The oceanic eSport market
Since the eSport came into being, it's safe to say that Oceania has been the continent most neglected by eSports competition organizers. But some publishers and manufacturers, well aware that a new audience is to be conquered in Australia and New Zealand, are increasingly interested in the oceanic eSports market. Smite, League of Legends, Call of Duty are all games entitled to satellite tournaments and Main Events in Oceania.
A market that is becoming more structured
The Oceania eSports industry is composed of two local markets: Australia and New Zealand. Prior to 2016, the year that corresponds to the founding of the Oceania Esports Council (OEC) by the strong federations of the two English-speaking neighbors, the eSports competitions held there were not governed by any entity. Indeed, the New Zealand Esports Federation and Australian Esports Association are working together to ensure that Oceania is represented in major international events, with both collaborators having their sights set on the upcoming Olympics. But among their other missions is solving some of the problems that continue to stand in the way of Australian and New Zealand e-athletes.
Indeed, the New Zealand Esports Federation and the Australian Esports Association share common goals of integrity, governance and development of all eSports disciplines, including amateur and professional. However, the future of the OEC hangs by a thread: despite the values they share, the success of their mission will only be achieved if Australia and New Zealand gain recognition from their peers.
But this tends to happen in the future. Indeed, more and more prestigious events such as the Call of Duty World League are being exported to Oceania. Indeed, the league funded by publisher Activision allows players from Australia and New Zealand to compete for a qualifying spot in the global affiliates, which pit the best of each league against each other.
In Oceania, a very involved amateur eSport community
But the Oceania eSports market also includes a large number of non-professional eSports competitions. For example, the Amateur Australian Overwatch Ladder (AAOL) is the largest amateur eSports competition on the continent. It brings together up to 1,000 players each week to compete in games that are broadcast on some local television stations. In addition, the summit matches are broadcast on the AEA's Twitch channel. Open to players of all levels, the AAOL is all about friendliness.
If the eSport market in Oceania is appreciable, it is for its fun and relaxed side. Certainly the amateur competitions are casual, but for many players who dream of becoming professionals one day, they represent an ideal springboard to glory. Other oceanic eSport competitions that are destined to go professional include Cybergamer, IMBA Esports and Christchurch LAN.
Overall, the outlook for eSports in Oceania is promising, although there are disparities between players due to their respective levels. The region's most successful player, Anathan Pham, has earned more than $6 million since the beginning of his career on Dota 2, which is the most popular competitive video game on the continent. Behind him, Damien Chok has nearly $1.7 million in earnings. But the third highest ranked player in Oceania, Justin Savage, has only just passed the $170,000 mark...
