Leveling up: Thailand gears up to boost esports with global gaming giants

The Government of Thailand is set to bolster the esports industry through collaboration with major global gaming companies, aiming to enhance manpower skills in this rapidly expanding field as announced by Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong.

Prasert, who also serves as the Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DES), visited the Thailand Game Show 2024 at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. Accompanied by Assistant Professor Nuttapon Nimmanphatcharin, Director-General of the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), and Warin Ratchananusorn, director of the Digital Startup Institute, Prasert praised the industry’s high-tech potential and its ability to generate new revenue streams.

The ministry plans to accelerate the promotion and development of new sectors such as esports, games, and animation, recognising these as industries of opportunity.

The minister instructed DEPA and its Digital Startup Institute to support these sectors to significantly boost the country’s competitiveness. In a statement, Prasert spoke on the growing digital landscape of Thailand.

“Manpower is the key ingredient that drives the esports, gaming, and animation sectors. Thailand has many talented players and programmers, and the government wants to develop individuals or teams to become pro-level esports competitors or even game creators and exporters.

“Thailand must be a significant hub for digital content in the region. These are urgent concerns the government must address. We will soon launch the DEPA Esports project, which will cause a significant shakeup in the Thai esports industry.”

Industry shake up

Deputy PM Prasert and his team also discussed fostering cooperation in the gaming industry with leading global companies such as Nintendo Co, Konami Group, and the Korea Game Developers Association (KGDA).

“KGDA is interested in establishing a game development skills centre in Thailand to create manpower for the gaming industry here at home and in other parts of the world.”

He mentioned that KDGA plans to invite some Thai game developers to showcase their potential in the South Korean gaming scene.

Asst. Prof. Nuttapon stated that the government aims to create an investment-friendly atmosphere in the gaming, esports, and related industries through infrastructure development like the Digital Edutainment Complex.

This facility will be situated on a 20,000-square-metre site within the Thailand Digital Valley in Sriracha district, Chon Buri.

Trial run

He explained that the complex would serve as a digital innovation test bed, helping to drive the Thai esports and gaming industries forward.

Additionally, the Thailand Game Show 2024, which concluded yesterday, October 20, featured the work of more than 50 leading game developers and designers from both domestic and international companies, including Revolution Industry Co, Red Sensation Games Co, and Verisoft Co.

Culture Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol highlighted during the opening ceremony on Friday that the value of Thailand’s gaming market reached about US$1.3 billion (approximately 44 billion baht) last year, marking a 10% increase from 2023, reported Bangkok Post.

Thailand’s gaming market is considered the second fastest-growing in Southeast Asia. Sudawan considers this emerging market as valuable.

“It is a business that creates value and new careers, whether as an esports competitor, streamer, character designer, or professional cosplayer.

“These are driving development and are in line with the changes in the world’s digital economic era.”