A look into the mobile gaming market in Malaysia

Mobile gaming has skyrocketed around the world in popularity in recent years, with more people than ever trying their hand at a range of different games. Malaysia is one of the regions that has seen the highest demand for mobile gaming since its advent.

Globally, the ubiquity of smartphones, the expansion of consoles, and the virtual communities that are built due to these, have all contributed heavily to the rise of the mobile gaming market. But how has this manifested in Malaysia? 

The History of Mobile Gaming in Malaysia

The mobile gaming market began to grow rapidly in Malaysia due to the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), which began taking strides to digitally modernize the country and economy in 1996. From this point on, focus was placed on developing the mobile and video games industries, making this sector one of the fastest expanding across Southeast Asia.  

Due to the relatively new nature of mobile gaming, the Malaysian government recognise that the industry is still in its infancy, and understand the need to nurture it. In the past 20 or so years, resources and money have been funnelled into the online games market, resulting in international recognition and interest from major players in the sector, such as Sony, Nintendo, and AsiaSoft.

The Malaysian Mobile Gaming Market

Both men and women enjoy mobile gaming in Malaysia; in fact, nearly as many women as men take part in the activity. Most gamers fall into the younger age groups, with only small numbers of people aged 44 and up having an interest. The most common age range is, unsurprisingly, 25 to 34, followed by 35-44. 

The 2021 Southeast Asia Game Industry Report remarked that Malaysia’s mobile gaming market was valued at US$786 million, making it the third-largest market in Southeast Asia. Across the region, there are approximately 250 million mobile gamers, mainly based in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Vietnam. From these 250 million mobile gamers, 6.8 million reside in Malaysia. Considering the population sits at about 33.5 million, a significant proportion are interested in online gaming.

Popular Games in Malaysia 

A huge breadth of online games are played across Malaysia. The most popular games are similar to those most-played in other countries in Southeast Asia: RGPs, casino and betting, strategy, battle royale, battle arena, and casual. 

Casino and Betting

The growing popularity of casino sites available recommended by business2community.com in Malaysia makes sense, as there are not many land-based casinos for citizens to visit. By downloading a casino or betting mobile game, or visiting an online casino from their phones, users can play a range of classic games, such as poker, roulette, slot machines, baccarat, blackjack, and more. 

Esports 

As well as more traditional online games, Malaysia also has a huge market for Esports. The country boasts some of the world’s most talented Esports athletes, and puts on regular competitions and tournaments. The Malaysian government also seems keen to nurture this industry, recently putting US$4.5 million from the national budget to develop up and coming Esports players.

Role Play

Role playing games, wherein the player takes on the role of a character in a fictional universe, are very popular in Malaysia, both in solo and multiplayer settings. Some of the most played mobile role play games nationally include Avatar World: City Life, Pokémon GO, and Burger Please!.

Battle Royale 

Some of the most-played games in Malaysia fall into the battle royale genre, such as Players Unknown BattleGrounds (PUBG). Similarly, battle arena games are also well-liked here. These games also involve a degree of strategy and are often multiplayer. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is one such example of an arena game, and is played by gamers across SE Asia. 

How Games are Played in Malaysia

The majority of gamers in Malaysia use their smartphones, which is down to their affordability, the fact that they can be used while on the go, and the accessibility of mobile data or WiFi across the country.

Although mobile gaming is most common, gaming using computers or consoles is still a popular choice. Approximately US$168 million of Malaysia’s gaming market size comes from PC or console games, showing that it still holds a considerable amount of sway amongst the population.

An interesting trend relating to game-playing in Malaysia is the number of people who enjoy watching others’ games through live streams. Live streaming saw one of the highest revenue growth rates in the market, moving from US$20.65 million in 2017 to a predicted US$105.4 million by 2027. People who enjoy watching games and joining in on discussions do so using both smartphones and PCs or consoles.

Why is Mobile Gaming Popular in Malaysia?

There are multiple reasons that can explain the uptake in mobile gaming in Malaysia. Firstly, the technological advancements that have been made in the country, and across Southeast Asia, have made mobile gaming more accessible than ever before. The introduction of 5G, high-speed WiFi, new Android and iOS smartphones, cloud technology and more, have all played a role.

The Malaysian economy has also grown, meaning that the general population have more disposable income compared to even 20 or 30 years ago. Statistics have shown that the population who take part in mobile gaming are happy to spend money on it. The average person in Malaysia spends US$290 on culture and recreation, and US$21 on online gaming.

Although the mobile gaming market is still relatively new, local game developers and companies have started to emerge. This has helped to boost the economy, but also provide a uniquely Malaysian gaming experience for the population. Local developers understand what their country wants from a game, and can provide this.

Local game companies and publishers have been able to see success in part due to the support given by the Malaysian government. As mentioned, the MDEC are committed to growing the digital economy of the country, and this means investing in the mobile games market. In addition to this, initiatives have been created to sponsor talented gamers, promote Malaysia as a gaming destination worldwide, and foster opportunities that integrate gaming and academia.