Tuesday, October 19, 2021

E-sports in India

       

          Esports in India – A growing industry 


A decade ago, India’s online gaming sector was lame, with only 25 game developers. Today, there are over 250 game developers in the country.






Esports pertain to a sports competition through video games organized into the multiplayer setting. It has successfully taken over the Indian market because of the promotion and campaign on various online streaming platforms like YouTube. The esports industry is not new, but not many people are aware that it has been around for a decade already. It just so happen that it became popular in India just recently as more developers and investors showing interest in the Indian market.



The most common esports genres in the Indian market today are the following:

  • MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena
  • RTS (Real-Time Strategy)
  • RTS (Real-Time Strategy)
  • FPS (First Person Shooter)
  • Card games
  • Battle Royale Fighting


     ACHIEVEMENTS AND MILESTONES IN THE
PAST HISTORY



India ranked 16 on the Forbes list, making it a multi-billion dollar industry. A decade ago, India's online gaming sector is lame, with only 25 game developers. Today, there are over 250 game developers in the country. Some of the big names in the industry had already invested in India's gaming sector, such as Tencent, Nazara, Paytm, and Alibaba. The revenue generated in sports mostly came from companies like Oppo and Asus. India has hosted some of the most significant tournaments in esports, such as PUBG Mobile Series 2019 and the Electronic Sports League, participated by Dota 2 players from different parts of the world.


  • Counter-Strike – It was first released in early 2012, and since then, it becomes the most popular and widely played esports in the country. Back then, India was not a hub for esports. Today, India is recognized internationally for esports, and counterstrike has a lot to do with it. 








  • Dota 2 – It is the first esport that dominated the Indian market; a multiplayer online battle game played by two teams with each team consisting of five players.








                     Esports sector during pandemic



Online gaming is one of the reasons why India's economy is still surviving despite the global pandemic. The number of online gamers using their smartphone has grown by 60% if you compare the data during pre-covid and lockdown. The high youth population and the affordability and accessibility of smartphones are the primary reasons why India's online gaming sector is thriving. It has also paved the way for an online casino portal for Indian players. Another factor that paved the way to the growth of the online gaming market is the penetration of high-speed 4G internet.





     Stakeholders' role in India's esports growth



E-commerce platforms have a lot to do with the growth of esports in India. They make sure that the gaming enthusiasts will have access to the hardware and accessory they need for the game. Some of the notable e-commerce includes Asus and Flipkart. Online gamers prefer to use gaming devices and tools with top-notch performance. Companies that produce such gaming paraphernalia ensure the demands are met while keeping in mind affordability and accessibility. Companies like Amazon and Flipkart ensure that gaming products are available and affordable.




Connectivity is a major contributor to the gaming industry's growth. Telecommunication providers have been working 24/7 to provide the best data plans, keeping in mind high-speed data access and affordability. Data availability is made possible through Reliance Jo's effort to set up thousands of mobile towers across the country, ensuring high-speed connection.





                  Career option in Esports








Regarding career options in esports in India, there is nothing much for professional gamers as the country's ecosystem and infrastructure are not ready to support such type of livelihood. Should you opt to be a professional gamer in India, you can make a huge amount of money, but only when the tournament is available. If you are going to treat it as a stable job, you are putting yourself in a risky position. However, other jobs in the esports sector can be made available such as being a game commentary, influencer, or coder in building artificial intelligence for games.



There is also a career in data handling. You can make money ranging between Rs. 50,000 and Rs 2 lakh a month. Esports is a gender-neutral sector as it won't require physical strength. In fact, a few women became successful in esports, and Sasha Hostyn is one of them. She won Intel Extreme Masters 2018 tournament and received a total winning prize of Rs 34.45 lakh.





               The growth in Esports prize


As more Indians are into esports, the prize pool increases too. PUBG Mobile in India has been on the dramatic rise giving gamers the career option. According to July 2020 data, India is one of the leading countries globally for PUBG mobile downloads. When it comes to revenue and players' income, it is without a doubt that esports in India will continue to grow for the coming months and years. The largest tournament prize money in PUBG Mobile India Series 2020 is Rs. 50 Lakh.










