Gaming time in Southeast Asia has increased by 53% following a decline that occurred after the pandemic

In Southeast Asia, gamers are dedicating more time to gaming activities in 2024, with a notable rise of 53.2% in weekly gaming hours per player compared to the previous year.

This information is highlighted in the latest SEA-6 Gamer Behavior and Market Insights Report by Niko Partners, which has been shared with GamesIndustry.biz. The report delves into current gaming trends across six key Southeast Asian nations: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Thailand and Vietnam recorded the most significant increases in gaming durations from the prior year. This surge comes after a substantial decline in 2023 across these markets, which was linked to shifting consumer habits following the pandemic.

The report also reveals that more women are purchasing games, with 30% of female players buying compared to 22% of male players.

Digital wallets emerge as the most favored payment option among SEA-6 gamers, used by over 75% for game purchases.

"With gamer purchasing power on the rise in these areas, we anticipate Southeast Asia to be the second-quickest growing region we track in terms of average revenue per paying user (ARPU) up to 2028," stated Lisa Hanson, CEO of Niko Partners.

"Success requires companies to recognize each market's unique traits rather than viewing the region as a single entity," she added.

The data further points out that over half of the gamers in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam prefer games with translations in their native languages, contrasting with other regions where English proficiency is higher.