The Future of eSports in India

eSports in India

In an era where traditional sports are still the main attraction for the majority of people, a new form of sport is gradually emerging and gaining popularity – eSports. eSports, also known as electronic sports, are competition that are played over electronic systems such as video games. The global audience for eSports is expected to reach 380 million this year, and the industry is already worth $696 million. India is not far behind in this growth, with an estimated 20 million eSports enthusiasts.

The phenomenon of eSports in India can be traced back to 2010 when the country hosted its first major tournament- the Indian Gaming League (IGL). Ever since then, the scene has only grown, with more people participating and watching tournaments. The most popular games in India for eSports include Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), DOTA 2, and PUBG. While there are no official leagues as yet, there are a number of big tournaments being organized by various gaming companies and platforms. The biggest among these is the ESL India Premiership, which has a total prize pool of Rs 3 crore.

Top Markets in the eSports Industry

With more people engaging in competitive video gaming, esports has experienced tremendous growth over the past few years. According to a report from Newzoo, global esports revenue is expected to reach $1.1 billion by the end of 2020. This makes it an incredibly attractive market for investors and entrepreneurs alike.

The top markets in the esports industry are North America, Europe, China, South Korea, and Japan. In 2018, these five regions accounted for 84% of total esports revenue worldwide. North America is the largest market with 38%, followed by Europe at 20%. China comes in third with 16%, while South Korea and Japan make up 12% and 8%, respectively. It is also worth noting that China’s market share has grown significantly in recent years as its government actively promotes esports initiatives such as national tournaments and professional leagues.

Mechanics of eSports

Player

Players are the lifeblood of eSports. They are the ones who strive to become the best of their game and represent their teams and countries in tournaments. As a result, they have to commit massive amounts of time to practice and refine their skills, just like any professional athlete.

The most successful players have an impressive set of skills, such as quick reflexes, creativity, strategic thinking, ability to read opponents’ moves and adapt quickly. Moreover, players need strong communication and team-building skills as eSports is often a team-based competition. Players not only need to be confident in their own abilities but also collaborate with teammates for effective decision making.

Being an eSports player requires very high levels of dedication and perseverance. Professional gamers can spend up to 12 hours a day practicing their games, studying videos of other players’ playstyles or joining online tournaments and scrims. To keep up with the competition at the top level, they have to constantly stay on top of new patches or updates that could change the way they play. In addition, players need proper physical training as well since fast reaction times are critical in many games these days.

Teams

eSports teams are organizations of highly skilled players specializing in video gaming competitions. Teams typically consist of four to six players, each with their own separate roles and responsibilities. Depending on the game being played, each team member may have different skills and roles such as a captain, a strategist or analyst, an initiator/shot-caller, or a carry. These roles can be interchanged depending on the team’s composition and strategy.

In order for a team to be successful in eSports, it is important for its members to coordinate well together. This means that each player must understand their role within the team and how it contributes to the overall success. Communication between players is essential both during and outside of matches. Building trust between team members is also vital to ensure cooperation between them and allow them to perform at their best. Professional teams practice together both online and offline in order to develop strategies and team chemistry.

The structure of an eSports team also varies from game to game as different games require different strategies and approaches. Most teams appoint one or more managers who handle recruitment, logistics, sponsorships, finances, media presence and other important aspects of managing a professional eSports organization.

The manager works with coaches who are experienced veterans in the community that help with strategizing during practices as well as giving advice on individual improvement for players on the roster. Additionally some teams employ scouts who specialize in finding up-and-coming talent from amateur leagues across the globe so they can be added to the roster if needed.

Organizations

Organizations provide resources and support for professional players, as well as facilitate competitions and tournaments. Without organizations, eSports would be much less organized and accessible to the public.

Organizations such as Electronic Sports League (ESL) work to promote competitive gaming on a global scale. The ESL was founded in 2000 in Germany by Turtle Entertainment GmbH, and has since grown to become one of the largest independent eSports organizations in the world. It organizes leagues, tournaments and championships across many different titles, from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive to FIFA 20. The ESL also offers prizes for top finishers in its events, ranging from cash to merchandise or even trips abroad for major competitions. This gives professional players more incentive to compete and helps drive up interest among spectators.

Other noteworthy organizations include Major League Gaming (MLG), which is based in California and has been active since 2002; it currently runs numerous Call of Duty competitions each year across multiple platforms.

Additionally, there’s also Blizzard Entertainment’s own eSports division – Blizzard Esports – which is responsible for organizing their own global competitions such as BlizzCon Invitationals or Overwatch World Cup that have become increasingly popular over time. These organizations help foster competition between pro gamers around the world, ensuring that eSports remains an engaging spectator sport that continues to grow with each passing year.

Leagues or Tournaments

Leagues are the more organized form of competition when compared to tournaments; they involve teams signing up with a league operator who organizes regular matches between teams according to a predetermined schedule. The vast majority of professional leagues operate on a seasonal basis. At the end of the season, top teams advance into playoffs where they compete in knockout-style bracket play until one team is crowned champion. These championships are often accompanied by large prize pools that reward the winning team or players with substantial amounts of money or other types of rewards.

