Curious about the Dota 2 coverage and attention in Southeast Asia and Malaysia? We've got you covered.
The Around the World series is designed to explore Dota 2 in various regions across the globe. It aims to highlight the individuality of each region's history, current status, challenges, and progress.
Previously we explored Dota 2's presence in South America, Korea, Japan, and the MENA region. The next stop in our Around the World series is Malaysia.
The Southeast Asian region has blossomed through the years, even earning them the privilege to host The International 2022 in Singapore. However, an International championship title never quite panned out for them. Only two top-three finishes at TI’s through the years are all there is to show for -- Scythe Gaming’s (Singapore) third place at TI1, and Orange Esports' (Malaysia) third place at TI3.
Southeast Asia, Malaysia, and esports
Overall esports interest and involvement across the Southeast Asian region is quite high as the esports and gaming industry is expanding rapidly and becoming more recognized as a source of entertainment.
According to Niko's esports in Asia report published in July 2022, Asia accounts for more than 57% of the $1.1 billion dollar global esports market, and the gaming industry in the Greater Southeast Asia region is estimated to be worth $8.3 billion USD by next year in 2023.
There are approximately 100 million esports viewers throughout Southeast Asia.
Viewers with billions of dollars in worth mean more interest from brands looking to associate themselves with teams and organizations in esports through a range of sponsorship deals.
Global non-endemic brands are seeking (and already have started to) penetrate the market with partnerships such as FWD, Marriot Bonvoy, McDonald's Philippines, Franklin Templeton investment groups, etc.
Although gaming youtube and content creation drive much interest, hype, and viewership, according to Niko, 60% of SEA gamers are strongly drawn to esports, with a preference for games that foster community, teamwork, and competition.
ONE Esports recognizes how their SEA community is one of the most attractive customers to engage with due to their passion, and generosity in their money and time spent consuming esports.
They leveraged that insight and announced a partnership with a global investment management organization Franklin Templeton. As part of the deal, Franklin Templeton sponsored the Wild Rift SEA Championship 2021 in September.
That also leads to an active interest in esports tourism.
For SEA countries to boost their tourism economy, esports is a viable option to bring in visitors. Interest continues to grow to host large-scale international offline tournaments for both teams and fans to travel and experience the atmosphere of a live esports tournament.
Malaysia and Dota 2
When DotA was first launched in SEA, teams and players seemed to be mostly based in Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines. The biggest teams and most well-known players including the likes of MUFC (Malaysia) and Scythe Gaming (Singapore) were invited to compete in the First International event ever in 2011.
A SEA-based team has taken home only two championship titles — Mineski in 2018 at Dota 2 Asia Championships 2018 and TNC at MDL Chengdu Major in 2019.
Despite that being 4-5 years ago, the player base continues to grow with SEA professionals becoming more and more formidable opponents.
Two years ago Djardel Jicko "DJ" Mampusti told GosuGamers that SEA teams are slowly becoming a real threat to the Western and Chinese scene
“I think every year SEA teams are getting better and we are slowly becoming a real threat for the western and Chinese scenes. I remember 5-6 years ago, it was just always a standard for a SEA team to qualify to a LAN event and finish in the last place in the tournaments. Right now a good number of SEA teams have already won international tournaments.”
Last year Carlo “KuKu” Pallad stated
“Right now, I can say that [SEA] teams have improved a lot. Every team has its own coaches, unlike before, where the players had to make every decision.”
At TI2023, GosuGamers got to ask core players Nuengnara "23savage" Teeramahanon and Rafli "Mikoto" Fathur Rahman about the region, and they agreed with what KuKu had previously stated.
What does SEA need to do to get back up there as one of the strongest regions?
Mikoto: Find a good captain and maybe also a good coach. I think all the SEA players have good mechanical skills but they need a captain/leader, need someone to teach them about the game.
23savage: Yeah I agree.
Mikoto: Jabz and SunBhie have been teaching us a lot.
For all of the SEA players, it seems that Malaysia has the most to brag about in terms of accolades.
Former pro player, Wong "ChuaN" Hock Chuan was the first (and only!) Malaysian and Southeast Asian to ever take home the Aegis back in TI2.
Aside from that only Malaysian players that have ever come close to lifting TI once more.
- Players from Orange Esports —Chai "Mushi" Yee Fung, Lee "kYxY" Kong Yang, Khoo "Ohaiyo" Chong Xin, Joel "XtiNcT" Chan Zhan Leong and Lim "Net" Wai Pern— in third place at TI3.
- Tue "ah fu" Soon Chuan with LGD.Forever Young at TI7
- Wei "xNova" Yap competing for PSG.LGD at TI9 with a third-place finish.
- Cheng "NothingToSay" Jin Xiang, playing for PSG.LGD at TI2021 when he came in second place and third place in TI12.
Yet despite the lack of championship titles in the DPC or The International interest is quite high for players and even tournament organizers.
With the Dota Pro Circuit discontinued by Valve, the new competitive season after TI12 is set to commence with a $1,000,000 LAN tournament brought to you by ESL One, in none other than Kuala Lumpur.
This year, local fans will be able to catch FOUR hometown heroes competing; Three from iG —Nothingtosay, JT- and xNova — and Midone on Team Secret.
This is not the first time that ESL DOTA 2 heads to Malaysia. The last time, ESL One Genting 2022, peaked at 363,000 viewers and accumulated nearly 9.68m watch hours, according to Esports Charts.
By all indications, Dota 2 is far from a 'daed game' in Southeast Asia and Malaysia. On the contrary. It continues to grow and flourish. So while the future of Dota 2 and potentially esports, in general, seems to be shrinking in other regions such as North America, the tides are rising in SEA and specifically Malaysia, surging forward to a strong future.
