Singapore’s eSports and Gaming Boom

With eSports bigger than ever, Joshua Dylan Goh breaks down the key industry statistics that show that eSports is here to stay in the long run.

Infographic showing the eSports and gaming industry growth globally and in Singapore. Statistics courtesy of Newzoo. INFOGRAPHIC: JOSHUA DYLAN GOH

In recent years, eSports has soared in popularity worldwide and it is no different here in Singapore.

Last year, US market research company, Newzoo, reported that Singaporeans spent $455.8 million on video games. 46 per cent of Singapore’s digital population watch video game content, such as tournament live streams and online personalities playing games on platforms such as YouTube.

In a grade-obsessed nation such as Singapore, gaming is largely frowned upon by the older generation, often lamenting it as a source of distraction from more important things such as studying. However, the advent of the Internet has changed people’s view of gaming.

Glenden Yeo, the head of Logistics, Operations, Community and Public Relations at Singapore Cybersports and Online Gaming Association (SCOGA), said: “Singaporeans are definitely more accepting of gaming in recent years. Both parents and youth are starting to grasp the concept of gaming being more than just the simple and physical act of playing video games.”

“My mom is open and supportive of me taking part in gaming events. As long as I’m able to balance my time studying and practicing, she has no problem with it,” added Li Zibin, 18, a Ngee Ann Polytechnic student who frequently takes parts in local eSports events.

A filled-out Singapore National Stadium during One eSports’ DOTA 2 (game) event in 2019. It was Singapore’s first time hosting a major eSports event. PHOTO CREDIT | ASIAONE

SCOGA is one of the front-runners in the eSports industry in Singapore. It is a non-profit organisation founded in 2008 with the goal of developing the local eSports scene, nurturing leaders through eSports and bringing the gaming community together.

They host many events throughout the year from smaller-scale events in partnership with different Community Centres (CC) in different neighbourhoods to larger-scale events such as ‘Campus Legends’, an annual gaming event where teams from different tertiary institutions compete against each other.

“Through Campus Legends, I’ve met many like-minded people who enjoy playing the same game, some of which have become my friends. The experience has also taught me to better communicate and work with others too,” Zibin added.

These events are more than just competitions where people pit their skills against one another. People are also open to meeting others and who share the same interest as them and just enjoying themselves.

“Often during these events, you see competitors of different ages and backgrounds chatting with one another and having a laugh. Gaming is truly a universal language that brings people together,” said Chia Kai Zer, a ground staff at SCOGA that helps run events.

Just last year, Razer, a home-grown gaming peripheral company that is now based in the US, announced that it would be committing $10 million to help grow the local eSports industry.

The flourishing global eSports’ scene has opened new gateways for local companies to find its way to the international landscape.

Companies such as Secretlab, a gaming peripheral company best known for their gaming chairs was founded in 2014 by two Singaporeans and based in Singapore. Despite Secretlab being a relatively young company, the ever-growing industry has allowed it to grow into a well-acclaimed, internationally known company that provides gaming chairs for large eSports events and is a sponsor for many major eSports organisations such as Cloud 9 and many others.

International eSports’ events often sell out an entire stadium with die-hard fans travelling from all over the world to support their team. PHOTO CREDIT | ESL

With the internet being accessible by virtually everyone, gaming and eSports have grown from a niche interest to a booming global industry. Newzoo reported that eSports had a global audience of 454 million in 2019.

eSports has grown and finds itself in popular culture, large corporations have turned their attention to it. Many non-gaming related companies such as Red Bull, Uber, Nissan and many others have heavily invested into the industry. According to Newzoo, US$655 million (S$910 million) was invested in eSports. Last year, Nissan has signed deals to sponsor teams such as FaZe Clan and OpTic Gaming.

“Experts predict that by 2023, the global industry value would surpass US$1.5 billion (S$2.1 billion). Tournaments are upping their game, providing prize pools in millions, per tournament alone,” said Glenden.

The rapidly growing community and industry are due to the high influx of fans. According to Newzoo, in 2017, there was an estimated worldwide audience of 335 million with that number expected to double by 2022 with a predicted audience of 645 million.

As of 2019, Asia-Pacific accounts for more than half of eSports’ audience at 57 per cent and Europe at 16 per cent. With countries such as South Korea and China recognising the potential of the industry and tapping into it early on, through the formation of eSports organisations and hosting major eSports events such as the world championships for a plethora of games. This has led other countries in the region to take notice and Singapore is no exception.

With the industry being relatively young and gaming being more popular than ever, eSports looks like it is here to stay in the long run and will find its way to a mainstream audience in the near future.