Ten years ago, a career in the Esports industry was unheard of. The term “Esports” conjured images of young players holed up in dark rooms or busy internet cafés, eyes glued to the screen and unable to think of anything else except how to make it to the next level. Some call it an obsession, others call it an addiction — but a select few see it as resolve.
Today, that same resolve has pushed Filipino gamers under the bright global e-game spotlight: during Saudi Arabia’s inaugural Esports World Cup earlier this year, the Philippines was recognized as the “Esports Ones to Watch: Emerging Region” in the 2024 Esports Awards.
The Philippines’ rise in the international Esports industry has been a steady one. In 2019, during the Southeast Asian Games’ first ever Esports event, the country’s players won three gold medals for beating opponents in games such as Mobile Legends Bang Bang (MLBB), Dota 2, and Starcraft II. In 2023, the International Esports Federation awarded the Philippines with the National Federation of the Year award. That same year, during the 2023 World Esports Championship, the national Esports team Sibol was crowned the overall champion after besting 111 other countries. The country is so committed to strengthening its gaming industry that in 2012, it created the Philippine Esports Organization, a national governing body dedicated to Esports.
It is only natural that the Philippines is trying to carve its own niche in the multi-billion dollar Esports industry. Countries are racing to invest in this growing field; for instance, Saudi Arabia has promised to invest $38 billion in video games by 2030 to diversify its oil-centric economy. In 2024, the Esport market worldwide saw a projected total revenue of $3.4 billion — this number is expected to grow annually by 6.6 percent, reaching $5.9 billion in 2029. Globally, it is predicted that 495 million viewers actively consume Esport-related content, and this number is set to grow as well by 10.4 percent every year.
The Philippines’ rise to Esport glory has largely been due to the founding of private Esports companies. Tier One Entertainment, a local Esports and gaming-oriented entertainment agency, is one of the country’s pioneers in representing professional gamers both from the Philippines and across Southeast Asia. Tier One is the brain child of Tryke Gutierrez, Brian Lim, and Alodia Gosiengfiao, all of whom have fiercely advocated for the careers of up-and-coming gamers.
“We’ve changed a lot of lives,” says Jaba Orellana, Tier One’s vice president of talent operations and international expansion. “[Gamers] would start off as truck drivers, but now they own houses and sports cars… We’ve actually unlocked a new career path for a lot of young people.”
Tier One, Orellana explains, provided a platform and a stable way of life for gamers who, prior to signing with the agency, had no idea they could financially sustain themselves with their hobby. Talent such as Cong TV, Junnie Boy, Biancake, Rogerraker, and Ashley Gosiengfiao all rose to prominence under the Tier One brand. “The way we were able to shape and provide opportunities for these creators is just priceless,” says Orellana on looking back at the short but impactful history of Tier One.
However, Orellana admits, Tier One faced its own share of issues since it was founded in 2017. “When we were starting out,” says Orellana, “it was tough to get brands on board. We only had a couple of talents. The whole of 2018 was mostly spent on educating brands.” The agency saw a lot of pushback from local companies who were more used to traditional advertising mediums. As much of Tier One’s revenue is generated through sponsorships, brand partnerships, and advertising, the agency initially struggled to find its footing.
Orellana argues that the pandemic was what turned the tide for Tier One. With everyone forced to stay at home during a global lockdown, many turned to video games for comfort. Today, Tier One has evolved into a top tier brand that companies want to partner with. Such partnerships include a collaboration with ABS-CBN, which produced and aired Tier One’s first gaming-centric reality show, The Gaming House. “The industry skyrocketed,” says Orellana.
Looking to the future of gaming in the Philippines, Orellana remains confident that Tier One will be at the forefront of pushing the country’s Esports industry even further. One of the company’s latest ventures is Blackout Manila, a festival launching this December that will celebrate local gamers, musicians, and artists. “[Blackout] will create more streaming opportunities not just for gamers and Esports creators, but for creators in general,” Orellana says. He also makes reference to the company’s future plans, but remains tight-lipped about their details. “I cannot really disclose it right now,” he says, “but we do have a lot of plans to create new intellectual properties… the goal of Tier One is to provide a lot of opportunities.”
Orellana remains confident that the country will be a worthy contender in the global Esports market. “We want the dream to continue,” Orellana says, “especially for the younger generation.”
