Southeast Asia Sees 53% Surge in Gaming Time Following Post-Pandemic Decline

The average weekly gaming time in Southeast Asia has experienced a significant 53.2% year-over-year increase in 2024, according to Niko Partners' latest SEA-6 Gamer Behaviour and Market Insights Report. This growth follows a substantial decline in 2023, which was largely attributed to changes in consumer behavior after the pandemic. The report, which covers six key markets including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, notes that Thailand and Vietnam saw the most notable year-over-year increase in gaming time. Interestingly, the report also highlights that female gamers are more likely to make game-related purchases, with 30% of women spending on games compared to 22% of men. Moreover, digital wallets have become the preferred payment method, with over 75% of players using them to buy games. Niko Partners CEO Lisa Hanson forecasts that Southeast Asia will be the second-fastest growing region in terms of average revenue per paying user through 2028, emphasizing the importance of understanding each market's unique characteristics. For instance, the report finds that over 50% of gamers in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam prefer games translated into their local language, whereas English proficiency is higher in the other three markets.