Speech by MOS Alvin Tan at gamescom asia 2023

Ambassador Mercedes Alonso, Ambassador of Spain to Singapore,

Mr Mathias Kuepper, Managing Director of Koelnmesse,

Ms Felicia Lim, Vice-Chairperson of Singapore Games Association (SGGA),

Friends and colleagues,

Introduction

1.    Good afternoon.

2.    I am happy to be back again at gamescom asia. Thank you Koelnmesse Singapore for organising this event, and the German Games Industry Association for your support.

3.    Let me give an especially warm welcome to our guests from around the world who have travelled a long way to join us here in Singapore.

4.    I am excited to meet fellow gamers and our industry partners today to find out what is new in our gaming and e-sports scene.

Rise of Gaming and e-sports

5.    The gaming and e-sports industry in Singapore and the region holds plenty of promise.

a.    Research firm Statista estimates that video game and e-sports revenues in Singapore are expected to grow at an annual rate of 14% and 10% respectively, between 2023 to 2027.

b.    Singapore offers a gateway to the burgeoning gaming and e-sports market in Asia, which houses more than half[1] of the world’s gamers. In particular, Southeast Asia is one of the world’s fastest growing gaming markets, with a US$5 billion market size and 270 million gamers.[2] 

6.    The much-anticipated return of gamescom asia for a third year is reflective of the thriving community of game development studios, publishers, and service providers in Singapore. This year’s gamescom asia has doubled in size compared to last year, and the number of exhibitors has increased by over 50%.

7.    Gamescom asia comes to Singapore in the wake of a major international e-sports and gaming event in June this year, where we partnered the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the inaugural Olympic e-sports Week in Singapore. More than 130 competitors from over 60 countries competed in 10 virtual sport titles.

8.    All these competitions and events provide a one-stop shop for our partners to access the Asian market, and for our gamers and fans across the world to gather.

Strong Partnerships with Gaming Companies

9. I would like to acknowledge the strong partnerships and support we received from our international and local industry partners.

10. One such example is Capcom, a leading game developer, publisher, and distributor best known for games such as Street Fighter, Resident Evil, Mega Man, and Monster Hunter.

  a.    I am glad that Capcom is holding one of its Capcom Pro Tour Offline Premier tournaments at gamescom asia.

b.    This is the first time the Capcom Pro Tour has held an offline premier in Southeast Asia and in Singapore. I look forward to seeing top Street Fighter 6 players compete for a place at the Capcom Cup X world finals.

c.     If you would like to reminisce or try your hands on some pre-releases, I highly recommend that you check out Capcom’s Exhibition booth, found exclusively here at gamescom asia.

d.    I would like to thank Capcom for choosing Singapore as one of the offline premier locations. I look forward to more such collaborations in future.

11. We also have many homegrown game developers who are showcasing Singapore’s creativity and innovation to the world. 

a.    One of our local startups is BattleBrew Productions, which will launch their latest game, Cuisineer, in about two weeks. Cuisineer puts players in the shoes of a young intrepid hero-turned-restaurant owner, and aptly features Singaporeans’ love for good food.

b.    Another example is The GentleBros, creator of the beloved adventure RPG (Role-Playing Game) series, Cat Quest. For avid players, you would be happy to know that the third installation, Cat Quest III, is coming in 2024.

c.     As we see more international platforms coming to Singapore, I am confident that our local developers will gain greater global recognition in time to come.

Nurturing Gaming and e-sports Talent

12. Looking to the future, we hope to continue supporting our gaming and e-sports industry, so that our businesses remain competitive and talented individuals can seek out promising and exciting careers. This means investing in talent development, fostering innovation, and creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive. 

a.    In my speech last year, I mentioned the e-sports Academy set up by the Singapore Cybersports and Online Gaming Association (SCOGA) with support from the National Youth Council. The e-sports Academy offers courses and programmes for youth to hone their skills in e-sports and related areas (e.g. livestreaming), while building their leadership and character.

13. Through our efforts, we would like gaming and e-sports to go beyond entertainment; we also wish to foster camaraderie, instil important values, and create a healthy ecosystem that benefits our people.

Conclusion

14. gamescom asia 2023 represents another milestone in the growth and development of the gaming and e-sports industry. It is a celebration of the incredible talent, creativity, and vibrancy in our gaming community. We are proud that Singapore can offer the community with such a space to gather, interact, and make the future happen.

15. To our competitors and fans, I wish you all the best in your competition brackets (unless you are facing me as a competitor). For our visitors from abroad, in addition to taking in the festivities here, I hope you are also able to explore the sights, sounds, and of course, food that Singapore has to offer.

16. Let us make gamescom asia a resounding success and continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in gaming and e-sports.

Thank you.

[1] 55% (Source: Statista, 2023)

[2] Source: Nico Partners, 2022