INTHEBLACK April 2022 - Magazine - Page 47
MARKET BY GEOGRAPHIC LANDSCAPE
40%
A PA C
20% SA OMUETRHI C A
24%
NORTH
AMERICA
EUROPE
APAC
7%
9% M E A
LARGEST
MARKET
I N 2024
BEST PERFORMING MARKET
SOUTH AMERICA
B E T W E E N 2 0 1 9 A N D 2 0 24
EUROPE
SLOWEST GROWTH MARKET
The arena of the final of
the FIFA eClub World Cup
2019 in London.
Esports, Michael Jordan with Team Liquid and David
Beckham with Guild Esports.
“For a lot of these guys, it fits into their branding
portfolio, because it is still sports. It’s also a way of staying
relevant, because if you’re Shaquille O’Neal, you’ll be
reaching the point in the next couple of years where some
of the young people won’t have seen you play.”
While there is much hype around esports, perspective
is important. Esports as a whole is still a long way from
overtaking even a single traditional sport like baseball
or soccer.
“Even if the highest estimate of, say US$3 billion in
2022, is correct, the NBA made roughly US$8 billion in
2020. One of the big European soccer leagues is around
US$15 billion,” says Walton.
In Australia, esports revenue growth is undoubtedly
healthy, albeit slower than in other markets. It was
A$6 million in 2020 and is projected to grow to A$16
million by 2025, representing a 21.2 per cent compound
annual growth rate, according to Samantha Johnson,
partner at PwC.
“In some respects, Australia is lagging,” says Johnson.
“A couple of the biggest players have pulled out of
Australia’s local market, citing challenges around
audience size. And probably to an even greater degree,
WILL SINGAPORE
BECOME THE ESPORTS
CAPITAL OF THE WORLD?
The Singapore Games
confidence in international
Association (SGGA) is the
esports players to bring top-tier
MURRAY
WYATT FCPA, MORROWS
GROUP to Singapore, such
primary trade
association
tournaments
advocating for Singapore’s
as the DOTA 2 Singapore Major
games and esports industry.
and the M2 World
Founded in 2020, its aim is to
Championship.”
“place Singapore’s gaming brand
Lee is seeing increasing
on the world map” and cultivate
interest from the Singapore
the growth of Singapore-based
government to support the
games and esports companies.
gaming and esports industry.
“Singapore is trying to position
“Enterprise Singapore has
itself as the digital leader – and
been very proactive in engaging
that goes for digital banking,
and providing support for
fintech and esports,” says
Singapore-based start-ups, and
James Walton. “It has the
the Ministry of Culture,
technology infrastructure and
Community and Youth has
very good bandwidth, plus a
supported events.”
wealthy society who can afford
However, Singapore faces stiff
to buy the latest hardware and
competition. The US already has
software.”
several world-class esports
Elicia Lee, SGGA’s vice-chair,
centres, and China is building
says that esports is still a
two in Shanghai and Hangzhou,
relatively nascent industry in
which would be the largest in
Singapore, and in South-East
Asia, Walton says.
Asia, as compared with the
“The one being built in in
Americas and Europe.
Hangzhou is actually called the
“Still, Singapore has a lot
‘Hangzhou eSports Town’,” he
going for it,” says Lee. “Our track
says. “It has a theme park, a
record of handling the pandemic, hospital and a research and
for example, has increased
development centre.”
intheblack.cpaaustralia.com.au April 2022 47