eSports, also known as electronic sports, has been gaining momentum in Indonesia in recent years. This type of sport that relies heavily on video games, the internet, and electronic devices such as consoles, PCs, and smartphones or tablets has redefined the field of sport and its boundaries. The need for eSports players to be fast, agile, and strategic is cited as some of the factors that make it comparable to other physical sports. The industry is experiencing an upward trend in
and was valued at approximately 9.73 million U.S. dollars in 2023.
From hobby to career
Video games used to be a subcultural pastime before becoming mainstream among Indonesians of all generations and genders. As a growing number of Indonesians became video game fanatics and played video games competitively in various organized eSports tournaments, the industry gained the government’s attention. Government support has accelerated the growth of this already booming industry and led it to become one of the leading
eSports markets in the Southeast Asia region in terms of revenue. In late August 2020, the Indonesian Youth and Sports Ministry and the Indonesian Sports Council (KONI) officially recognized eSport as a sports field while inaugurating the Indonesian Esports Central Board (PB ESI). In addition to organizing competitions, PB ESI is dedicated to nurturing
Indonesian eSports athletes and preparing them for bigger tournaments in the international arena.
During the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Phnom Penh, in May 2023, the Indonesian team won three gold and two silver medals in the eSports category. Gold medals were won from the CrossFire and the PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) Mobile, and MLBB women categories.
Indonesia: a hotbed for eSports viewership
The era of eSports as a niche activity for video game enthusiasts has come to an end as more people enjoy streaming eSports for entertainment purposes. With millions tuning in to eSports championships, Indonesia is not only home to some of the best eSports players in the Southeast Asian region but also is building the largest fanbase in the region. As of August 2022, Indonesia garnered approximately 1.6 million
peak viewers on the Indonesian broadcast during the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Indonesia season 10. In addition to watching official eSports tournaments, eSports viewers in Indonesia also watch their favorite eSports players play video games on Twitch. As of January 2024, dapskai was the
most popular Indonesian language Twitch streamer with average concurrent viewers while live amounting to 1,455. However, antv_digimed ranked as the
leading Indonesian language Twitch streamer in terms of total viewership hours, with more than 42 thousand hours during the same period.
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