Malaysian Gaming Content Exports Soar 75 Pct To US$19 Mln

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's gaming content exports jumped to US$19.01 million (RM80 million) last year, up 75 per cent compared with 2014, boosted by greater acceptance from the global gaming industry. Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Chief Executive Officer Yasmin Mahmood said the growth reflected the country's potential to become a regional gaming hub by 2025. "The momentum is there...we are getting recognition from the global gaming industry," she told reporters at the Southeast Asia Annual Gaming Conference, Level Up KL, here Tuesday. Earlier in her speech, Yasmin said Malaysia aimed to become the regional hub for the gaming industry, bolstered by the industry's robust growth in the region. "The Southeast Asia video games market represents about four per cent of the global consumption and it is expected to grow faster than any other region in the near future," she said. Yasmin said driven by the rapid rise in Internet access and ownership of information and communications technology devices, the region’s market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 30 per cent between 2015 and 2018, the fastest growth of any region, while global growth is estimated at seven per cent. "The Southeast Asia gaming market is estimated to reach US$2.8 billion by 2018," she added. In its effort to establish Malaysia as a gaming hub, MDEC in March 2015 partnered with GameFounders, the first gaming start-up accelerator in Europe, to bring regional game accelerators to Malaysia, said Yasmin. "MDEC is committed to opening up doors and opportunities for Malaysian talents in the gaming industry," she said. Based on the PriceWaterHouseCoopers Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2013-2017, Malaysia’s gaming market was worth US$172.81 million (RM727 million) in 2013 and is expected to grow 20 per cent to US$206.53 million (RM868.70 million) by 2017. Organised by MDEC, the five-day conference beginning Nov 5 has attracted over 500 participants including game developers, investors, game publishers and technology providers from both the local and international gaming industry. -- BERNAMA