2019 is going to be lit

Gaming brand Razer has scored a major victory for eSports, as the company announced today that eSports is now recognized, medalled event in the upcoming 2019 Southeast Asian Games. This also means that Razer is the official eSports partner for said games. Making eSports a medalled event is important in legitimizing eSports as a world-class sporting contest like traditional sports. 

The company, specifically Razer co-founder and CEO Min-Lian Tan has been actively working with Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (PhilSGOC) and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) in achieving this goal.

“eSports has been the essence of Razer ever since we were founded, and we have supported countless global tournaments, teams, and athletes over the past decade and a half,” Tan said. “The sportsmanship and fighting spirit seen in eSports is no less than that of other sports, and we’ve fought hard for its inclusion in an international sporting event like the SEA Games 2019.”

The company will be providing the hardware, software, and services for the said event, along with building an E-Coliseum to hold these tournaments, though as of press time there’s no official list of games to be used as of yet. As for actual platforms, it’s been confirmed that there will be two PC games, two mobile games, and two console games included, with the first game partner being Moonton, the publisher of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

Razer is also working with PhilSGOC and POC in building a Philippines eSports team through a selection process that includes gaming qualifiers.

While there is no official venue for the tournaments as of this writing, PhilSGOC Chairman Emeritus Alan Peter Cayetano said that they plan to hold most of the tournaments in Subic and New Clark City, though they are open to holding some of the tournaments in Metro Manila. PhilSGOC and POC are eyeing the Philippine Arena in Bulacan for the opening and closing ceremonies.