The SEA Games 2025 is set to bring excitement to the esports world as it incorporates competitive gaming as a medal discipline alongside traditional sports. With circuits winding down for the year, anticipation builds for the biennial event’s 33rd edition, boasting a fresh lineup of esports titles that reflect the region’s gaming popularity.
SEA Games And Esports
Since 2019, esports has been included in the SEA Games as a medal event. The inaugural inclusion saw titles like Tekken 7, Hearthstone, and Dota 2 captivating audiences. In 2021, the competition expanded to include ten medal events across eight games, introducing League of Legends and PUBG Mobile, and marking the debut of women’s events for League of Legends: Wild Rift. By 2023, the scope narrowed to six games across nine competitions. **For 2025, only four esports titles have been selected, spanning six medal events, with tournaments scheduled from December 13th to 19th in Bangkok, Thailand.** The Huamark Sports Training Center will host most esports tournaments, except for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, held at Chulalongkorn University.
SEA Games 2025 Esports Titles
Leading the charge at the SEA Games 2025 is Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, featuring both men’s and women’s tournaments, marking its fourth appearance as a medal event. MOONTON Games, the developer, has collaborated with the Thailand E-Sports Federation to advance economic prospects through esports. Arena of Valor, another mobile MOBA staple, continues its presence since esports’ introduction at the games. Free Fire returns as a popular first-person shooter in Southeast Asia, while FC Online stands out as the sole non-mobile title in the esports roster.
SEA Games Esports Medal Winners
Thailand, the 2025 host, has a rich history of success in SEA Games esports, securing gold in Arena of Valor in 2019. The Philippines emerged as the most successful nation that year, clinching golds in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Starcraft II, and Dota 2. Vietnam dominated the 2021 games, winning four gold medals across various titles, while Indonesia led the 2023 medal table with victories in VALORANT, PUBG Mobile, MLBB, and Crossfire. The Philippines’ MLBB teams, both men’s and women’s, continue to impress, securing titles alongside other strong performances from Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam.
SEA Games 2025 Esports Demonstrations
Beyond medal events, SEA Games 2025 will also feature an esports demonstration showcasing the auto-battler title Magic Chess: Go Go (MCGG). Set for December 12th, this demonstration will see Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines compete.