Esports Booms in Asia and MENA, Generating Over 56% of Global Revenue

Esports is continuing to grow in popularity in Asia and MENA, with a new report from Niko Partners revealing that the regions generated over 56% of global esports revenue in 2022. China remained the Asia and MENA region’s largest market by generating revenues of $445m (~£353m).

According to Niko Partners, the global esports market is estimated to be valued at $1.3bn (~£1bn), with around 742m esports fans in the region last year. Niko Partners calculated the global esports market size based on revenue generated by representative elements of the esports ecosystem, excluding revenue generated by esports game sales, in–app purchases and other microtransactions. It also excluded livestreaming revenue for esports titles and content creators.

The firm noted VALORANT, Dota 2, and League of Legends as the regions’ big three in PC, with Apex Legends also showcasing growth in Japan. In the mobile ecosystem, Asia and MENA are largely dominated by PUBG Mobile (Peacekeeper Elite), League of Legends: Wild Rift and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

Alexander Champlin, Director of Esports Research at Niko Partners, commented: “In 2023, Asia remains the centre of growth for the global esports market, while MENA is becoming an influential global player through high–value investments and high–profile events. Esports businesses are consolidating and focusing their efforts, while demand for esports remains strong. As a result, we expect to see moderate growth in both revenue and audience engagement this year.”