betting venues in Kuala Lumpur – the AGI Esports Arena and YOGA Gaming Centre. This move signals major progress for esports in Malaysia, as it demonstrates MSEA’s dedication towards promoting competitive gaming as a legitimate sport and helping local players reach their full potential.