Diversity and Inclusion in Indian Esports

Introduction

Esports is a rapidly growing industry with global influence. Unlike traditional sports such as football or tennis, ‘skill’ in online gaming does not depend on physical characteristics like sex, size, or physical strength for success. This makes esports increasingly accessible and popular. But despite the “digital equality” it affords to players, the esports industry is also widely known for a culture of bullying and harassment, especially of players from non-dominant social categories, on the basis of gender, sexuality, race etc. These groups are also underrepresented in professional competitive gaming. In India, this gap is more pronounced as more female gamers are turning to streaming instead of competitive tournaments. According to Gateway to Gaming, women account for 44% of India’s gaming community, but their representation in development, leadership, and innovation roles remains disproportionately low. If the esports industry is to grow, it must foster diverse participation. It will have to actively embrace a culture of inclusivity, equality, and diversity in every segment of the ecosystem and start this process from the grassroots.

Barriers to Diversity in Esports

a. Limited Accessibility for Underrepresented Groups: High costs of gaming equipment, training, and entry fees for competitive tournaments can be financially prohibitive for most players. Further, a lack of adaptive gaming technologies and infrastructure can be exclusionary for the disabled. Limited opportunities for players from developing regions with a nascent esports ecosystem also affect the competitiveness of players from such regions.

b. Gender Bias and Discrimination: While women and non-binary individuals are a budding demographic in grassroots online gaming, they are highly underrepresented in professional esports. This is due to the same underlying cultural, economic, and institutional barriers which render certain groups of people structurally disadvantaged and affect their access to opportunities.

c. Harassment and Toxicity: Online gaming communities are notorious for a culture of harassment and cyberbullying, which is often disproportionately directed towards women and other non-dominant social groups. This has a bearing on mental resilience and may affect their competitive edge.

Global Examples of Inclusive Esports Policies

Esports organizers implement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in various ways to create fair and welcoming competitive environments. Some initiatives are:

● Riot Games’ Inclusion Policies in VALORANT Esports: Riot Games introduced the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Game Changers program to provide competitive opportunities for women and marginalized genders. It also released a global code of conduct for all professional and semi-professional esports players, coaches, team owners, and representatives, registered with Riot or any of its esports competitions.

● Equal eSports Cup: This is the largest League of Legends tournament for female and non-binary players in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland organized by Deutsche Telekom, Riot Games, SK Gaming, and the Esports Player Foundation (EPF), highlighting the role corporates can play in promoting DEI.

● North American Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF): This is an organization which offers opportunities for school students to develop STEAM ( Science, Tech, Engineering Art, Mathematics) -based skills and social-emotional attributes through online gaming and competitive esports. It focuses on building these skills along with a focus on DEI at the foundational level.

India’s Emerging Role: Expanding Inclusivity in Esports

India is emerging as an exciting online gaming and esports market. To capitalize on the enthusiasm and talent, entities such as the government, organizers, companies, and other organizations can take the following steps to facilitate a more structured ecosystem:

a. A Regulatory Framework Promoting Diversity Standards: The Indian esports ecosystem would benefit from a clear legal framework for esports, especially concerning compliances. In addition, standardized policies and a strong code of conduct for leagues, game developers, and organizers, are vital to reducing harassment and discrimination at tournaments.

b. Government and Industry Support for Inclusive Esports Programs: Funding for adaptive gaming technology, and accessibility programs for women and the marginalized will go a long way in promoting diverse participation and innovation in the esports ecosystem.

c. Development of Grassroots Programs: Specialized programs and training camps for school and college-level gamers can play a crucial role in cultivating a culture of healthy competition and inclusion from the grassroots level while fostering greater sensitivity towards others. Such programs will also be key in honing talent and preparing world-class athletes.

Conclusion

Despite setbacks in recent years such as high taxation, the impact of COVID-19, and reputational damage due to integrity issues, the online gaming and esports industry in India is set for massive growth. Since it is in a budding stage, there is great scope for stakeholders to shape robust foundations, addressing dimensions like regulation, innovation, competition, ethics, inclusivity and accessibility, player health, etc. The Indian e-gaming ecosystem has the golden opportunity to leverage underserved demand, customer interest, and gaming talent by not just investing in product, design, and distribution, but also pushing for a culture of diversity, equality, and inclusivity. Regulators, companies, organizers, publishers, and others must collaborate to build an industry that thrives economically and upholds integrity, inclusivity, and long-term player engagement.

Sources

● https://www.eslfaceitgroup.com/press/esl-faceit-group-uncovers-the-esl-impact-circuit-2025-seasonal-club-incentive-live-finals-and-more/?utm_source=chatgpt.com#
● https://playvalorant.com/en-us/news/esports/vct-game-changers/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
● https://valorantesports.com/en-US/news/new-riot-games-esports-global-code-of-conduct
● https://www.telekom.com/en/media/media-information/archive/telekom-launches-equal-esports-cup-1034800