Singapore sets its sights on becoming a world force in eSports

As concerns grow over a possible crackdown on China’s online gaming industry, South-East Asia is emerging as an alternative destination for investments, in particular for mobile eSports. — Photo by SCREEN POST on Unsplash

Singapore may not compete for gold in many Olympic events, but the tiny city-state is emerging as a force in a different kind of sport: mobile and video games.

In May Singapore hosted the Free Fire World Series, which garnered a peak viewership of 5.4 million – the highest-ever for any eSports match outside of Chinese platforms, according to Esports Charts. In July the nation opened its first eSports experiential center, equipped with world-class live-streaming and pro-eSports facilities.