Asia
Niko Partners 2022 Asia Video Game Industry Predictions
1. MENA-3 games market revenue will surpass $2 billion in 2022
Niko Partners initiated coverage on Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt for the first time in 2022. We call this region MENA-3 in our reports and expect combined games revenue across all platforms to surpass $2 billion this year. Growth will be driven by higher spending per user, additional government support across games and esports, and more gamers entering the market.
2. India will have over 400 million gamers in 2022āÆ
We predict India will surpass 400 million gamers this year, accounting for over Ā¼ of total gamers in Asia. We also believe that India, theāÆfastest growing market in Asia,āÆwill be the next market to reach $1 billion.āÆNiko Partners has often talked about how the ITV markets, referring to Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, would be the next billion-dollar games markets. These three markets have surpassed $1 billion individually over the past two years.
3. Game approvals in China will restart in early 2022āÆ
Chinaās video game regulator has not approved any new titles since July 22, 2021. There were onlyāÆ755 titles approvedāÆin 2021, compared to 1,411 in 2020. With the roll out of the national anti-addiction and real name identification system now complete, we expect approvals to restart in early 2022.
4. Chinaās regulatory approach will shift from reform to enforcement
Chinaās video game regulator introducedāÆnewāÆpolicies in 2021, primarily aimed at curbing gaming addiction among minors.āÆWe expect the regulator to shift away from policy reform in 2022, as it looks to ensure compliance with current regulations. We are already starting to see a crackdown on companies that are curbing regulations and we have upgraded the risk of a Steam International ban in China to high.
5. Game companies in China will increase focus on exportsāÆ
Chinese game companies have dominated their home market and found success overseas with mobile games. With increased investment in AAA game development, local indie studios and the ongoing regulatory risk at home, we expect Chinese game companies to start finding success on all platforms overseas in 2022 and beyond.
6. Esports will become more legitimate in 2022
In 2017 the International OlympicāÆCommitteeāÆrecognizedāÆesports as a sport, in 2018 esports was aāÆdemonstrationāÆevent at the Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia and in 2022 Esports will be a medal event at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.āÆThis will lead to more investment in esports player pipelines and player development.āÆ2022 will enjoy anāÆincrease in esports training, education, subsidies aimed at esports management, player development.
7. Cross Platform and Cross Play willāÆbeāÆa staple ofāÆnew titles in 2022
The success of multi-platform titles such asāÆGenshin Impact, the widespread adoption of scalable game engines such as Unreal Engine and Unity as well as the demand for interoperability between devices has led to players valuing cross platform experiences with cross play. We expect some of the largest game studios in China, South Korea, and Japan to introduce titles that run across PC, Console, Mobile and Cloud with cross play enabled.
8. 5G will be available across all 14 markets we cover in 2022āÆ
5G has been rolling out across numerous markets in Asia since South Korea launched 5G services in April 2019. This has led to increased download speeds, lower latency and helped enable cloud gaming on the go. Malaysia, Vietnam, India and Egypt are the four markets we cover that have yet to roll out 5G. We expect them to start their roll out by the end of the year.
9. M&A / Investments / IPOs will continue to play an important roleāÆāÆ
2021 was a record year for game related investments, especially in China where the number of transactionsāÆdoubled compared to the prior year.āÆTencent alone invested in or acquired more than 100 game related companies last year. We expect M&A / Investments to continue playing a notable role in 2022 and beyond as the value of IP, development talent and new technologies become more important.āÆWhile there may be a lower number of deals closed in 2022, we believe the overall value will continue to remain high.
10. Gaming companies will capitalize on the metaverse trend better than tech companies, but itās still too early for the concept
Metaverse became a hot word in 2021 with numerous tech and gaming companies embracing the concept.āÆNiko Partners believes that live service video games have been building towards theāÆmetaverse concept forāÆseveralāÆyears and that companies with experience in both video game development and social mediaāÆplatform operationāÆwill have an advantage when entering this space.āÆWe expect game focused companies to see the initial benefits of the metaverse trendāÆwhile tech first companies will struggle to offer value to users.āÆHowever, we donāt expect to see a true metaverse experience in 2022 based on the currently accepted definitions.
11. The convergence of video games and the entertainment industry further engages gamersāÆ
The video game industry is building on the concepts of metaverse, pan-entertainment and transmedia which is leading to a convergence between games and entertainment. We expect to see more traditional brands, entertainment properties andāÆartists take advantage of live service games in 2022. On the flip side, we expect to see more collaboration between video game IP holders and traditional entertainment such as movies,āÆTV, and comics.āÆThis bi-directional approach will further engage gamers in the future.
