SEA Esports Prize Pools Cross $50 Million in 2025, Doubling 2023 Figures
Southeast Asian esports has crossed a historic milestone. According to a new report by Niko Partners and the Southeast Asian Esports Federation (SEAEF), total prize pools for esports tournaments held in or featuring SEA teams surpassed $50 million in 2025 — more than double the $24 million recorded in 2023.
The growth is staggering, but it's not coming from where traditional esports observers might expect. While PC titles like Valorant and Dota 2 contributed significantly, the biggest driver is mobile esports. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang alone accounted for $12.3 million in prize money through its MPL ecosystem and the M-series World Championships. Honor of Kings added another $8.5 million following its aggressive SEA expansion, and PUBG Mobile's regional and international events contributed $6.2 million.
"Mobile is not the future of SEA esports — it's the present," said Lisa Cosmas Hanson, managing partner at Niko Partners, during the report's launch event in Singapore. "The infrastructure, the audience, the sponsorship dollars — they're all flowing toward mobile-first competition in this region."
Government investment has been a crucial accelerant. The Philippines' Games and Amusements Board earmarked 150 million pesos for esports development in 2025, while Indonesia's Ministry of Youth and Sports increased its esports budget by 40% year-over-year. Malaysia's MyeSports initiative, launched in partnership with MDEC, has funded grassroots tournaments in all 13 states, creating a pipeline from amateur play to professional leagues.
The Asian Games factor cannot be understated. With esports confirmed as a full medal sport for the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games, national federations across SEA have poured resources into competitive programs. Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines have all established salaried national esports teams, with players receiving stipends, training facilities, and sports science support previously reserved for traditional athletes.
Corporate sponsorship has followed the government money. Telco giants like Singtel, Telkomsel, and Globe Telecom have all expanded their esports sponsorship portfolios. Consumer brands from energy drinks to automotive companies are buying naming rights for leagues and tournaments. The MPL alone has over 15 sponsors per regional league, a commercialization level that rivals traditional sports leagues in several SEA markets.
The report also highlights the growing importance of SEA as a host region for international events. Singapore hosted two major Valorant events in 2025, while Jakarta's Indonesia Arena has become a preferred venue for MLBB world championships. Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur are both bidding to host 2026 events across multiple titles.
Not all the numbers paint a rosy picture. Player salaries in SEA still lag behind China, Korea, and North America. The median annual salary for a professional esports player in SEA is approximately $35,000, compared to $85,000 in Korea and over $150,000 in North America. The report notes that while prize pools are growing, the financial sustainability of tier-2 and tier-3 teams remains precarious, with many organizations operating at a loss.
Still, the trajectory is unmistakably upward. The report projects SEA esports prize pools could reach $75 million by 2027, driven by the Asian Games medal cycle, continued mobile title growth, and the entry of new publishers — notably Riot Games' expanding regional investment and TiMi Esports' Honor of Kings push.
For a region that was considered an esports afterthought a decade ago, $50 million in prize money is a statement. Southeast Asia isn't just participating in global esports anymore — it's driving it.