Thailand is roughly the size of Texas, with over 70 million people living and where nearly everyone is a gamer. 95% of gamers play on mobile, 84% are on the PC, and 69% are on any popular consoles. As you can see, there is considerable overlap. Thailand is a lucrative gaming market, generating over $1.1 billion in 2022 and making the country the second-largest gaming market in Southeast Asia, right behind Indonesia. But what makes this country so inviting and incredibly inviting for gamers and gaming companies? We'll find out below.
1. Everybody plays
For gaming to become a nationally accepted hobby, it needs to evolve past its shunned and basement stage. Looking back on the gaming industry, it has changed its image and associated imagery towards a more accepting and modern brand recognition. Playing games in all forms is culturally acceptable in Thailand, and men and women are equally present in the Thailand gaming market.
Playing on a console and then grabbing your phone while you travel, enjoying yourself on recommended เว็บสล็อตตรง by iGaming expert Narathip, watching e-sports matches, gaming together on PC, and many other ways are how gamers of all ages play in Thailand. As such, gaming companies have a large market to satisfy and keep creating games to captivate their audience. When nearly everyone is gaming, it becomes easier for new gamers to get into the hobby, find ground, and get started with gaming, which leads to a healthy industry and steady revenue. It's even worth mentioning that the official government of Thailand recognized e-sports as a professional sport, back in 2021, adding to the social acceptance and widespread presence of gaming.
2. E-sports scene
E-sports are thriving and bringing in larger audiences and revenue with each season. As the government of Thailand has recognized e-sports as an official sport, it has since gained support, funding, viewers, training facilities, institutions, teams, and everything else a professional sport should have. Thailand has since created the Thailand Esports Federation (TESF), aiming to make e-sports an even wider phenomenon and train professional players for its international teams and competitions.
Games like PUBG, Free Fire, Valorant, and CS: GO are some of the most played on the professional scene, but other popular means and games like League of Legends, DOTA 2, crypto gambling sites, FIFA, Starcraft, and many others are also present. Regular matches, tournaments, and live streams are a daily constant, with thousands of dollars as prize polls. The promise of fame drives many players to dedicate their free time to training and getting better at games. Because e-sports are so popular in Thailand, their popularity directly translates to the widespread influence of games.
3. A thriving industry
Nearly everyone plays games in Thailand, meaning the output of games must compete with the demand. Plenty of video game companies in Thailand compete with the international market for a chance to be known on the gaming scene. Thai gamers spend around 2 hours and nearly 20$ monthly on games, and when that gets multiplied by the number of Thai games, it's no wonder Thai has a thriving gaming scene.
Government subsidies, local enterprise incubators, funding, and Kickstarter campaigns fuel the rising demand for good devs who can make high-quality games that will satisfy the gaming market's needs. In such a high-competition environment, many studios go under, but those that survive to carve out a dedicated fan base and deliver the best products. Thailand's Ministry for Digital Economy and Society also recognizes the importance of a rising gaming sector, as both the developers and players contribute to the overall development of the country.
Thailand has launched the Thai Gaming Industry on the Global Stage, enhancing and further developing its gaming scene and driving its economic expansion. All of these programs and investments make Thailand a lucrative and inviting market for both future developers and gamers, further bolstering the rise and expansion of the video gaming industry.
4. A diverse landscape
For an industry to thrive and for various buyers (in this case, gamers) and sellers (in this example, developers) to find it attractive, it needs to offer something for everyone. The gaming industry has countless genres, and some of the more popular ones are RPGS, FPS, RTS, brawl games, casual games, action/adventure, racing, sports, simulations, and building games. Then come the mixed genres, further diversifying the already diverse landscape.
Such a colorful plethora of games attract a wide crowd as every gamer can find their ideal game. In Thailand, over 30% of gamers play some form of an RPG or an MMORPG. World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy, Runescape, Everquest, Elder Scrolls Online, and other RPGs with the added MMO aspect are hit in Thailand, fostering thousands of players. Next are the fighting games, which are popular due to their competitive nature and have even found their way into the e-sports scene, like Tekken Super Smash Bros Ultimate and Street Fighter.
Casual games we all know and love like, Bejewelled, Candy Crush, Plants VS Zombies, and others, dominate the mobile gaming landscape, as the ease of adoption and straightforward gameplay make them a relaxing pastime and a good intro into gaming. RTS games make up 17% of gamers, whereas Starcraft (a national phenomenon and sport in South Korea) is dominant in the local gaming scene. These are just some of the finest examples and show that a diverse landscape is necessary for the popularity and development of any industry.