Valve’s Steam platform has conquered Southeast Asia’s growing PC gaming market with great dominance, according to Omdia’s South-Eastern Asia Online Gaming Report-2025.
In 2024, Steam achieved a new milestone by recording an impressive 11.5 million yearly active users (YAUs). This contributes 3.7% to global YAUs.
Steam’s growth comes from its localized strategy. It integrates region-specific pricing and supports local payment gateways, which makes it the go-to platform for developers.
While the mobile gaming sector recorded only 2% growth in 2024, football games became a favourite that attracted so many players. Konami’s eFootball and EA’s FC Mobile Soccer covered so many major football events, including strategic updates and high-profile IP collaborations.
This has contributed to a 39% revenue surge in the sports genre. Despite an overall surge in the leaderboard, these games hold their dominance.
One of the crucial factors behind this success is a supportive environment for the gaming industry to thrive in the region. Southeast Asian governments are supporting the growth of gaming ecosystems with esports-friendly policies. This include infrastructure development, talent nurturing, and intellectual property protection.
However, regulatory challenges are still out there. Some countries continue to impose restrictions on foreign games and developers to protect local creators and young audiences.
“Southeast Asia remains a key battleground for developers”, Chenyu Cui, Senior Analyst at Omdia said. “While the market presents immense growth potential, success depends on adapting to shifting regulations, leveraging local partnerships and aligning with regional gaming trends.”
Steam Dominates Southeast Asia’s PC Gaming Market: Report
