Asia is undoubtedly an esports behemoth with a huge base of both players and followers on multiple games.
Competitive gaming on the continent has flourished manyfold, especially when most physical sports were in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic.
But how much do the trends and the culture around those game differ from the western ones? Let’s explore the most popular esports games in Asia, the countries with the biggest player bases, and how the betting culture developed around them.
The Most Popular Titles
1. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Mobile (PUBG Mobile)
PUBG Mobile was the most popular game among Asian esports competitions back in 2022 and appeared in over 13.5% of all competitions that took place.
The PUBG brand, including Battlegrounds Mobile India, accounted for over 22% of Asian esports competitions. The fact that it is available on mobile phones and easily accessible has been a huge contributing factor to its popularity.
2. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Developed by Moonton, Mobile Legends is a mobile MOBA greatly popular in Southeast Asia.
It is one of the most viewed mobile games, drawing massive crowds for competitions like the Mobile Legends Professional League (MPL) and the Mobile Legends World Championship.
It has been a huge popularity in Indonesia and the Philippines, and it has become a mainstay in the mobile esports scene.
3. Arena of Valor
Another MOBA hit, developed by Tencent Games developed.
It is very popular in countries like China, Thailand, and Vietnam and possesses a strong esports presence in the likes of the Arena of Valor International Championship.
4. Valorant
A PC shooting game, very popular world-wide, but especially in Asia where it is the most viewed esports category for streaming.
The popularity can be partially contributed to Riot Game’s has a significant presence and popularity in the continent, however, that would be an understatement to how well balanced the game is.
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5. League of Legends
Although it is more popular in the West, League of Legends still holds a significant place in Asia.
It is a PC game and a regular in such massive events as the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) and Riot Games’ first massive hit prior to Valorant.
Player Bases
With the market sizes as big as the Asian continent, a few countries hold the biggest numbers of players:
- Vietnam: Even with much smaller population than that of China, up to 75% of the respondents play esports, taking the lead in Asia in esports popularity.
- China: Despite its size, close second is China with 64.4% of respondents playing esports.
- Thailand: Thailand ranks at 60.9%, another massive esports hub.
- Philippines: The Philippines ranks at 57.8% of respondents playing esports, rounding out the top four.
Competition of Devices
Being an industry as massive as esports, it is fueled by the ever-present penetration of smartphones and the easy accessibility of mobile games.
Compared to the US and Europe, however, where PC gaming dominates the esports landscape, mobile games like PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends have become very popular across the Asian continent.
Part of the explanation for this is in the lower hardware demands and the rapid thrill of mobile games which make them appealing to a wider audience.
Esports Betting
Gambling on esports is booming just as much as the games, attracting millions of fans and gamblers to its biggest tournaments.
While exact figures for Asia remain elusive, the international esports gambling market is obviously huge. The broader Asia-Pacific esports market generated estimated $679.3 million in revenue in 2023, while some have estimated that with the rapid growth of esports in Southeast Asia, the projected market size of nearly $30 billion by 2025.
One thing is certain, Millions of dollars are wagered on top events like the League of Legends World Championship and the Dota 2 International.
The Asian esports industry is a rich tapestry of diversity with a strong focus on mobile platforms. PUBG Mobile and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang are currently names on everyone’s lips, while PC-based games like Valorant and League of Legends remain extremely popular.
As the profile of the region can only keep rising higher, it appears that Asian esports will be an incredibly powerful presence in the global gaming fraternity.
For the uninitiated Asian esports fan, discovering these games and their competitions is a revealing window into the culture of gaming there.
