HANGZHOU, China: The realm of online gaming is stepping into the limelight at this year’s Asian Games, marking its official debut as a recognized event with gold medals up for grabs across seven premier titles.
For years, the Asian Games has showcased various “mind games” like bridge and chess, making the inclusion of esports a logical and highly anticipated addition given its immense popularity and commercial success. Over 30 countries are fielding teams, with South Korea and host China expected to dominate, promising an event that will captivate audiences during the two-week Asian Games.
The esports competition encompasses five PC games and two mobile games, encompassing both multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) and single-player genres. The game roster comprises: League of Legends, Arena of Valor Asian Games Version (also known as Honor of Kings), Peace Elite Asian Games Version (also known as PUBG Mobile), Dota 2, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, Street Fighter V: Champion Edition, and EA Sports FC (also known as FIFA Online 4).
While competition formats vary according to the game genre, gold medals are at stake for each game, intensifying the competitive spirit. Notably, for South Korean players like Lee “Faker” Sanghyeok, a victory at the Asian Games carries an additional incentive – exemption from the otherwise obligatory military service for men.
Esports made its debut as a demonstration sport at the previous Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, and proved immensely popular. Recent projections from Newzoo, a leading global games market research company, indicate a rise in the global player count to 3.38 billion in 2023, a 6.3% increase from the previous year. Mobile gaming is expected to fuel most of this growth, with an estimated 3.79 billion players by the close of 2026.
In financial terms, annual revenues are projected to grow by 2.6% to reach $187.7 billion, with the Asia-Pacific region accounting for 46%, followed by North America at 27% and Europe at 18%. The Middle East and Africa, however, have shown the most significant growth in the sector.
Esports’ presence extends beyond the Asian Games, with notable success in movies and TV shows derived from video games, such as the Super Mario Bros. Movie and HBO’s The Last of Us series. The gaming industry is no longer a niche; it has firmly established itself in the mainstream, capturing the interest and engagement of each successive generation.
Although esports has gained recognition at the Asian Games, its inclusion in the Olympics remains uncertain. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has expressed interest in leveraging video gaming and virtual sports to engage young audiences, as seen with the introduction of skateboarding and surfing at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and breakdancing slated for the 2024 Paris Olympics. However, there are reservations within the IOC about certain aspects of video game culture, particularly content promoting violence or discrimination, setting a clear boundary for potential Olympic inclusion. The IOC’s recent establishment of a formal esports commission underscores its focus on virtual sports, showcasing an interest in blending sports and technology to align with evolving audience preferences.
