MALAYSIA is among six Southeast Asian countries that comprise more than 98% of Esports fans in the region.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak said the number of local Esports fans was expected to increase from 1.8 million in 2016 to 2.4 million by year end.

“This shows that the digital sports game industry is on a solid footing and will continue to be the rage among the youths in the country,” he said here today.

He said this at the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between Kitamen Entertainment Sdn Bhd, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and Malaysia Felda Youth Council (MBFM) to develop the Esports industry, in conjunction with the launch of the Kitamen Equity Crowdfunding Campaign.

He said the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of Southeast Asia’s Esports market was expected to be 36.1% between 2015 and 2019, or an increase of up to 19.8 million fans.

Salleh described the growth as the fastest within the period at global level, which involves Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, which are known as the “Big 6”.

He said Newzoo, a firm that specifically studies the Esports industry, reported that the global Esports economy or global digital games market was targeted to increase to US$905.6 million (RM3.5 billion) with global Esports audience reaching 380 million.

On today’s programme, he said the campaign was aimed at promoting the positive aspect of digital games.

“I believe with campaigns such as this, our children or teenagers will play digital games with a responsible and healthy attitude.

“This is a good starting point towards forming a dynamic Esports community ecosystem, in line with the establishment of a more sustainable framework and digital game sector,” he said.

To this end, he said, young people should be given support and acknowledgement by the government and private companies so that such ideas could be underlined and brought to the fore.

He said MDEC through the creative content and technology programme would oversee and continue to support relevant new initiatives and ideas to effectively develop the electronic and digital sports industry nationwide.

Looking at the cooperation, programme and response towards the industry, he believes the initiatives would indirectly boost the country’s tourism industry in promoting Malaysia to the world.

“In the future, we might also see development of the Esports tourism industry,” he said.

Salleh said MDEC would also give its cooperation in the implementation of the digital game application system, digital game competition, and prime digital & electronic expo (PEX) to be held in Kuala Lumpur in November this year. – Bernama, March 8, 2018.