First/Third Person Shooter games outpace overall esports market CAGR of 23.55% in Malaysia, driven by mobile adoption and tournament viewership.

The First/Third Person Shooter (FPS/TPS) segment generated USD 7.99 million in revenue in Malaysia's esports market in 2024, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.86% over the 2024–2032 forecast period—surpassing the overall market's 23.55% CAGR. This performance cements FPS/TPS as both the largest and fastest-growing games segment in the country's esports ecosystem, a trend underpinned by rising smartphone penetration, mobile-first tournament platforms, and increasing corporate sponsorship commitments.

Malaysia Esports Market Sets 23.55% CAGR Baseline

Malaysia's esports market was valued at USD 31.55 million in 2024, according to Data Bridge Market Research. The market is projected to expand at a CAGR of 23.55% through 2032, reflecting sustained demand driven by youth engagement, government digital infrastructure initiatives, and deepening investor interest.

The revenue architecture of Malaysia's esports market reveals a heavy reliance on sponsorship and advertising. Sponsorships and direct advertisements constituted the largest revenue stream in 2024, generating USD 19.22 million—representing 60.9% of total market revenue. This concentration underscores how brand partnerships and tournament sponsorship deals remain the primary financial engine for the ecosystem, a pattern consistent with other Southeast Asian esports markets at similar maturity levels.

%Source: Orionmano Industries

FPS/TPS: Both Largest and Fastest-Growing Game Segment

The FPS/TPS segment's USD 7.99 million revenue in 2024 accounted for approximately 25.3% of the total market, making it the largest game category by revenue. Its growth trajectory of 24.86% CAGR outpaces the overall market's 23.55% CAGR by 1.31 percentage points—a margin that, sustained over the forecast period, implies the segment will further increase its share of total esports revenue.

Multiple titles underpin this performance. Mobile-first FPS games such as PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Free Fire enjoy deep penetration among Malaysia's 30 million-plus smartphone users. Local tournament circuits, including those organized by the Malaysia Esports Federation (MESF) and private tournament operators, have increasingly structured their 2024–2025 calendars around shooter titles, citing higher viewership and participant registration numbers relative to strategy or battle-arena alternatives.

CAGR (%) (%)Source: Orionmano Industries

Platform Dynamics: Mobile and Tablets Dominate

The mobile and tablets e-platform segment generated USD 15.48 million in 2024, making it the largest platform segment by revenue. It also recorded the fastest growth rate among platforms at 24.03% CAGR for 2024–2032, nearly matching the FPS/TPS segment's pace.

This platform-level data reinforces the FPS/TPS growth story. Mobile-optimized shooter titles have lowered hardware barriers to entry, enabling participation across income brackets and geographic regions. Malaysia's 4G and expanding 5G coverage, alongside affordable handset penetration, has created a receptive infrastructure base. The alignment between the FPS/TPS segment's 24.86% CAGR and mobile platforms' 24.03% CAGR suggests a compound effect: each new mobile user represents a potential incremental audience for free-to-play shooter esports titles.

Revenue Streams: Sponsorships Lead, Media Rights Accelerate

While sponsorships and direct advertisements remain the dominant revenue source at USD 19.22 million in 2024, media rights are emerging as the fastest-growing revenue stream with a CAGR of 23.63% for 2024–2032. This growth rate is second only to the FPS/TPS segment's CAGR.

The acceleration of media rights revenue signals a maturing market. As tournament viewership for FPS/TPS titles scales—driven by streaming platforms such as YouTube Gaming, Twitch, and regional platforms—broadcasters and digital rights holders are bidding for longer-term exclusivity deals. This dynamic creates a feedback loop: higher media rights revenue funds larger prize pools, which attract top-tier teams and international talent, which in turn drives viewership and sponsorship interest.

Government support is amplifying these trends. Malaysia's National Digital Economy and 4IR Council has identified esports as a growth sector, and the MESF has pursued formal recognition of esports as a competitive sport since 2020. Public investments in digital infrastructure, including the JENDELA initiative to expand broadband coverage, directly benefit mobile esports participation and streaming quality.

Outlook: The FPS/TPS segment's trajectory suggests it will remain the primary growth engine in Malaysia's esports market through 2032. Continued expansion depends on three factors: the deepening of mobile-first tournament platforms that lower entry costs for players and organizers; rising sponsorship deals as brands seek access to Malaysia's young, digitally-native demographic; and government-backed digital infrastructure that sustains high-quality streaming and competitive play. If these conditions hold, the FPS/TPS segment could capture an even larger share of a market forecast to grow from USD 31.55 million to a substantially higher figure by 2032.