Breaking New Ground: The Rise of Women’s Mobile Esports in Asia
The inaugural Asian Esports Games in 2024 has emerged as a landmark event in the world of competitive mobile gaming, particularly for women’s esports. Organized by the Thailand Esports Federation under the Asian Electronic Sports Federation, the tournament showcased the immense talent and growing popularity of women in competitive mobile gaming.
Featuring two of the most prominent mobile esports titles, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (ML:BB) and Arena of Valor, the event highlighted the extraordinary skills of female gamers from across Asia. The tournament’s standout moment was the ML:BB women’s competition, which captured significant attention and set new viewership records.
National Pride and Professional Excellence
Unlike traditional esports tournaments, the Asian Esports Games emphasized national representation. Teams competed under their country’s flag, though many were established professional rosters. The grand final was a clash between two powerhouse teams: Indonesia and the Philippines, both boasting impressive credentials in the ML:BB competitive scene.
The Indonesian team, previously part of Bigetron Esports and now signed with Team Vitality, brought a remarkable track record. Having previously secured two MLBB Women’s Invitational titles and three WSL championships, they were formidable competitors. The Philippines team, represented by Omega Empress, the reigning MLBB Women’s Invitational champions, provided stiff competition.
A Spectacular Showdown
The grand final was nothing short of spectacular. After an initial 2-0 defeat in the Upper Bracket Final, the Filipino team battled back through the Lower Bracket, ultimately facing the Indonesian squad in an intense 4-2 series. The event drew an impressive 326.1K peak viewers, with over 256K Indonesian fans supporting their national team.
Streaming platforms played a crucial role in the tournament’s success. While traditional platforms like YouTube Live maintained their stronghold, TikTok has emerged as a significant contender in esports broadcasting. The event accumulated an impressive 1.54M Hours Watched across various platforms.
A Broader Context of Women’s Esports
The Asian Esports Games is part of a broader trend of growing recognition and support for women in esports. Alongside the VCT 2024: Game Changers Championship, it represents a significant milestone in promoting gender diversity in competitive gaming.
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Valorant have been at the forefront of this movement, consistently providing platforms and opportunities for women to showcase their skills. The ML:BB scene, in particular, has developed a robust ecosystem of tournaments and events specifically designed to highlight female talent.
Looking Ahead
The success of the Asian Esports Games signals a promising future for women’s mobile esports. With increasing viewership, more dedicated tournaments, and growing support from game developers and organizations, the landscape continues to evolve.
As we look forward to future events like the MLBB Women’s Invitational and competitions from the IESF and AESF, one thing is clear: women’s mobile esports is not just growing—it’s thriving.