A Case Study of eSports Participation: An Interview Approach

eSports has penetrated Malaysia and growing steadily. As a result, the Malaysian government has implemented several initiatives to nurture players, such as financial support and establishing Malaysian universities to provide eSport courses. However, the number of active pro players is still deficient compared to Malaysia’s total population. The study reveals that youths engage more in eSports gameplay. Therefore, a study is needed to investigate the enablers to influence youth participation in eSports in Malaysia. A systematic literature review has revealed that vicarious achievement, aesthetic aspects, physical attractiveness, drama, escape, acquisition of knowledge, appreciation of the payer skills and social interaction are the enablers to influence eSports participation. Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted with six professionals in the eSports industry. The result shows that six participants agreed that vicarious achievement, aesthetic aspects, and social interaction significantly influence youth participation in eSports in Malaysia. Besides, physical attractiveness, drama, escape, acquisition of knowledge and appreciation of the player’s skills obtained mixed results. This study will aid the stakeholders in the eSports ecosystem in drafting better marketing strategies and game designs to encourage potential players to participate in eSports and retain the existing players to participate in eSports.