A recent report by Niko Partners reveals a significant increase in the number of female gamers in Asia. Currently, 37% of gamers in the region are female, and this figure is expected to grow even further. In fact, the number of female gamers is projected to rise by 11% annually, twice as fast as their male counterparts. This trend highlights the growing popularity of gaming as a hobby among women in Asia. Venturebeat reports that the Philippines has the highest proportion of female gamers, while India and China have the smallest.

Mobile Gaming Dominates

The report also emphasizes that mobile gaming is the preferred platform for female gamers in Asia. An astounding 95% of female gamers play games on their mobile devices. This preference for mobile gaming showcases the accessibility and convenience of playing on smartphones. Furthermore, the gender divide in the mobile-first Southeast Asian region is much smaller compared to other platforms, with an almost equal split between male and female players.

In terms of revenue, female gamers contribute to 23.5% of all gaming revenue in the region. This significant share is predicted to nearly double in the coming years.

The Power of Female Gamers

Lisa Hanson, the CEO and founder of Niko Partners, recognizes the influence and potential of the female gaming segment in the market. She emphasizes the importance of incorporating a female-friendly approach in game development and marketing strategies. Companies expanding or entering the Asian market should consider hiring women to shape future game titles, create impactful marketing campaigns, and influence the portrayal of women in video games.

The majority of female players in Asia fall under the casual gaming category. However, the report reveals a growing number of female Gen Z gamers engaging in competitive gaming and esports. Among the top genres favored by female players in Asia, puzzle games take the lead at 39.2%, followed by MOBA (26.9%) and battle royale (20.3%).

Addressing Representation and Discrimination

Despite the rising number of female gamers in Asia, more than half of them express dissatisfaction with the portrayal of female characters and the presence of discrimination in the gaming space. To address this issue, Niko Partners suggests that developers focus on designing and developing more diverse and representative female characters. Offering a variety of avatar options can help create a more inclusive and accurate representation of the female population.

In a related study, Niko Partners previously examined gaming in the MENA-3 region in February.