The Thai Gaming Market: A Booming Industry Despite Challenges
The value of Thailand’s computer gaming market is projected to reach 36.1 billion baht this year, up 1.6% from 2024, driven by an increasing number of players, new launches, and promotional campaigns by game service providers. However, the industry faces several challenges that could impact its growth. A Key Driver of Growth
* Increasing number of players
* New launches
* Promotional campaigns by game service providers
The Thai gaming market is expected to continue growing due to various factors. One key driver of growth is the increasing number of players. With the rise of mobile gaming, more and more people are playing games on their smartphones and tablets. This has led to a significant increase in the number of gaming accounts in Thailand. According to Newzoo data, there were over 42 million gaming accounts in Thailand in 2024, an increase of more than 14 million accounts, or an average growth of 10% per year since 2023. Another factor driving growth is the launch of new games. This year, international game companies plan to launch new titles, including expensive “AAA” games, along with new gaming hardware. Game developers are also encouraging gamers to spend more on purchasing items, characters, and in-game currency by offering special limited-edition items. E-sports Competitions
* Increased investment in e-sports competitions
* Growing popularity of e-sports among Thai gamers
* Potential for e-sports to contribute to the growth of the local gaming industry
E-sports competitions are another factor supporting the growth of the local gaming industry. The popularity of e-sports is growing rapidly among Thai gamers, with many professional gamers competing in local and international tournaments. This has led to increased investment in e-sports competitions, with game developers and publishers investing in teams, equipment, and training programs. However, the growth rate of the games market has slowed down due to a slower increase in the number of gaming accounts. According to K-Research, the number of gaming accounts is projected to grow by 1.2% this year, down from 10% per year in previous years. Challenges to the Thai Gaming Industry
* Unfavourable economy
* Shortages of game development skills and funding
* Limited competition from foreign games
Despite the growth of the Thai gaming industry, there are several challenges that could impact its growth. One major challenge is the unfavourable economy, which has led to reduced spending on games and in-game items. The low growth of the local games market is also attributable to the declining revenue of Thai game developers, who have faced competition from foreign games. Another challenge is the shortage of game development skills and funding. Thai game developers lack experts in game coding, language skills, marketing, and business perspectives that are needed to develop complex games. This limits the ability of Thai game developers to compete with international game firms. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in production is also a challenge for Thai game developers. While GenAI has the potential to revolutionize the game development industry, its use in Thai game development is limited due to funding constraints and a lack of skilled professionals. Opportunities for Growth
* Increased spending on mobile phone games
* Growing popularity of PC games and console and handheld gaming devices
* Potential for e-sports to contribute to the growth of the local gaming industry
Despite the challenges facing the Thai gaming industry, there are opportunities for growth. The spending on mobile phone games is expected to continue growing, with Thai users’ spending on mobile games via in-app purchases growing by 16% last year, higher than the global average of 4%. The popularity of PC games and console and handheld gaming devices is also expected to grow, with players in these segments typically having higher purchasing power and being more likely to competitively play games. The growth of e-sports is another opportunity for the Thai gaming industry. **Table 1: Key Statistics**
| Segment | Market Value | Growth Rate |
| — | — | — |
| Mobile Phone Games | 36.1 billion baht | 1.8% |
| PC Games | 11.8 billion baht | 10% |
| Console and Handheld Gaming Devices | 8.2 billion baht | 12% |
**Figure 1: Gaming Accounts in Thailand**
| Year | Gaming Accounts |
| — | — |
| 2023 | 28 million |
| 2024 | 42 million |
| 2025 | 44.8 million |
Note: The data is based on Newzoo and Sensor Tower reports. In Conclusion
The Thai gaming market is expected to continue growing despite the challenges facing the industry. The increasing number of players, new game launches, and promotional campaigns by game service providers are key drivers of growth. However, the industry faces several challenges, including the unfavourable economy, shortages of game development skills and funding, and limited competition from foreign games. Despite these challenges, there are opportunities for growth, including increased spending on mobile phone games, the growing popularity of PC games and console and handheld gaming devices, and the potential for e-sports to contribute to the growth of the local gaming industry. **Definitions**
* AAA: A class of games that are considered to be of high quality and have a large budget. * GenAI: Generative artificial intelligence, a type of AI that can generate new content, such as game stories and visuals. * Mid-core and hardcore games: Games that are considered to be more complex and have greater revenue potential than mid-core games. * In-app purchases: Purchases made directly from within a game, rather than purchasing the entire game upfront. * PC games: Games that are played on personal computers. * Console and handheld gaming devices: Games that are played on console systems, such as PlayStation and Xbox, or handheld devices, such as Nintendo Switch.
news is a contributor at Vivid Gamer. We are committed to providing well-researched, accurate, and valuable content to our readers.
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