Samsung today announced the Samsung Galaxy Gaming Academy, to bring together passionate gamers from across the Southeast Asia and Oceania region.

The Galaxy Gaming Academy focuses on the twin themes of nurturing up-and-coming talent and building a unique community of gamers spanning different backgrounds. Across the region, anyone with a passion for gaming can join as members of Galaxy Gaming Academy and gain exclusive access to programs such as community-bonding activities, educational and training content, as well as in-game rewards from local gaming partners.

For the young digital natives of today, gaming is an intrinsic part of their everyday lives.  In fact, the Samsung Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO) Gaming Insight Study^[1] found that more than half of gamers surveyed (56%) indulge in gaming more than a few times a week. This group of gamers are made up of both Gaming Enthusiasts and Hardcore Gamers[2], and spend a significant amount of time deeply engaged in gaming-related activities such as watching gaming videos, discussing gaming within their communities, and staying updated on gaming news.

These findings closely align with the region’s large Millennial and Gen Z population, who demonstrate a passion for gaming. In response to these customer trends, Samsung has designed the Galaxy Gaming Academy to be built on community involvement and cooperation, with content that is engaging for gamers of all levels. At the same time, it seeks to become a platform to provide members with upskilling and training opportunities, while also earning attractive rewards by being part of the community.

Carl Nordenberg, Regional Head of Mobile Experience Business, Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania, said, “We are incredibly excited to introduce the Samsung Galaxy Gaming Academy to all our fans in the region, to unite and nurture a unique community of gamers from all walks of life. We believe that gaming should be accessible for everyone and hope to enable more memorable mobile gaming experiences through the Galaxy Gaming Academy.”

A Galaxy of Experiences for Gamers

The Galaxy Gaming Academy will be progressively rolled out across the Southeast Asia and Oceania region, starting with Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, with additional launches planned in the rest of the region.

Samsung held a Galaxy Gaming Academy, 5G powered by CelcomDigi at Galaxy Space on 9 – 11 June 2023. Fans experienced the power of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra while playing two top mobile games during the gaming tournament. Equipped with a powerful processor, long-lasting battery, and Dynamic AMOLED 2X display that delivers clear, vivid details onscreen with smooth action, the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra delivers the ultimate gaming performance.

“Community lives at the heart of gaming, and at Samsung, we want to deepen our connection to our local gamer communities and industry partners that are passionate and engaged, through initiatives like Galaxy Gaming Academy. At the same time, we want to enable them to enjoy their gaming experiences like never before, whether on our powerful Galaxy devices, QLED TVs or gaming monitors.  Samsung provides the best gaming experience, for casual and hardcore gamers alike,” said KM Liew, Vice President & Head of Mobile eXperience (MX), Samsung Malaysia Electronics.

[1] Conducted in partnership with ONE Esports, over 6,800 consumers aged 18 to 49 across seven markets (Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) were surveyed in the last quarter of 2022.

[2] Hardcore gamers are defined by the study as gamers who play and watch gaming content multiple times a day, while gaming enthusiasts are characterized as gamers who play and watch gaming content a few times a week.

Esports and online gaming has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years. From what was seen as a niche hobby played within the confines of LAN cafes, dorm rooms and bedrooms, it is now a global powerhouse with thousands of players – and spectators – participating in large-scale organized events. This expansion has been fuelled in part by advancements in technologies like 5G, which has made esports and gaming more accessible to a wider audience.

Today, gamers can make a living by turning professional and taking part in competitions, or by streaming gameplay sessions online. Many youths worldwide are also showing a keen interest in gaming, and have fueled the popularity of esports by forming a growing viewer base, including major international tournaments.

As esports gains momentum globally, the recent Olympic Esports Week held in Singapore has further ignited interest in gaming in Southeast Asia.

This ground-breaking event spotlighted the exceptional dedication, skill, and competitive spirit of esports athletes. Across the region, competitive gaming communities then have the unique opportunity to shape discussions around the complexities of esports, fostering a broader appreciation among the general public and nurturing the growth of an inclusive and vibrant esports community.

Building communities around esports

In the young and dynamic Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO) region, the gaming community is particularly thriving. Findings from Samsung’s SEAO Gaming Insight Study[1] note that 7 in 10 online consumers in the region are gamers, and that more than half of gamers surveyed (56%) play games more than a few times a week.

Among gamers, they can be further categorized into Gaming Enthusiasts and Hardcore Gamers, who are deeply engaged in gaming-related activities such as watching gaming-related videos, discussing gaming within their communities, and staying updated on the latest gaming news. This reflects a vibrant community of gamers among the region’s consumers.

