Esports Federation Cambodia (EFC) has announced the games that will be contested in the upcoming 2023 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Cambodia. Through its official website, EFC has revealed that there will be nine gold medals up for grabs in esports categories. For the SEA Games 2023, EFC has teamed up with Vietnamese esports organizer VNG Games, who also organized esports categories in the previous SEA Games in Vietnam.
There are not many changes in the game categories announced by EFC, as titles such as PUBG Mobile, Wild Rift, and Mobile Legends will still be contested. PUBG Mobile will again host two categories, namely team and individual, while Mobile Legends will hold categories for men and women.
Interestingly, the SEA Games 2023 will mark the debut of the game Valorant, which will be contested for the first time in the SEA Games. Valorant will replace Wild Rift for women, which was contested in the 2021 SEA Games in Vietnam.
In addition to the aforementioned games, local titles such as Cross Fire and AK2 will also be contested in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.
In the previous edition, the Indonesian esports team brought home two gold medals, three silver medals, and one bronze medal, with the two golds coming from the Free Fire and PUBG Mobile Team categories.
The SEA Games 2023 Cambodia will take place from May 5 to May 17, 2023, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Here is a list of the games that will be contested in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia:
- AK2 (PC) - Individual
- AK2 (PC) - Team
- PUBG Mobile - Individual
- PUBG Mobile - Team
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang - Men
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang - Women
- Wild Rift - Men
- Valorant (PC) - Team
- Cross Fire (PC) - Team
Esports continues to gain popularity in the region, and its inclusion in the SEA Games has helped to legitimize it as a competitive sport. The upcoming SEA Games 2023 in Cambodia promises to be an exciting showcase of the latest esports titles and the best esports athletes in the region.
Esports have come a long way since their early days as a niche hobby. Today, the industry has grown into a multi-billion dollar market, with millions of players and spectators around the world. In Southeast Asia, the growth of esports has been particularly notable, as the region has become a hub for some of the world's top esports teams and players.
The inclusion of esports in the SEA Games has helped to fuel this growth, as it has provided a platform for esports athletes to compete at the highest level and showcase their skills to a wider audience. It has also helped to raise the profile of esports in the region and legitimize it as a sport in its own right.
The upcoming SEA Games 2023 in Cambodia promises to be an exciting showcase of the latest esports titles and the best esports athletes in the region. With games like PUBG Mobile, Mobile Legends, and Valorant on the roster, fans can expect to see some intense and thrilling matches between some of the region's top teams and players.
The inclusion of local games like AK2 and Cross Fire also highlights the importance of supporting and promoting homegrown talent in the esports industry. By providing a platform for local players and teams to compete at an international level, the SEA Games is helping to foster the growth of the esports industry in the region and ensure its long-term sustainability.
Overall, the inclusion of esports in the SEA Games has been a positive development for the industry and the region as a whole. It has helped to promote esports as a legitimate and respected sport, and has provided a platform for talented players and teams to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level. With the continued growth and popularity of esports in Southeast Asia, we can expect to see even more exciting developments and opportunities in the years to come.
