How big of an esports player is China on the world stage? Which esports titles are popular in China? What does the future of esports in China look like?

I will attempt to break it all down today.

How popular are esports in China?

Esports has come a long way as a global industry, and the esports history has taken us from small arcade and LAN-based tournaments to fully packed arenas and mega events. China joined the esports craze later than most, but helped propel the industry forward by light-years with major esports events happening regularly in the country.

Currently, some of the best esports athletes hail from China. Chinese teams have become world champions in Dota 2, League of Legends, PUBG, Heartstone, Honor of Kings and plenty other titles. With early adoption, government influence, and a thriving digital economy, China is now the flagship driver of esports growth globally.

Growth of Esports in China

Gaming and esports in China took off in the late 90s with the introduction of many popular games like StarCraft and Quake. Many unofficial online tournaments, leagues, and events began to sprout all over the region. Though small in scale, it showed off the competitive spirit of Chinese gamers and their eagerness to play some of the biggest esports at the time, as well as compete with other gamers around the world in the future.

However, in almost every region of the world, not just China, gaming and esports were met with much social stigma. Gamers were seen as lazy, unambitious, and spoiled kids who would amount to nothing. It also didn’t help that the government used the media to portray games as addictive media outlets that could induce violent and antisocial behavior in young adults.

As early as 2003, the General Administration of Sports officially recognized esports as a sport in the country. This made China one of the first countries to legitimize competitive gaming. During the early 2010s, MOBA games raise to promince and China and shifted the mentality and opinion of esports as a viable career path and as cultural and entertainment phenomenon.

However, recent developments, like trade tariffs and bans with other countries like the US and UK, made some of the biggest esports games unavailable to the public through legal means. Limitations to play time have put a damper to growth in both gaming and esports, but not by a significant margin. Gamers in China still find ways to play the most popular esports games and participate in tournaments.

Future of esports in China

Through sheer tenacity, the Chinese government eased up on gaming restrictions, especially when it comes to esports. It allowed more Chinese esports teams and players to participate in competitions outside of those hosted domestically, meanwhile entire cities in China embraced esports as a path to grow local business and industry.

China’s most popular esports at the moment are Dota 2, Arena of Valor, PUBG Mobile, League of Legends, and Apex Legends.

While some of these titles are still somewhat restricted in the country, the acceptance of gaming and esports as a legitimate passion and profession allows gamers to take part in some of the biggest esports events and drive the culture forward.

Rise of Mobile Esports

China’s mobile gaming market is the growth leader among all gaming platforms, and the future of esports in China seems to be moving towards mobile. China’s esports audience and playerbase is the largest in the world, and their mobile esports market is the biggest in comparison. World-class mobile gamers, and esports contenders are never in short supply here.

The government has also now shown its support for gaming by creating more supportive policies, recognizing esports as a profession, and legitimizing the industry.

Prevalence of esports and challenges moving forward

All in all, China’s esports future seems more promising than ever. They have one of the strongest fan bases, enabled by government support, and a booming tech scene. It is also safe to say that China is prepared for any tournament or competition they may enter, as well as becoming one of the authorities in gaming and esports in the world.

There is some issues that may arise though. Some challenges the country is facing are ever present:

• Balancing competition and players’ well-being: Ensuring healthy training environments and preventing burnout among players will be crucial.
• Maintaining Fair Play: Addressing match-fixing, and other forms of cheating, will be essential for preserving the integrity of the scene.
• Evolving Regulations: Navigating potential changes in government regulations around gaming and esports will require adaptation.

Still, China is the biggest market for both mobile games and the second best esports competitor in PC games behind South Korea. The fight for the top is nigh.

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