{
  "id": 8787377,
  "title": "Malaysia’s e-sports scene is booming — and the jobs go far beyond pro gamers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/malaysias-e-sports-scene-is-booming-and-the-jobs-go-far-beyond-pro",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-20T23:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2026/09/21/malaysias-e-sports-scene-is-booming-and-the-jobs-go-far-beyond-pro-gamers/235860"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 — Malaysia's e-sports scene is experiencing rapid growth, with a wide range of job opportunities extending far beyond professional players. Accountant Mohamed Ilyas Suhairi, 26, credits his passion for the sport to the social connections it fosters and the constant novelty it offers. His love for e-sports has led him to invest in a variety of gaming equipment, from PCs to portable consoles. As the sport's popularity surges, professional tournaments in Malaysia draw large crowds, generate revenues, and foster numerous careers.\n\nThe Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) highlights e-sports as a vital component of the country's digital content industry, leading to diverse economic opportunities. Anuar Fariz Fadzil, MDEC's CEO, explains that e-sports not only creates jobs for professional players but also for coaches, production teams, and animators. The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) reported that the global video game industry generated approximately $184 billion in 2023, with China and the US at the forefront, while the Asia-Pacific region dominates with 46% of the market.\n\nMalaysia's digital economy contributed 25.5% to the country's GDP in 2025, aiming for a 30% contribution by 2030. The Malaysian government supports the e-sports sector through initiatives, including grants, talent development, and industry engagement. Malaysia has successfully hosted international e-sports events, like IO Esports' MPL Malaysia and M6 World Championship, which attracted millions of viewers and generated significant brand value. Despite the impressive growth, the industry still requires sufficient funding to continue its expansion. In Budget 2025, the government allocated RM20 million to bolster the e-sports ecosystem, with RM10 million dedicated to constructing a dedicated e-sports stadium.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 — E-sports enthusiast and full-time accountant Mohamed Ilyas Suhairi returns to video games...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}