The Respective Status of Esports in Malaysia

Esports is a growing industry that’s attracting fans from all over the world. In Malaysia, however, esports remains relatively unknown. That may be changing, though, as the industry continues to grow and evolve. This blog article looks at the respective status of esports in Malaysia and what it means for the future of the industry. From viewership figures to the impact of sponsorships, read on to learn more about esports in Malaysia and how you can get involved.

Esports in Malaysia

Esports in Malaysia is growing at a rapid pace with professional gaming tournaments, leagues and online gaming becoming more popular. The Malaysian Esports Association (MESA) has been working hard to promote esports as an official sport and ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page.

There is no governing body for esports in Malaysia but MESA is trying to fill this gap by organising state-level championships and tournaments, developing rules and regulations for competitive gaming, setting up academies for talented youths, and engaging with sponsors. There are also grassroots initiatives like the “Malaysian Gaming Championship” which gathers amateur gamers from all over the country to compete in various challenges.

Despite its nascent stage, esports has already gained a lot of popularity in Malaysia. According to data collected by MESA, there were 1,428 spectators who watched a professional tournament live in 2018 alone. This indicates that there is definitely potential for esports to grow even further in Malaysia and become an established part of the culture.

The State of Esports in Malaysia

Esports in Malaysia is unfortunately not as popular as it could be. The Malaysian Esports Association (MESA) only has around 300 members and there are very few tournaments or competitions taking place. In fact, the country’s first professional tournament, the MESSA Cup, will take place in November this year and is expected to attract around 500 participants from all over Southeast Asia. Despite this, there are a number of grassroots initiatives happening to promote esports in Malaysia. For example, the University of Malaya has been running its own League of Legends club for several years now and various schools have also started their own gaming clubs.

However, despite these efforts, esports still faces a lot of challenges in Malaysia. Firstly, the general public is largely unfamiliar with esports and consequently views it as a childish activity. Secondly, the infrastructure is relatively poor which makes hosting big-scale tournaments difficult. Finally, government regulations are still unclear which makes it difficult for esports businesses to get licenses and tax breaks from the authorities. However, with perseverance and a little bit of luck, esports could soon be heading down the same path as golf – one of Malaysia’s most popular sports – and become an integral part of our national sporting culture.

The Growth of Esports in Malaysia

Malaysia is quickly becoming a hotspot for esports with the growth of competitive gaming tournaments and grassroots initiatives. Esports has been growing in popularity across the world, but Malaysia has taken it to another level by hosting professional leagues, attracting large crowds and fostering an active community.

Esports in Malaysia dates back to 2010 when gamers competed in online tournaments. In 2012, Malay game publisher GameLab organized the first Malaysian console league for PC games. The following year, TV3 broadcasted the first Malaysian eSports tournament featuring international players.

Today, esports is thriving in Malaysia with a rapidly growing competitive scene. Professional leagues are held regularly featuring top players from around the world. The Malaysian community is also very active with grassroots initiatives like Dota 2’s MiLAN Masters which brings together amateur and semi-professional teams from across the country to compete for cash prizes. Major tournaments also attract huge crowds which highlights Malaysia’s rising status as an esports hub.

Challenges for Esports in Malaysia

Esports in Malaysia is still an emerging industry and faces a number of challenges. While the country has been making strides in growing esports betting, there are still some areas that need improvement.

One of the main issues facing esports in Malaysia is its classification status. The Malaysian government has yet to officially recognise esports as a sport, which has had a negative impact on the growth of the industry. Without official recognition, it’s difficult for clubs and organisers to get funding from sponsors or government bodies, which limits their ability to grow and expand.

Another challenge for esports in Malaysia is its infrastructure. There are currently no dedicated arenas or stadiums that house professional gaming teams, meaning games are played at public venues such as libraries or schools. This limits the potential audience size and restricts competition quality. Additionally, there is no broadcast licensing system in place, so competitions often lack coverage outside of local regions.

Despite these challenges, Malaysian gamers are determined to make their mark on the global stage. In March 2018, Team Malaya became the first Malaysian team to win a major international tournament when they took home first place at the Dota 2 International Championships (D2IC). This success demonstrates that there is potential for esports in Malaysia to become one of Asia’s leading countries in the field.

Conclusion

Esports is growing in popularity all over the world, but Malaysia has taken it to a whole new level. With professional gamers like Ahsan Mohd Zaki competing and winning competitions, esports betting is quickly becoming one of the most popular pastimes in Malaysia. While some people might see this as a passing fad, there are plenty of hardcore fans who are keeping esports betting firmly planted on the map as a legitimate sport. So what does the future hold for Malaysian esports? Only time will tell!