Esports help build local Gen Z community

“In esports, working together is very important for success,” said Gen Z player Pong Ka-hei, 25, known as SiufatBB to his peers and the founder of the Hong Kong Griffin ESports Organization. 

Pong is also a professional player for the popular game Valorant and the champion of VALORANT Champions Tour 2022: Hong Kong & Taiwan Stage 2 Challengers.

“Every team member, including me, is from a different place and family. Everyone has a unique background, but the challenge is to do our best as a team,” Pong said.

Through their teamwork and shared passion, he believes Gen Z is actively building a supportive community in esports.

Gen Z gamers can be spotted in Hong Kong. South Korean Esports powerhouse, fifth-time champion of League of Legends World Championship, T1, led by captain Lee Sang-hyeok (Faker), came to Hong Kong to host the HSBC One x T1 “League of One” party on Sept  29 at the Asiaworld Summit. Hundreds of fans got to watch them play against each other and also got to meet the players' family members.

Being a fan of T1, Matthew Fai, said he made many lifelong friends through gaming, such as local competitions and online games. 

“One of my favourite games is League of Legends,” Fai said.

The gaming community in Hong Kong has been growing since the early 2010s, particularly after significant events like local player Lau Wai Kin, known as Toyz, winning League of Legends: Season 2 World Championship in 2012.

In 2018, the Hong Kong government invested HK$100 million to promote esports, showing strong support for gaming in the region.

According to the market research website Market.us, the global esports market was valued at around US$1.8 billion (HK$13 billion) in 2022 but grew to around US$2.4 billion(HK$18 billion) the following year.

Esports charts reported “League of Legends” as the most viewed online game in the world, followed closely by “Dota 2” and “Fortnite”. Other notable games include “PUBG Mobile,”Overwatch,” “Call of Duty,” “Apex Legends,” and “Valorant”. The charts also report the gaming community goes beyond borders, connecting players from many countries, like the United States, China, and South Korea. 

The audience spans different age groups, with the Entertainment Software Association noting that more than 70% of gamers in the U.S. are adults. 

As a Gen Z who works in the Esports field, Lee Zhi-jie, a 24-year-old community leader and promoter of the Valorant Champions Event, said that the esports community can give more opportunities for Gen Z gamers to pursue gaming as a viable job choice.

“The esports sector has expanded career paths, from professional players to internet roles like streamers, coaches and event planners,” Lee said.

“The business side of esports, such as brand endorsements, is also on the rise,” he said. 

Top esports players in Hong Kong can earn substantial incomes through various channels, including prize money and sponsorship deals with gaming brands. For example, Nate Kou, also known as Kreo, is the highest-earning local player with more than US$1.2 million (HK$9.3 million) in prize money, according to Statista. 

Besides raking in the cash, Lee believes esports can enhance life skills.

“Gaming communities like VALORANT help players build critical skills beyond gaming itself, such as communication, teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and self-confidence,” Lee said.

“From managing stress to self-expression, players learn how to handle pressure and communicate effectively which are beneficial both in gaming and real life,” he said. 

Players are exposed to international tactics and gameplay styles. This exposure enhances their strategic thinking and adaptability in competitive situations.

Gen Z gamers in gaming may not always lean on the positives, as esports has been linked to some mental health issues by The World Health Organization, which recognizes “gaming disorder” as a mental health problem in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Intense competition can create a lot of stress, making it hard for players to handle their feelings.

Long hours of gaming can strain players’ eyes, leading to problems like headaches and blurred vision. Gen Z players may not take regular breaks, which can worsen these issues.

Despite these challenges, Pong and his teammates support each other, united not only by their passion for gaming but also by the need to manage these pressures together.

“Learning to manage emotions, avoid impulsive decisions and analyze situations from multiple perspectives has helped me navigate challenges more effectively,” Pong said.

Older Gen Z-ers, such as Cici Chi, 28, and Joey Wang, 25, from mainland China, also pursue their passion for gaming by travelling to Hong Kong just to meet the professional gamer team, T1.

“The event was amazing. Cheering for our favourite teams together and talking about strategies has made my gaming experience so much richer,” Chi said. 

“It’s more than just playing; it’s about building connections,” Chi said.

Esports continues to garner attention from working Gen Z-ers, such as T1 fans Lai Mei Ki and Jeff Mok, who said they left straight from work to meet their favorite esports team.

“T1 has not just given me a team to root for, but a community to belong to, and that means everything to me,” Mok said. 

Esports continue and are expected to have bigger economic support in the future, which may prompt Gen Z gamers to participate more in esports.

“In the next decade, I expect local economic development to be driven by new investment in esports-related fields such as equipment, game development, and live streaming,” Lee said.