KUALA LUMPUR: Esports continues to thrive in Southeast Asia, driven largely by heavyweights such as Mobile Legends from Moonton and PUBG Mobile from Krafton.
But beyond multiplayer online battle arenas (MOBAs) and mobile gaming giants lies another competitive scene that predates both genres — fighting games.
While still considered niche within the broader esports ecosystem, 2D and 3D fighting games continue attracting fiercely dedicated communities and competitive players worldwide. Naturally, they do not command the same prize pools or commercial scale as mainstream mobile esports titles.
Franchises such as Street Fighter and Tekken, however, have remained pillars of competitive gaming for decades and continue drawing massive followings.
That enduring appeal was evident at EVO Japan 2026, one of the world’s premier fighting game tournaments, where several Southeast Asian players finished among the top 50 in Tekken 8 against more than 800 elite competitors, including players from South Korea and Pakistan.
Among the standout performers were Thailand’s Nopparut “Book” Hempamorn, Alexandre “AK” Laverez, and Malaysia’s Nik “INC | Jobber” Na’im, all of whom delivered strong performances on one of fighting games’ biggest stages.
For Malaysia in particular, the results reflect a growing resurgence in the local fighting game scene following events such as Rise Up Street Fighter 2026 earlier this year.
The scene, admittedly, has endured years of turbulence caused by mismanagement, cronyism and organisational incompetence.
However, momentum appears to be returning as experienced organisers and long-time community figures gradually rebuild the ecosystem with clearer direction and more sustainable planning.
If that momentum continues, 2026 could become a defining year for fighting games in Malaysia — even if growth comes gradually rather than explosively.
Short Beats
Upcoming Sega action-adventure title Stranger Than Heaven will launch in Winter 2026 for PC and consoles, and will also be available as a Day One Xbox Game Pass title.
Capcom’s new action game PRAGMATA has surpassed two million sales within 16 days of launch.
Nintendo will release a remake of 1993 spaceship rail shooter game StarFox for Nintendo Switch 2 on June 25. It marks the franchise’s third reboot following StarFox 64 in 1997 and Star Fox 64 3D in 2011.
Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick said he was “deeply disappointed” the publisher had not released a new BioShock game in more than a decade. The most recent title, BioShock Infinite, was released in 2013.
Following the release of the new Mortal Kombat II movie in Malaysian cinemas this week, franchise creator Ed Boon said NetherRealm Studios was “definitely pursuing another Mortal Kombat game”.
The next major Path of Exile 2 update, Return of the Ancients, will launch on May 29, adding more than 50 hours of endgame content, two new Ascendancy classes and additional loot.
Popular indie roguelite deckbuilder Slay The Spire 2 has received mostly negative reviews amid online backlash over media critic and consultant Anita Sarkeesian’s involvement in the game.
Sony announced it has shipped more than 93.7 million PlayStation 5 consoles, while PlayStation Network recorded more than 125 million monthly active users as of March 31. However, Sony also recorded an impairment loss of US$565 million against Bungie during the quarter.
Japanese player Eisuke “Yamaguchi” Yamaguchi won the Street Fighter 6 tournament� at EVO Japan 2026 after defeating American champion Victor “Punk” Woodley in the final.
Other EVO Japan 2026 highlights:
- South Korean player Kim “iKARi” Min-kyu defeated Bae “Knee” Jae-Min to win the Tekken 8 tournament.
- Japanese player “Tyurara” defeated renowned South Korean player Kim “Daru” Jae-won to win the Guilty Gear Strive tournament.
Op-Ed
We discuss EVO Japan 2026, including the performances of Southeast Asia’s top players at the tournament.
Games Out This Week
Dead as Disco is an action game featuring rhythm-based minigame elements. Players take control of Charlie Disco as he battles former bandmates to the soundtrack of songs such as “Maniac” and “Final Countdown”. Out now in Early Access for PC.
Alabaster Dawn is an action role-playing game by indie developer Radical Fish Games. Players control Juno, a young woman tasked with restoring a ruined world through combat, puzzles and dungeon exploration. Out now in Early Access for PC.
Mixtape is a new adventure title from developer Beethoven and Dinosaur. The game follows three friends embarking on one final adventure while reliving memories through music from their generation. Out now for PC and consoles.
Motorslice is a new action-adventure indie title from Regular Studio and Top Hat Studios. Players control a green-haired protagonist named ‘P’ as she parkours through abandoned factories and desert arenas while battling giant mechanical enemies. Out now for PC and consoles.
Recommended Viewings
YouTube creator Dan Olson from Folding Ideas examines the cultural impact — or lack thereof — of Call of Duty: Ghosts, widely regarded as one of the franchise’s weakest entries. In a gaming landscape where the future of Call of Duty remains at a crossroads, the retrospective offers insight into where the series faltered and what developers can learn from its mistakes. Click here to watch the video.
