ESports has been on an upward trend when it comes to popularity – having recently been inducted as part of the Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA). It is already being considered for the 2028 Olympics. That said, the momentum is even more apparent at the grassroots level with even more people gaining taking an interest either as a spectator or professional.
As interest mounts, we’re seeing an increase in companies investing in the space – and not just in developing new, thrilling eSports games; we’re also seeing a new wave of apps and services geared to complementing the arena. The most recent of these apps is one called Kohai, a new, homegrown, Malaysian app that looks to allow newbies and gamers to interact more directly with the Pros – more specifically – to learn from them.
If you’re an otaku or watch any Japanese media, you’d be familiar with the term “kohai” or “kouhai” which is usually used to refer to proteges or juniors. Building on this kohai-senpai relationship, IWG eSports is looking to create a platform where everyday enthusiasts can hone their skills with the Pros. Kohai is looking to push the local Malaysian eSports scene further by essentially providing training grounds for eSports hopefuls.
The platform is focused on allowing hopefuls to hone their gameplay and strategy under the wing of a Pro. This leans on the kohai-senpai dynamic which is its namesake. On Kohai, the Gamers (kohai) are able to connect and train with Partners (senpai) regardless of their level. Parters are game experts or professionals who have a proven track record or in-game tier.
Of course, it’s not a free-for-all as Kohai can also be a viable stream of income for partners as the platform uses a play-to-earn model. To do this, users will need to register via the Kohai Partner App where their profiles and details will be verified before they are allowed to activate their account. Given that it is a form of work, users registering as Kohai Partners will need to be 16 years or older.
Naturally, this means that gamers looking to learn will be subject to a pay-to-learn model. On the platform, Gamers will be able to train to reach specific milestones with a Partner. From as low as MYR10 per hour, Gamers will be able to up their game with coaching from Partners. This can be done on an ad-hoc basis (referred to as Real-Time Gaming Sessions) or Scheduled sessions. Gamers will be able to book these sessions via the Kohai Gamer app.
To kick things off, Kohai is focusing on two of the most popular eSports games on mobile – Mobile Legend Bang Bang (MLBB) and PlayerUnkown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) Mobile. It is also partnering with the popular eSports team GeekFam. Members of the team will be on the platform as Partners where Gamers can play, learn or train with them. In addition, Kohai has also kicked off its own tournament – the Kohai Championships – for MLBB. The tourney started on 4th September and will be concluding on 26th September 2021. It features 64 teams battling each other for a total prize pool of MYR11,000.00.
The launch comes after a public beta where Kohai has been utilized successfully by 43,000 individuals. The company is looking to the future to build its 43,000 strong community and to branch to other platforms such as PC and Console in the near future.