By Sagar V. Mankar Esports is set to take center stage once again at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, which will be held in Thailand from December 9 to 20, 2025.
This event is expected to further solidify the presence of esports in the region, as athletes from 11 countries, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam, will compete not only in traditional sports but also in a growing lineup of esports competitions.
The inclusion of esports in the SEA Games began in 2019 during the 30th edition held in the Philippines. For the first time, esports titles like DOTA 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), StarCraft 2, and Arena of Valor were featured as medal events, marking a significant shift in the region’s sporting culture.
In the upcoming 2025 SEA Games, esports will be featured prominently alongside 44 traditional sports, contributing to a total of 567 medal events. So far, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang has been confirmed as one of the titles, with both men’s and women’s competitions. Other titles announced include Free Fire, FC Online, and Arena of Valor. Organizers have hinted that more esports games will be added to the roster soon.
Here is the full list of esports titles for the 33rd SEA Games:
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (men’s, women’s)
- Free Fire
- FC Online
- Arena of Valor
The 32nd SEA Games, held in Cambodia in 2023, set a new standard for esports at the Games, featuring popular titles like MLBB, Valorant, League of Legends: Wild Rift, PUBG Mobile, Crossfire, FIFA Online 4, and Mission Against Terror. These competitions attracted record-breaking audiences, with online viewership numbers soaring, further establishing esports as a mainstay in the regional sports lineup. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, in particular, was a fan favorite, with the men’s tournament reaching a peak of 1.46 million concurrent viewers and the women’s tournament drawing 1.37 million viewers. The Philippines’ Team SIBOL and Team Indonesia claimed gold in the men’s and women’s divisions, respectively, highlighting the high level of competition in the region.
With Thailand as the host for the 33rd SEA Games, there is a strong focus on growing the esports scene even further. The Thailand E-Sports Federation (TESF) is working closely with event organizers to engage the local gaming community and tap into the economic potential of esports. This collaboration aims to create community-focused initiatives, boost tourism, and strengthen Thailand’s position as a leading hub for esports in Southeast Asia.
Esports has rapidly become a fixture at the SEA Games, with each edition expanding its reach and impact. The 31st SEA Games in Vietnam in 2021 also featured a diverse range of esports titles, such as League of Legends, EA SPORTS FC, Arena of Valor, Crossfire, Free Fire, Wild Rift, and PUBG Mobile, drawing large crowds and high viewership numbers
The year 2025 is set to be a monumental one for esports, with the Olympics slated to host the first-ever Olympic Games in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the second edition of the Esports World Championship will return to Riyadh. Hero Esports, formerly known as VSPO, is also organizing its inaugural multi-title tournament for the Asia region in 2025.