Number of active eSports players Malaysia 2019-2023

Competitive gaming is gaining popularity in Malaysia. In 2023, there were 358 active electronic sports or eSports players in Malaysia in 2023, an increase from fewer than 300 players in 2019. During the five-year period, the country saw the highest number of active eSports players in 2022, with 565 players.

A lucrative profession

Although gaming is often stereotyped as a “nerdy” hobby, professional eSports has started to change the general perception, and many people now see it as a profitable profession. The highest earning eSports player in Malaysia, xNova, managed to accumulate more than two million U.S. dollars in prize money from winning competitions. Malaysian players are also willing to invest on eSports. In a 2023 survey, 25 percent of respondents said they had spent between 500 to 1,000 Malaysian ringgit for eSports.

Government support to boost the eSports industry

With the potential of the eSports industry, the Malaysian government allocated 30 million Malaysian ringgit to support and expand eSports in the country. This was more than twice the allocated budget in the previous year. The Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, also stated in June 2024 that the government is committed in its support for the eSports industry.