Esports set for growth but not at expense of local firms

Esports

PETALING JAYA: As Malaysia intensifies its efforts to attract international video game companies to invest in the country, industry experts hope that local companies will not be neglected.

“We need both to be able to do both – by helping the local studios grow through adequate funding and support alongside international studios bringing investments, tech and product expertise to Malaysians,” said Alitt Khaliq, general manager of game company NX3 Games.

Esports analyst and lecturer Andrew Cheong said he was happy that esports was being recognised as a potential economic growth sector for the country.

“Based on the announcement, the initiative is to encourage game developers or publishers to invest in the growth of digital products.

“As they are intellectual property (IP) owners, they play an important role in supporting the growth of the community from the bottom up to create a sustainable ecosystem,” he said.

Alitt, whose South Korea-based company is planning to open a headquarters office here, believes that the expansion will have a positive impact on the local gaming industry.

“For example, we can form collaborations with local outsource studios for game assets, animation and cinematic development for our internal game IPs.

“This involves training local studios on our advanced technology, tools and production pipelines to ramp them into our projects,” he said.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a RM30mil allocation to encourage international gaming studios and companies to invest in the development of digital products alongside local talent.

He emphasised that this initiative is aimed at promoting Malaysia as a development hub for the esports industry.

Meanwhile, Leon Soo, founder of local grassroots fighting game tournament organiser Infinite Carnage, believes that while allocating a budget to bring in international companies will help to develop the esports scene, more can be done to grow the competitive scene.

“Of course, bringing in international events and players will create interest and develop the local esports scene, but the local audience must also be cultivated,” he said.

“So I believe that an allocation specifically towards local tournament organisers like us and other groups is a necessity,” Soo added.

Soo said if Malaysia could secure major tournaments for popular games, it was essential to have an active local player base passionate about competitive play to provide support.