Smartphones contribute to the growth of esports in India



 The growth of esports in India is driven by strong connectivity and the accessibility and affordability of high-performance smartphones. India's smartphone users have grown dramatically over the years. The growing demand for digital services, online entertainment, and communication has led to the development of various apps like Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp. All these have paved the way for esports in India.









         The emergence of online sports cafe


 How about online sports café or esports café? Such ideas would attract many players as they will allow them to play games without buying the tools and device. Another great thing about having an esports café is the possibility of building a competitive mentality through amateur tournaments. Currently, India has around 350 esports cafes equipped with the best gaming hardware. Some prominent esports cafés in India are Circle Gaming, League of Extraordinary Gamers, and Nemesis Gaming. 










           The growth in startup investments 




Competitive esports gaming has been on the rise in India and other parts of the world. In today's time and age, when the world is in a global crisis brought about by the pandemic, it is surprising that online gaming is one of the pillars that hold the economy up. The pandemic doesn't seem to end soon, so more and more investors put their money on digital enterprises leading to a rise in esports startup investments.



                    Esports in India 2021


As the popularity and frequency of esports tournaments grow, esports is often confused with online gaming. The need for an electronic device and online multiplayer game fuels the misnomer. However, esports is not online gaming. Unlike online gaming, esports is defined by online games of skill that are played in tournaments – different teams and individuals playing against each other to win the championship, league, title like physical sports. Esports also includes games which are the digital/virtual manifestations of traditional sports.


"Esports is more versatile and adaptable than regular sports, and its tournaments vary in scale, operations and frequency."


Furthermore, esports is indistinguishable from traditional sports. In esports, games are monitored; and participants are actively playing and using their skills to win the championship. Like traditional sports, excelling at esports requires hand-eye coordination, attention, visual processing, executive function and strategy development. All of that perfectly combined with well-timed responses to game stimuli helps players excel and grow in the space.


As a sport, it has steadily gained popularity with youth, and consequently has become an attractive option for brands to connect with young and empowered audiences.  As a game of skill accessible indoors and on the ubiquitous mobile phone, it gained much popularity during the lockdowns witnessed in 2020 and 2021.  And as a mode of entertainment, it continues to serve hard core gamers as well as social gamers who wish to get competitive.






                 Future of esports in India


Though at a nascent stage, the esports market size in India has quickly scaled to INR3 billion in FY2021 and we expect it to reach INR11 billion by FY2025.  However, the sport has a much larger economic impact: we expect it to generate economic value of around INR100 billion between now and FY2025.


1.5 million players, 85 million viewers, 20+ broadcasters and several brands, organizers and publishers will collectively define the esports market in India by FY2025. Presently, about 4% of mobile games on the Play Store are from Indian publishers. As Indian game developers transition from developing social games to multiplayer games, Indian developers are expected to create games that are better suited for esports tournaments.  The number of Indian gaming studios have grown 5x since 2015. There are over 14 esports broadcast platforms in 2021 which are expected to cross 20 platforms by 2025.  While current viewership is 17 million, over 85 million unique viewers will watch esports tournaments in the country by 2025.




"The growth of esports in India has been spectacular. As a game of skill accessible indoors and on the ubiquitous mobile phone it has gained popularity during the lockdowns witnessed in 2020 and 2021. Consequently, it has become an attractive option for brands to connect with young and empowered audiences."

                                                                                     ~Ashish Pherwani

                                                                                        (EY Media India &                                                                                                                                Entertainment Leader)


As esports grows popular amongst youth and the affluent, advertisers and agencies are expected to increasingly use esports tournament viewership to gain reach and engagement with the audience, growing over 4x to INR6.5 billion by FY25. Eventually, the industry could explore subscription revenue models.

Tournament sponsorship and syndication revenue would likely quadruple to more than INR3.5 billion CAGR growing at a CAGR of 45%. Media broadcasting rights and advertisement sponsorship revenue together constitute this segment.

The prize money or prize pool would likely contribute to about 10% to the esports economy FY 2025 and reach an estimated INR1 billion esports market size India by FY2025.  About 85% of the prize money will be for mobile esports tournaments.

The industry, however, faces regulatory challenges and uncertainty such as misconception that esports is gambling or a game of chance and its consequent banning by certain states. Additionally, lack of an industry nodal body, regulatory clarity and multiple ministries adds to it woes.


