E-Sports in India

Introduction:
Esports in India finally got recognition as a competitive game by the central government recently decided to recognise the esports. This decision will give better hope in the future for Esports as a profitable and investing in a nascent sector. E-sports are referred to as competitive games, and there have been campaigns related to the competitiveness of esports as the players use their mental and physical abilities. Placing esports with mainstream games like cricket and football, and at the same time, esports debuted as an official medal sport in the Asian games. There is a sudden increment in the esports industry due to the increased usage of smartphones and affordable data, and the pandemic is the main reason for the increased participation in esports.

1. What is eSports?
The term eSports refers to the field of competitive, organised video gaming. Competitors from various leagues or teams compete in popular at-home games such as Fortnite, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Madden NFL. Millions of fans worldwide watch and follow these gamers, who attend live events or tune in on TV or online. And the games like PUBG and DOTA are being recognised under esports. And the esports industry is promising a good profitable future for esports. There are nearly 600 million smartphone users, thus showcasing a potential career in esports as a legit career option.

2. The state of esports in India-
In India, the esports business is only getting started, and the country possesses all the necessary components to make this sector a global success, the most important of which is that we have the world’s second-largest gamer base, with over 400 million gamers. According to the FICCI-EY Media and Entertainment Report 2022, the number of esports players in India has more than quadrupled from 300,000 in 2020 to 600,000 in 2021, while revenues have climbed by 29% from INR 7.5 billion in 2020 to INR 9.7 billion in 2021. The growth of esports has been exponentially grown in India through digital adoption and the availability of high-speed internet in affordable data plans, contributing towards a rise in the number of game launches and viewership broadcasting.

3. What India needs to do –
There are various areas in which India must focus immediately in order to capitalise on the rise of the esports business.
● First and foremost, critical infrastructure is required for esports. Building dedicated gaming facilities such as arenas and stadiums to host live events and tournaments, as well as the necessary network, equipment and technology to support the gaming experience, is part of this. High-speed internet connections, gaming PCs, and gaming consoles are examples of the same.
● Second, developing esports talent is critical to the industry’s growth. There are now just three institutes in India that have a curriculum focused on esports and gaming, and this number needs to rise, which will result in an overall rise in the awareness as well.
● To do this, the government must establish dedicated gaming schools and training programs on its own and in conjunction with universities and colleges that cover a wide range of topics, such as game creation, programming, and esports strategy, and cater to players at all levels.
● Corporations can also play an important part in creating opportunities for gamers to improve their abilities by providing financial support to gaming schools, training programs, and events. This multifaceted strategy will aid in developing a vibrant and inclusive gaming community, allowing for growth and opportunity.

4. Which games come under esports games in India?
This game needs no introduction, PUBG (player unknown battleground) or BGMI (battleground mobile India) comes under the esports in India it got banned before, but now it is being relaunched in India, and this game is very much popular in India, and the pandemic is the leading cause to making it familiar to people, but after PUBG outlaw there was a sudden and huge loss as the focus shifted on other games like Valorant, Garena free fire and Call of Duty.

5. What is the future of e-sports in India?
The Ministry of Electronics and Information will soon come up with online gaming norms and regulations related to esports to see what changes that will make to the industry, and this will also encourage more people to take an interest in esports. Also, this will remove the misconception that making a career in esports is impossible. Athletes and games come under the purview of the Ministry of Sports, thus leading to certified and experienced players participating from India.

Conclusion
The gaming culture in India has evolved in comparison to before. Esports in India is gaining momentum as an organised, competitive video gaming sector. With a large youth population and quick adoption of mainstream gaming, Esports in India has become the latest frontier for gamers and players to prove their mettle in organised tournaments on global platforms. Esports is a young but promising industry. Recent advances in streaming and mobile technologies have enabled the sector to grow. India is growing exponentially as it has the highest viewership and income generated. India is rising day by day in the field of esports, and there is a prediction that by 2025 the e-sports market in India will be valued at Rs 1,100 crores. There is innovativeness everywhere, and there are ground-breakable changes around, and esports turns online gaming into a spectator sport.

References –
● https://www.indiatimes.com/technology/news/esports-promising-future-in-india-595991.html#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20FICCI%2DEY,the%20esports%20industry%2C%20there%20are
● https://www.livemint.com/
● https://www.ndtv.com/business/indias-esports-industry-gets-a-boost-after-government-recognition-3662758

Himanshi Singh: Associate, Policy and Advocacy, CyberPeace