First/Third Person Shooters accounted for the largest share of Malaysia's $31.55M esports market in 2024, with a projected CAGR of 24.86% through 2032.

Malaysia Esports Market Reached $31.55M in 2024

Malaysia's esports market was valued at $31.55 million in 2024, according to DataBridge Market Research's "Malaysia eSports Market to 2032" study, which uses 2022 as its base year and covers a forecast period from 2024 to 2032. The market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.55% over this period, reaching an estimated $119.28 million by 2032.

The study segments the market by game type (First/Third Person Shooters, Multiplayer Online Battle Arena, Battle Royale, Real-Time Strategy, Fighting, and others), by revenue stream (sponsorships and direct advertisements, media rights, merchandise and tickets, publisher fees, and others), and by e-platform (PC/console-based and mobile-based). The $31.55 million figure represents the total market value across all segments in 2024. The growth trajectory reflects expanding viewership, increasing tournament prize pools, and rising corporate investment in Southeast Asia's esports ecosystem.

Revenue (USD Million) (USD Million)Source: Orionmano Industries

FPS/TPS: The Leading Game Segment

First/Third Person Shooters generated $7.99 million in revenue within Malaysia's esports market in 2024, making it the largest game segment by a significant margin. This $7.99 million represents roughly 25% of the total $31.55 million esports market, underscoring the dominance of competitive shooting titles in Malaysia's gaming culture.

Critically, FPS/TPS is also the fastest-growing game segment in the market. DataBridge projects a CAGR of 24.86% for the segment over the 2025–2032 forecast period, outpacing the overall market's 23.55% growth rate. This dual status—largest segment and fastest-growing—positions FPS/TPS as the primary engine of Malaysia's esports expansion. The segment's growth is fueled by the sustained popularity of titles such as Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, and Call of Duty: Mobile, alongside the emergence of regional tournaments and grassroots competitive circuits that draw both players and viewers.

CAGR (%) (%)Source: Orionmano Industries

Revenue Streams: Sponsorships Dominate, Media Rights Accelerates

Breaking down the $31.55 million total by revenue stream, sponsorships and direct advertisements generated $19.22 million in 2024, making it the largest single revenue segment. This figure, which accounts for approximately 61% of total market revenue, highlights the centrality of brand partnerships and advertising in monetizing esports viewership in Malaysia. Major sponsors include telecommunications providers, consumer electronics brands, and energy drink companies that leverage tournament broadcasts and live events to reach young, digitally native audiences.

Media rights represent the fastest-growing revenue stream, with a projected CAGR of 23.63% over the 2025–2032 forecast period. This growth slightly trails the FPS/TPS game segment's 24.86% CAGR but remains above the overall market average. The acceleration in media rights revenue reflects increasing competition among streaming platforms and broadcasters for exclusive rights to Malaysian esports tournaments, as well as the expansion of paid subscription models and advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) content. As FPS/TPS tournaments draw larger audiences, media rights for these events are expected to command premium pricing, creating a reinforcing cycle between game segment growth and revenue stream expansion.

Forecast: Market to Nearly Quadruple by 2032

If the projected 23.55% CAGR holds, Malaysia's esports market will grow from $31.55 million in 2024 to $119.28 million by 2032—nearly quadrupling in less than a decade. This trajectory implies a market volume increase of approximately $87.73 million over eight years, driven by sustained growth across all segments.

The FPS/TPS segment is expected to maintain its position as both the largest game segment and the fastest-growing, with its 24.86% CAGR exceeding the market average. Should this differential persist, FPS/TPS's share of the total market could expand from its current 25% to a larger proportion by 2032. Meanwhile, media rights—growing at 23.63%—are likely to close the gap with sponsorships and direct advertisements as the dominant revenue stream, though the latter will remain the largest in absolute terms for the foreseeable future.

Key structural factors support this outlook: Malaysia's high mobile and internet penetration rates provide a broad base for esports participation and viewership; the country's multilingual population and strategic location in Southeast Asia make it a hub for regional tournaments; and government initiatives promoting digital sports and creative industries have begun to attract investment. However, the growth trajectory assumes continued infrastructure development, stable regulatory conditions, and sustained consumer spending—variables that merit close monitoring by stakeholders.