These findings closely align with the region’s large population of millennials and Gen Zs, who often demonstrate a passion for gaming. Samsung’s innovations in advancing the user experience whether on mobile or displays, are perfectly positioned to enable the gaming passions of youth in the region, be it for casual gamers who want to stay connected with their interests, or even budding esports players with ambitions to go professional.

“Youths in our region are passionate about gaming. We are excited to support our younger audiences in pushing the boundaries of gaming, and to provide cutting-edge Galaxy devices that keep up with all the action. Our partnerships with game developers, media partners, and other industry leaders, are likewise crucial to powering up gaming experiences.” – Carl Nordenberg, Regional Head of Mobile Experience Business, Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia and Oceania

“For gamers, having the right equipment can make all the difference. Our wide range of gaming monitors, such as the Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 and the Odyssey Ark, are catered for every need. Whether you are an avid hardcore player or a pro esports athlete, Samsung is committed to continue innovating for all gamers.” – Leslie Goh, Head of Regional Display Solutions, Samsung Southeast Asia and Oceania

Samsung is committed to transforming the experience for every gamer, with a dedicated line-up of smartphones and monitors that offer premium, gaming-optimized features to ensure smooth visuals and precise gameplay. With gaming enthusiasts in mind, Samsung has also partnered with ONE Esports to provide Galaxy users in Southeast Asia with early access to gaming news and content on the ONE Esports mobile app.

To unite and champion the growth of gaming communities, Samsung’s Galaxy Gaming Academy is rolling out across SEAO and it has already been launched in Indonesia. Gamers of all backgrounds are invited to join as members and gain exclusive access to community-bonding activities, educational and training content, and even in-game rewards from local gaming partners.

As a long-time Worldwide Olympic and Paralympic Partner, Samsung’s innovative technologies have transformed the way the sporting community, athletes, and fans around the world communicate and share the excitement with each other. Samsung is a premium partner of the inaugural Olympics Esports Week, which took place in Singapore from 22 to 25 June 2023.

Gaming enthusiasts can catch the key event highlights and follow the action on Olympics.com and Olympic social handles using versatile and powerful devices such as the Galaxy S23 series, Galaxy Z Fold4, Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra and Galaxy A series; or choose from Samsung’s performance monitors such as the Odyssey Ark and Odyssey OLED for a truly immersive experience.

[1] Conducted in partnership with ONE Esports, over 6,800 consumers aged 18 to 49 across seven markets (Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam) were surveyed in the last quarter of 2022.

The official go-to destination for all esports content, the ONE Esports mobile app powered by Samsung has been launched exclusively for Samsung Galaxy smartphones, giving Samsung Galaxy users first access[1] to latest news in esports that is sure to level up the gaming experience. Borne out of a long-term partnership between ONE Esports and Samsung in Southeast Asia, the newly-launched app is exclusive to Samsung Galaxy smartphones in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The ONE Esports mobile app was developed with gaming enthusiasts in mind and its joint development is testament to Samsung’s commitment and enthusiastic support of the gaming community.

Be a galaxy ahead

Samsung Galaxy users will have exclusive early access to content created, syndicated and aggregated on the ONE Esports mobile app. The customizable in-app push notification system ensures that Samsung Galaxy users will be the first to be notified about breaking esports news and the latest game updates.

The content will be localized across each market and made available in English, Bahasa Indonesia, Tagalog, Thai, and Vietnamese.

The app will be pre-loaded on selected new Samsung Galaxy A and Galaxy M series, including the newly launched Galaxy A54 5G and Galaxy A34 5G, and is also available for download on Samsung Galaxy Store and Google Play for over-the-air download exclusively on Samsung Galaxy smartphones in the six markets.

“Empowering Samsung Galaxy users through our technology is at the core of our brand. The ONE Esports mobile app delivers on this promise with first-access content to give our gaming and esports fans that extra edge. Samsung is proud to be collaborating with ONE Esports on this exclusive app experience and we are truly excited about the fantastic content created for this platform,” said Carl Nordenberg, Regional Head of Mobile Experience Business, Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia & Oceania.

“We are thrilled to unveil the ONE Esports mobile app exclusive to Samsung Galaxy. The app is the perfect one-stop hub for gaming and esports enthusiasts, providing them with access to the latest news, exclusive content, and a variety of features that will keep them ahead of the game. We look forward to building on this partnership with Samsung and supercharging the experience for all gaming and esports fans around the world,” said Carlos Alimurung, CEO, ONE Esports.

[1] First-access content will be released exclusively on the ONE Esports mobile app up to 1 week in advance.