Speaking at a media gathering in Ho Chi Minh City on June 3, Nguyen Tran Son, eSports Manager at VNGGames, confirmed the 2023 figure and highlighted Vietnam’s positive outlook for the sector.

According to a report from Newzoo, global eSports viewership reached 532 million in 2022. Of this, 271 million were occasional viewers while 261 million were regular viewers. Regular viewership is on an upward trend and is expected to reach 318 million by 2025. The average annual growth rate for 2020-2025 is estimated at 8.1%.

Southeast Asia, South-Central Asia, and Latin America are currently the fastest-growing regions, with projected annual growth rates of 27.6%, 23.4%, and 19%, respectively, over the same period. Global eSports revenue is forecast to surpass $1.86 billion by 2025, with an average annual growth rate of 13.4%.

In Vietnam, data from YouGov indicates that by 2023, eSports audiences accounted for 16% of the total population, on par with Indonesia and Taiwan.

The period between 2022 and 2023 witnessed a surge in domestic eSports tournaments in Vietnam, marked by significant improvements in organization, scale, and prize value.

According to Esports Earnings, the total prize pool for local tournaments in 2023 exceeded 41 billion VND (approximately $1.6 million), an increase of 32.26% compared to 2022.

With 2023 revenues at $5.78 million, Vietnam is experiencing stable growth compared to its Southeast Asian peers. In terms of market revenue, Vietnam has surpassed Singapore and is gradually catching up with regional leaders such as Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

The expansion of the eSports ecosystem is creating new value chains involving teams, organizations, companies, and government agencies.

The demand for large-scale eSports events is also driving the development of related industries such as event services, media, and tourism. This growth presents brands with a unique opportunity to engage with a young, highly interactive consumer base.

Nguyen Tran Son emphasized Vietnam’s advantages in eSports development, including a young population, strong gaming culture, and evolving social perceptions of gaming, especially as eSports gain visibility at major sports events like the SEA Games and ASIAD.

Additionally, the rise of eSports is challenging outdated stereotypes and creating new job opportunities in streaming, marketing, and events, while also promoting cultural exchange through community engagement.

Son noted that Vietnam can leverage eSports to foster the digital economy. For instance, the 2022 Worlds tournament held in San Francisco and New York generated $53 million in economic impact, while the 2024 event is projected to contribute an additional £12 million to London’s economy.

eSports also contributes to a new employment ecosystem for the digital economy. Globally, the industry has generated tens of thousands of jobs across content creation (streamers, video editors), event organization, software development, and marketing. In the United States alone, eSports created over 50,000 direct jobs in 2023, a number expected to grow by 20% by 2025.

According to Forbes, the state of Georgia benefitted from $500 million in economic value and 12,000 jobs, with the ripple effect extending to sectors such as technology, media, and tourism.

In Vietnam, eSports is gaining recognition in the education sector, with several formal training programs now in place to meet the growing demand for skilled professionals.

For example, UTM (University of Technology and Management) was the first institution in Vietnam to launch a BTEC-standard eSports program from the UK.

Additionally, the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology will officially enroll students for a Game major starting in September 2024.

Le My