Tournaments are considerably less organized than leagues – these competitions are usually single-elimination events where players or teams register separately, rather than as part of a larger organization or league. The tournament system is popular among amateur players due to its simplicity and the relatively low barrier-to-entry compared to professional league play.

While smaller tournament may not offer any serious financial rewards, larger ones feature prize pools rivaling those seen in professional leagues . These can range from several thousand dollars all the way up to hundreds of thousands for premier tournaments like The International 2019 (which had over $30 million dollars in prize money). In addition, many gaming hardware companies have sponsored tournaments in an effort to promote their products and increase brand loyalty amongst gamers.

Revenue Streams for eSports

Sponsorship and Media Rights

Sponsorship and media rights are two of the most important revenue streams in eSports. Sponsorships are agreements between an esports organization and a corporate sponsor, where the sponsor provides financial or other support to the team in exchange for exposure and promotional opportunities. Media rights refer to the exclusive rights granted by an esports organization to broadcast video content related to their competitions, such as streaming services or television networks.

There are a number of factors driving the growth of sponsorships and media rights in eSports.

• First, there is increasing interest from traditional sports brands, which can help bring more money into the industry by providing organizations with larger sponsorship packages.
• Second, streaming services such as Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming have made it easier for fans to watch competitive gaming events from anywhere in the world at any time. This has led to increased viewership, which has allowed businesses to capitalize on media rights deals with broadcasters for bigger sponsorships.
• Lastly, esports teams have become increasingly savvy when negotiating sponsorship deals that provide them with additional exposure beyond just on-site branding opportunities.

The continued growth of sponsorships and media rights deals are key indicators that eSports is becoming an ever-bigger part of the mainstream entertainment industry. In particular, esports organizations need to focus on creating strong relationships with potential sponsors while also finding ways to engage new audiences through innovative digital marketing strategies. As more traditional sports brands enter into the space and streaming technology continues to advance, we can expect even more impressive numbers when it comes to these two revenue streams in eSports going forward.

Advertisements

Advertising has become an increasingly popular form of revenue for the growing eSports industry. In fact, it has been estimated that advertising in competitive gaming is worth around $850 million in 2020, and this figure is only set to continue rising as the industry expands and more sponsors become involved. Advertisements are a great way for brands to target the young demographic of avid gamers who watch or play competitive games.

The most common forms of advertisements found in eSports are banner ads, video ads, stream overlays, sponsored teams, and even virtual stadiums. Most often companies will opt for a combination of these advertisements types to reach their desired audience. For example, HP will sponsor a team with fierce competition on popular platforms such as Twitch or YouTube Gaming, then offer banners and sponsored streams featuring the players using their product or service.

Advertising revenue also helps support eSports teams financially so they have enough resources to keep competing at a high level. This is why it’s important that the advertisement choice fits with the overall brand identity of the team or tournament in order to create meaningful connections between fans and sponsors alike. With proper marketing strategies many brands can gain loyal supporters among viewers who want to show their loyalty and help make eSports an even bigger success than it already is.

Tickets and Merchandise

It should come as no surprise that tickets to Esports tournaments feature some of the highest prices in the industry, with a single ticket running anywhere from $20 to hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on the event. Moreover, fans also have access to official merchandise often sold at special stores around the venue, such as T-shirts, posters, hats and other memorabilia related to the team or event. On top of this, many teams have their own online stores for fans who cannot attend live events, where merchandise is available for purchase from anywhere in the world.

Apart from helping team owners earn money during tournaments and events, tickets and merchandise can be used as promotional tools too – with an eye catching design or slogan printed on a souvenir item being very effective in increasing brand awareness among potential customers. Merchandise can also be distributed for free as part of global sponsorship deals between Esports organizations and large companies like Intel or Red Bull. Similarly, tickets may be given away to influencers or fans who show their support through social media campaigns such as hashtag challenges.

Finally, it’s important to mention that tickets and merchandising are not just used as a way to generate income directly but also help create hype leading up to an event which indirectly generates additional revenue. For example, increased interest in an upcoming tournament caused by great designs on merchandise can result in more viewers tuning-in during streaming sessions afterwards which leads to higher ad revenues being generated by broadcast platforms like Twitch or YouTube Gaming.

Game Publishing Fees

As a new and rapidly growing industry, eSports has the potential to generate a significant amount of revenue. One of the main sources of revenue for eSports is game publishing fees. This is when game companies pay professional teams, leagues, and tournaments to use their games as part of the competitive circuit.

The model works as such: game publishers pay sponsorship money to teams and tournaments that promote their games through competitive play. Additionally, they often provide referees, technical expertise, and broadcasting privileges to these tournaments in exchange for money or a share of the prize pool. This way, game publishers get more exposure for their games while also creating an additional revenue stream for teams and leagues.

Game publishers can also treat these fees as marketing investments since they help increase the visibility of their games and create excitement around them. Moreover, this kind of investment can also be used to develop long-term relationships with tournament organizers and professional teams. A good example is Riot Games’ partnership with G2 Esports – a leading European team in League of Legends – which has helped both parties grow in popularity due to their mutual support.

