Asian esports has entered a defining new chapter as the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Tencent Esports officially launch a ten-year strategic partnership running from 2025 to 2035. Announced on January 22, 2026, the agreement names Tencent Esports as the Official Esports Technology Partner of the OCA, signaling a major evolution from event-based collaboration to full-scale system co-construction.
This landmark partnership aims to accelerate the integration of esports and traditional sports across Asia by focusing on technology, governance standards, and long-term ecosystem development, laying the groundwork for sustainable growth over the next decade.
From Event Support to System Co-Construction
The OCA–Tencent Esports collaboration is built on years of proven trust and shared success. Tencent Esports has played a crucial role in esports’ journey within the Asian Games ecosystem, beginning with its debut as a demonstration sport at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games, followed by deeper cooperation in 2022, and culminating in esports becoming an official medal event at the 19th Asian Games Hangzhou.
This long-term vision was formalized in October 2025, when both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during the OCA Executive Board Meeting in Bahrain. As part of this institutional step forward, Yati Zhang, Director of Tencent Esports, was appointed OCA Esports Manager, reinforcing joint leadership in shaping Asia’s esports event systems and industry framework.
OCA Leadership Highlights a Turning Point for Esports
Dr. Husain Al-Musallam, Director General of the Olympic Council of Asia, emphasized the significance of the partnership, noting that it reflects more than an upgraded title.
According to OCA leadership, Asian esports is transitioning from an era of simple participation to one defined by shared responsibility and structured development, with a clear focus on long-term sustainability, professionalism, and global alignment.
Tencent Esports Competition System Elevates Asian Events
Building on the technological success seen at the Hangzhou Asian Games, Tencent Esports is rolling out the Tencent Esports Competition System (ECS). Designed using insights from multiple top-tier international tournaments, ECS delivers end-to-end, high-availability technical support for future Asian Games and other major continental competitions.
The system ensures tournaments operate under standards that are fair, stable, and efficient, while also supporting the broader digital transformation of Asian sports events. Through continuous innovation, Tencent Esports aims to enhance operational credibility and efficiency across the region’s esports ecosystem.
The “Tri-Pillar Drive” Vision for Global Esports Growth
At the heart of the partnership lies Tencent Esports’ forward-looking “Tri-Pillar Drive” development model. Hou Miao, Vice President of Tencent Games and General Manager of Tencent Esports, described the strategy as a blueprint for integrating esports into the global sports mainstream.
The model is powered by three interconnected drivers:
- Publisher Technology Ecosystems as the engine of innovation
- Continental and Global Sports Organizations, such as the OCA, as authoritative platforms
- National and Regional Esports Strategies as the implementation backbone
By launching this model in Asia through its partnership with the OCA, Tencent Esports aims to create a replicable and sustainable pathway for esports development—one that could influence the global sports landscape in the years ahead.
Forging the Asian Path for Esports Excellence
With governance, technology, and regional strategies aligned, the OCA–Tencent Esports alliance is positioned to define what high-quality esports development looks like on a continental scale. As the partnership unfolds through 2035, Asia is set to become a global reference point for esports integration within traditional sports frameworks.