12. Blockchain game adoption increases, but the space remains experimentalāÆ
Blockchain based gamesāÆmade headlines in 2021 and VCs have invested billionsāÆin them. The past year has seen the rise ofāÆblockchain based non-fungible tokens (NFTs)āÆin games and the exploration of the Play to Earn (P2E) model. We expect to see new innovative game projects in 2022āÆand increased adoption of blockchain games. However, the numerous barriers to entry, lack of regulation and questions around sustainability will keep the space experimental in 2022.
13. The local game development sceneāÆwill growāÆin developing marketsāÆ
Of the 14 markets we cover, Japan, South Korea, and China are considered game development powerhouses due to the hit titles released by domestic developers. The success of Vietnamese studio Sky Mavis (publisher ofāÆAxie Infinity)āÆand a 2x increase in local game development studios in IndiaāÆsince 2019āÆshows there is growing talent in these emerging markets. WeāÆexpect to see the release of a hit game ($100m+ revenue) released by a studio from Southeast Asia or India in 2022.
14. The conversation regarding app store take rates will extend into 2022
The Epic v Apple case made headlines in 2021 and it indirectly led to Apple and Google reducing take rates for developers that earn less than $1m per year. In South Korea, a new bill required Apple and Google to offer alternative in app payment options. In China, TapTap made headlines for offering aāÆ0% take rateāÆand numerous developers have invested in direct distribution to avoid app store fees. As pressure continues to build, we expect platform holders to make further concessions in 2022.
15. Increasing government support towards local game development across SEA
In 2021, governments became increasingly supportive of the video game sector. Vietnamās government took an active role in the creation of Vietnam Online Game Developers and Publishers Alliance (which will be formally established in 2022), Indonesiaās government showed support towards local game developers through fundings and infrastructure support, and Malaysiaās government continue to allocate specific national budget for gaming and esports. We anticipate more of this in 2022.
16. Korea and Japan to continue deregulation of the gaming and esports industry
Following Koreaās abolishment of the 10-year-old Shutdown Law and looking at Japanās increasing interest in esports, we expect that both countries will continue to ease regulations or even move towards deregulation of certain laws or ordinances that hamper the growth of the gaming and esports industry. While an overhaul of the regulatory environment might not be feasible, small changes will be possible to occur in 2022.
Check our 2021 predictions accuracy here.āÆAllāÆour predictions cameāÆtrue,āÆexcept forāÆ#7 as aāÆfreeze on game approvals in China led to a lower number of import games being approved in 2021 vs 2020.
NODWIN Gaming, a leader in new-age youth entertainment, gaming, and esports, has announced the appointment of Atin Suri as Global Head of Experiential Marketing. With a track record of delivering disruptive, immersive brand experiences across diverse markets, Atin brings a wealth of expertise to help further NODWIN Gamingās mission to engage and excite audiences across all ages, worldwide.
Atin will be responsible for leading NODWIN Gamingās worldwide expansion efforts in experiential marketing and continued growth while handling the companyās white-label events and activations. His ability to formulate marketing strategies and well-crafted market messaging for a global audience ties in seamlessly with NODWIN Gamingās vision as the company continues to expand its footprint in the industry and deepen its engagement with audiences.
A key focus for NODWIN Gaming is providing holistic entertainment to the global youth with its diverse range of intellectual properties that spans esports, gaming, pop culture, music, and comedy. Atinās extensive expertise in crafting bespoke and immersive on-ground experiences will be key in enhancing consumer experience and brand recall.
āFor me, experience is everything, and Iāve always wanted to push the envelope when it comes to the intersection of technology and immersive experiences,ā said Atin. āAt NODWIN Gaming, I see endless opportunities when it comes to experiential marketing especially when the company is expanding further towards youth-focused experiences across the world.ā
Before joining NODWIN, Atin founded The Experiential Hub, a disruptive agency known for crafting innovative brand events and activations. His experience as a pioneer in experiential marketing includes leading several landmark campaigns.
A decade ago, Atin recognised the untapped potential of esports in India, a foresight that led to his successful collaboration with Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming. Together, they worked on Dew Arena and made it Indiaās Largest Offline Gaming Championship.
Building on this partnership, they went on to bring DreamHack, the worldās largest gaming festival to India. This groundbreaking project won the award for Best Intellectual Property at the prestigious WOW Awards Asia 2019. Atin also played a pivotal role in organising major esports events with the NODWIN Gaming team in India including ESL One, PUBG Club Open, PMPL South Asia and many more.