How esports industry is rapidly growing in India?


Esports is a kind of sport in which competitors compete using video games in a multiplayer environment. It has effectively dominated the Indian market due to extensive marketing and advertising on different internet streaming platforms such as YouTube and Twitch. Although the esports business is old, few people realize it has existed for over a decade. Many knew after it gained popularity in India lately due to increased developers and business people interest in the Indian market.


India's Esports industry



India was placed 16th on the Forbes list, indicating that the sector is worth billions of dollars. A decade earlier, India's internet gaming industry was underdeveloped, with just 25 developers. Today, the nation is home to approximately 250 game developers. Several industry heavyweights have previously invested in India's gaming business, including Tencent, Nazara, Paytm, and Alibaba. The majority of income earned in sports comes from companies such as Oppo and Asus. India has hosted some of the most important esports events, including the PUBG Mobile Series 2019 and the Electronic Sports League, in which Dota 2 players from all over the globe competed. Today, India is globally known for esports, and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive plays a significant role. Dota 2 is the first Esport game to have conquered the Indian market; it is a multiplayer online combat game in which two teams of five players each compete.


Esports industry amid a pandemic



Online gaming is one of the reasons India's economy has remained resilient in the face of a worldwide epidemic. When pre-covid and lockdown statistics are compared, the number of online gamers utilizing their smartphones has increased by 60%. The large young population in India and the affordability and accessibility of smartphones are the main factors for the sector's growth. Additionally, it cleared the door for the establishment of an online casino site exclusive to Indian gamers. Another factor contributing to the development of the online gaming industry is the widespread use of high-speed 4G internet.


The involvement of stakeholders in India's esports development


E-commerce platforms have played a significant role in the development of esports in India. They ensure that gamers have access to the hardware and accessories required for the game. Online players demand high-performance gaming equipment and tools. The manufacturers of such gaming accouterments guarantee that demand is fulfilled while maintaining affordability and accessibility. Amazon and Flipkart guarantee that gaming accessories are readily accessible and reasonably priced. Connectivity plays a critical role in the gaming industry's development. Telecommunications companies have been working around the clock to provide the most affordable data plans possible, emphasizing high-speed internet access and cost. Data access is enabled by Reliance Jo's efforts to establish thousands of mobile towers across the nation, providing a high-speed connection.

Apart from Esports, there are traditional games that excite people via lottery participation. These classic games cater to a technologically inexperienced population and depend on conventional means of revenue generation. These lotteries are conducted in all of India's states. The main aim of these lotteries is to improve the standard of living in those states. These lotteries are held regularly, with winners announced daily. For example, you may check Lottery Sambad and the Teer Result on the website.


Esports as a career path


In terms of job opportunities in esports in India, professional gamers have limited options due to the country's ecosystem and infrastructure being unprepared to support such a lifestyle. If you want to be a professional gamer in India, you may earn a lot of money, but only during tournaments. If you approach it as steady employment, you are placing yourself in danger. However, other professions in the esports industry, such as game commentator, influencer, or programmer for developing artificial intelligence for games, may become accessible. Additionally, there is a professional path in data management. You may earn about Rs. 50,000 to Rs. 2 lakh each month. Esports is a gender-neutral industry due to the lack of physical strength required. Indeed, a few women have achieved success in esports, like Sasha Hostyn. She won the Intel Extreme Masters 2018 event and took home a total of Rs 34.45 lakh as a reward.



The increase in Esports award money


As more Indians get involved in esports, the prize pool grows as well. PUBG Mobile has seen meteoric growth in India, providing players with a career choice. India is one of the top nations worldwide for PUBG mobile downloads, according to July 2020 statistics. In terms of revenue and player earnings, esports in India will undoubtedly continue to expand in the following months and years. The PUBG Mobile India Series 2020 event with the highest prize pool is worth Rs. 50 lakh.


The increase in venture capital investments


In India and other areas of the globe, competitive esports gaming has grown in popularity. In today's world, when the world is through a worldwide crisis resulting from the pandemic, it's astonishing that online gaming is one of the economic foundations. Because the epidemic does not seem to be decreasing anytime soon, increasing numbers of investors are putting their money into digital businesses, increasing esports startup investments.





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