The truth about gaming in the Philippines

Gaming has come a long way from being viewed as a leisure activity played by amateurs in dimly lit internet cafes around the country to a legitimate sport that means big business. The world of esports or competitive video gaming is thriving in the Philippines.

According to global leader in video games and gamer data Newzoo, the Philippines has a total of 43 million gamers with a projected growth of 14.3 percent between 2020 and 2023.

Despite this, gamers remain one of the most underserved communities/segment markets in the Philippines due to the lack of infrastructure and support.

As of July 24, 2023, the Philippines ranks 83rd out of 142 countries for mobile Internet Speed and 47th in terms of fixed broadband media, according to the Ookla Speedtest Global Index.

Here’s a quick look at why gamers in the country deserve better.

Gaming is not just a leisure activity, it’s a sport

Filipino youth continue to prove their skills in the world of competitive video gaming, both in the local and international arenas, and have definitely made a mark in the gaming world.

One only has to look at the success of SIBOL, the national team for esports, who showed their prowess in the virtual playground as representative of the Philippines in the medal event of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, where egames debuted as a legitimate sport.

Athletes were offered incentives amounting to millions of pesos in awards for team events for competing in video game titles like Dota 2, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Arena of Valor and individual games like Tekken 7, Hearthstone and Star Craft 2 in the SEAGames.

Gaming creates jobs and provides livelihood

Gaming is not just a hobby, but a source of livelihood for many young Filipinos. Thanks to the power of social media, a growing number of gaming personalities, streamers, and vloggers are making a decent living earning from what they love instead of becoming a part of the regular 9-to-5 workforce.

This was especially true when the pandemic hit in 2020. Thanks to Discord and online connectivity, gaming has become a means of livelihood for many. Channel monetization allows online live streamers and content creators who embraced the quarantine to make gaming their bread and butter. Because of the monetization aspect, the demand for a premium and reliable internet service has become non-negotiable.

Gaming provides a sense of community

The surge in popularity for games during the pandemic has also resulted in a bigger and more tight-knit relationship within the community. According to Converge Segment Marketing Manager-Consumer Sandra Zira Dingal, since the pandemic hit, half of the population aged 16-40 (48%) have followed esports in some way.

A recent study from Nielsen says that 78% of the respondents agreed that brands that take part in esports initiatives have a stronger connection to the esports community.

This is why internet service provide Converge decided to promote esports and launch GameChanger in August 2022. The fixed pure-fiber broadband plan in the Philippines is currently the only ISP in the country that offers internet plans specifically dedicated to the needs of gamers and gaming enthusiasts.

Good gaming infrastructure is an investment

Fuzzy video resolution, constant lags, buffers, and other connectivity issues due to poor network quality can only lead to frustrating gaming sessions.

For e-sports tournaments, one’s network speed can determine a country’s win. Because the Pinoy audience is highly engaged while watching major esports tournaments or watching streamers, they easily know if the other end has a poor internet connection.

In this highly connected and competitive world, having a good gaming Internet Plan is an investment. Converge’s GameChanger provides high-prioritization access and high-speed plans to consumers along with quality hardware to boost online gaming sessions.

"A powerful WiFi router is a critical tool in your gaming arsenal: a fast and reliable network can easily tip the scales of victory. ASUS and ROG WiFi gaming routers are built to deliver the very best performance for gamers, with the features and tools to help you win every battle, even in crowded multi-device environments. ROG routers also include the ROG GameFirst utility to ensure the smoothest gaming experience," according to Converge.

According to the ISP provider, Asus Gaming Routers can complete the enhanced gaming experience in the “last mile” through Ultra-fast WiFi 6 which, when paired with GameChanger’s high prioritization, low latency, and low jitter, which lets users enjoy seamless gameplay.

The wider WiFi coverage also brings GameChanger plan’s high speeds to all devices in a household. Meanwhile, AI Protection blocks trojans and ransomware, protecting gaming devices. The mobile game mode also allows users to minimize lag and latency for mobile gaming with just a tap on the Asus Router app.

With the steady rise of online multiplayer games, growing numbers of smartphone users, and increasing availability of high-speed internet, the gaming industry can only expect even more significant growth in the future.

Visit www.convergeict.com for more details.

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Editor’s Note: BrandedUp is designed to provide you with insightful, inspiring and educational content created by PhilSTAR L!fe in collaboration with brands like Converge ICT Solutions Inc..