āWe are thrilled to welcome Atin to NODWIN Gamingā commented Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming. āHaving worked with Atin on previous projects, we have always admired his ability to bring fresh and bold ideas to the table. His passion for tech-driven, experiential events makes him the perfect fit for our vision of creating unforgettable gaming experiences globally.ā
Atin has also been the recipient of multiple honours like the JWT HiP Club Rising Star, the CEO Award from PepsiCo, and the Tech India Award.
Educating and empowering female volunteers on the importance of Breast Cancer early detection and prevention was the main purpose of the Breast Cancer Awareness Program that the FBM Foundation held last October 17th at the One Corporate Centre Building in Pasig City. The initiative prepared by the Corporate Social Responsibility project of the FBM Group gathered 48 women.
The Breast Cancer Awareness Program reflects the FBM Foundation’s ongoing commitment to health awareness and community well-being. Dr. Alodee Mejia, a breast cancer care expert from Asian Hospital and Medical Center, served as the guest speaker, offering essential insights on early detection, self-examinations, and the latest treatment and preventive measures.
āBreast cancer touches many lives, and raising awareness is crucial. It is not just about knowing it exists; it’s about understanding how to act. With expert guidance, we can offer our volunteers the proper knowledge to make a difference in the fight against this health issue,” said Lulu Barreras, FBM Foundation Project Coordinator in the Philippines.
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide, and early detection can significantly increase survival rates. Regular self-examinations and screenings are essential for catching the disease in its early stages. It is important to remember that breast cancer does not only affect women. Men are also at risk, and being informed and vigilant is a big step forward to save lives.
By hosting this program, the FBM Foundation emphasized its dedication to promoting health, encouraging proactive measures, and supporting the well-being of its volunteers. This program was not only an opportunity to share knowledge but also to inspire action. As the volunteers are now better equipped, they are more likely to engage in conversations with their families, friends, and communities, spreading awareness about breast cancer and the importance of early detection. The FBM Foundation hopes this ripple effect will extend far beyond the conference room, creating a visible change in the community.
Raising awareness about critical health issues such as breast cancer reflects a deeper commitment from companies to help society. Through the organization of awareness initiatives like this program, businesses can contribute to having more informed employees and volunteers and have an active role in public health efforts.
In a landmark move for Indian esports, the Tamil Nadu government has announced the inclusion of esports as a demo event in the prestigious Tamil Nadu Chief Ministerās Trophy Games 2024. The Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) has incorporated Skyesports as the Principal Technical Partner along with Esports Association of Tamil Nadu and Thamizh Esports Association to launch the initiative.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Ministerās Trophy Games is a flagship sports initiative aimed at promoting and nurturing grassroots talent across various sports. The inclusion of esports reflects the Tamil Nadu Governmentās commitment to embracing the evolving trend in sports on the back of the inclusion of esports in the Asian Games, and the announcement by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to introduce a standalone Olympic Esports Games in 2025.
āWe are thrilled to witness the debut of e-sports as a demo event at this yearās Chief Ministerās Trophy. This groundbreaking inclusion reflects Tamil Naduās forward-thinking approach to sports and youth engagement. Esports has rapidly grown in popularity around the globe and by introducing it in the Chief Minister’s Trophy as a demo sport, Tamil Nadu is taking a major step toward recognising and nurturing diverse athletic talents, both in traditional sports and emerging digital platforms,ā said the Additional Chief Secretary, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department.
Eight Skill-Based Games to Be Part of The Esports Test Event In The Tamil Nadu CM Trophy 2025, Engaging More Than 1.5 Million Gamers
The eight games set to be a part of the Tamil Nadu CM Trophy are as follows:
āĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI)
āĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Pokemon UNITE
āĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Real Cricket 2024
āĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā EA FC 2024
āĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā NBA 2K25
āĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā eChess
āĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Street Fighter 6
āĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā F1 2024
The selected games span a diverse range of titles, catering to mobile, PC, and console gamers. Registrations are now open to all eligible gamers in Tamil Nadu .The competition kicks off with online qualifiers, where participants will vie for a spot in the grand finale. Skyesports along with Esports Association of Tamil Nadu and Thamizh Esports Association will manage the entire event, culminating in an exciting on-ground finale in Chennai on October 20, bringing together the top players from each category for a thrilling conclusion.
āEsports is already part of the Asian Games and will soon be getting a standalone event by the IOC. In line with these evolving trends, we are introducing esports as a test event this year, and plan to make it an official part of the Tamil Nadu CM Trophy in 2025,ā said the Member Secretary of Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT).
The Tamil Nadu State Government aims to engage 1.5 million gamers and esports enthusiasts through participation and viewership. Additionally, it aims to bring an active participation of more than 100,000 gamers through the open-for-all qualifiers.
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