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.
- MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena
- RTS (Real-Time Strategy)
- RTS (Real-Time Strategy)
- FPS (First Person Shooter)
- Card games
- Battle Royale Fighting
- 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.
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
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?
India's Esports industry
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment