How India is taking the lead in the growing eSports market

If you are new to the exciting world of eSports, let us fill you in. eSports is the Olympics for the best video gamers in the world. It convenes the best of the best to compete in all game genres. Some of the most played leagues in such events include Counter-Strike, Fortnite, Overwatch, DOTA, and Call of Duty. These are some of the best video games of our time and avid home gamers, get to test how good they are by competing with other gamers online. eSports has been around for a long time. Stamford University students held the first event back in 1972. Getting into 2020, the Indian eSports industry has already recorded a net worth of $1.1 billion, a figure that is projected to double by 2023.

Let us review why India is taking the lead in the rapidly growing eSports market.     

The Craze around India’s eSports gaming Landscape

India is among the most rapidly growing economies in Asia with a population well above 1.3 billion people. The country is already setting up the infrastructure to accommodate the burgeoning gaming industry in what promises to be the next age of digitization. The vast market created by millennials has made eSports investor-friendly and the upcoming companies settling in have been embraced across the country. The gaming industry in India is experiencing exponential growth as a result of major tech brands' investments in boosting the eSports market. Sponsored gaming tournaments are very common in major cities and as a result, the Indian gamers have gained a reputation as some of the fiercest opponents in the world. India is renowned for its enthusiasm towards technology and as the economy grows, gaming infrastructure is advancing in huge strides to include more modernized avenues as well as internet penetration to the country’s interior. The growth patterns also reveal that purchasing power is increasing in the industry’s target market, and more millennials are starting to take up eSports as their profession. These are some of the factors capturing the attention of international gaming companies to the vibrant Indian landscape.

How eSports has affected other Sports

Everyone knows that Indians follow cricket religiously and cherish it above all other sports. In the past decade, however, people’s preferences have started changing as sports genres expand. There is rising popularity of other sports like wrestling, Kabaddi, football, badminton, etc. Owing to the rise of eSports culture in the country, traditional sports are less thrilling to the younger population. ESports allow fans to participate virtually hence, offer more excitement. For others, they have wild suggestions on how their favorite teams should play and online platforms give them a chance to test their ideas. Every day, sports enthusiasts from all over the world learn how to win in online gaming and generate extra income while having fun. Online gaming is gaining acceptance because fans want to be part of the sporting process. They compensate for what they lack in sporting talent by mastering online gaming skills and earning money just like in any other profession.

Most Used Gaming Platform in India

It is impressive how fast the eSports industry has grown in India. Before 2018, the country was not recognized in the global eSports industry. DreamHack Mumbai organized its first international tournament at the end of 2017, which generated a lot of sensationalism among Indian gamers. The overwhelming demand for more of these events led to three more by different organizers in the following year. By 2019, the prize money had rocketed from $500,000 to a whopping cash prize of $1.5 million. The mobile phone is the most used gaming device in India because it is easily accessible and affordable. Developers have increased the range of mobile gaming titles thus attracting more players and tournament sponsors. According to gaming reports from 2019, PUBG Mobile channeled in almost 40% of the total eSports cash prizes. India’s eSports gaming landscape, therefore, has its biggest market in mobile titles. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is the most popular eSports competition locally and it has introduced great professional gaming talents to the rest of the world. 

India currently ranks 62 in the eSports world based on highest earnings per country but considering that it is still an infant industry, it has all the indicators of being a top eSports country in a few years. The gaming technology and level of exposure in the country is attracting thousands of players every day. The combined investment from local and international eSports companies seeking to make an entry to the market will bring about a digital revolution in India. It will be exciting to see how India’s competitive online gaming will affect global eSports.