Digital Goods

In fact, the global eSports industry was estimated to generate more than $1 billion in revenue during 2020 and digital goods were responsible for a growing portion of that. Digital goods are products such as virtual coins, special equipment, game improvements and even game content like skins or characters. These items can be purchased with real money, often with an in-game currency that can then be used to buy additional items.

The appeal of digital goods is twofold: they give players an added layer of customization and personalization when playing their favorite titles, and they offer developers a new way to monetize their games. As the competitive gaming scene continues to expand, offering customizations to fans is becoming increasingly important for organizations looking to gain an edge over competitors. For example, many tournament organizers now offer exclusive rewards through digital goods for spectators who purchase tickets or merchandise. This further increases fan engagement as well as creating an additional revenue stream.

Revenue from digital goods has also enabled developers to create entirely new experiences and game modes around them; this has opened up countless opportunities for monetization via microtransactions and loot boxes. Developers are now able to provide exciting new ways for players to customize their experience while also increasing the potential return on investment from their product.

Some developers have even introduced subscription services that allow users access to ongoing updates and special features if they continue paying a fee each month; this has proven especially successful in mobile gaming markets where players are constantly looking for something fresh and engaging. Ultimately, digital goods provide a profitable solution for both gamers and developers alike, making it one of the most promising sources of income within the eSports industry today.

Streaming

As the popularity of eSports continues to grow, streaming services are emerging as a key revenue stream. Streaming has become an integral part of the industry’s expansion, with most players relying on streaming platforms such as Twitch and YouTube Gaming to engage with their fan base. By providing a platform for viewers to watch and interact with their favorite players, companies such as Twitch are allowing teams and organizations to monetize their viewership in a variety of ways.

One way that teams and organizations can monetize their viewership through streaming is by selling sponsorship packages. This involves having sponsors pay for ad placements during streams, creating custom merchandise for fans, or offering exclusive access to the team’s content for subscribers. Teams and organizations can also generate income by directly selling subscriptions or pay-per-view events through streaming services. This allows them to capitalize on the popularity of their content without having to rely solely on sponsorships or traditional advertising methods.

In addition to generating revenue, streaming services have also provided players with a larger platform to showcase their skills and compete against one another in tournaments. Streaming services have enabled more people across the world to watch competitive gaming events than ever before, further increasing the appeal of eSports worldwide. As more players continue to flock towards streaming services in order to gain exposure and monetize their talent, it’s clear that streaming will remain an essential part of esports culture well into the future.

Indian eSports organizations

The eSports scene in India is growing rapidly, with more and more people getting interested in playing and watching competitive gaming. Some of the biggest eSports organizations in India are the following:

• “Nodwin Gaming” is one of the leading eSports organizations in India, with a huge community of players and fans. They organize tournaments and events for gamers all across the country, and are constantly working to promote eSports in India.

• “E-xpress Interactive” is another big name in Indian eSports. They have a large team of professional players who compete in tournaments both in India and abroad. They also run a popular online gaming store that sells gaming gear and accessories.

• “Indiagaming” is an organization that focuses exclusively on competitive gaming in India. They run tournaments for a variety of different games, and are working to make eSports a mainstream activity in the country.

• “Game4u” is one of the oldest and most well-known gaming retailers in India. In addition to selling video games and consoles, they also have a section dedicated to eSports, where they sell gear and accessories for competitive gamers.

• “Red Bull” is not strictly an eSports organization, but they have been heavily involved in the scene in India for years. They organize major tournaments and events, as well as providing financial support to teams and players who compete at the highest level.

Most popular eSports games in India

The most popular games in India are the following:

• Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is a first-person shooter game that is immensely popular in India. The game is extremely fast-paced and requires quick reactions and strategic thinking.

• Dota 2 is another popular game in India. It is a strategy game that pits two teams of five players against each other. The objective of the game is to destroy the enemy’s base.

• League of Legends (LoL) is another hugely popular game in India. It is a strategy game that pits three teams of five players against each other. The objective of the game is to destroy the enemy’s base.

• PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) is an online battle royale game that has become immensely popular in India in recent months. The objective of the game is to be the last player standing.

Most famous Indian eSports teams

There are a few well-known Indian eSports teams that have had some success both in India and abroad. The most successful team is undoubtedly Entity Gaming, which has won several tournaments both in India and internationally. Other notable teams include White Fox Gaming, Signify, and Savage Gaming.

• Entity Gaming was formed in early 2015 by a group of friends who were passionate about gaming. The team’s first major tournament win was at the IeSF 6th World Championship in Jakarta, where they defeated teams from all over the world to take home the gold medal. Since then, Entity has gone on to win several other tournaments, including the Dew Arena Mumbai 2016, the ESL India Premiership 2016, and the WCG India National Finals 2017.

• White Fox Gaming is another well-known Indian eSports team that has had some success both at home and abroad. The team was founded in early 2017 by four friends who were all experienced gamers. White Fox’s first major tournament win was at the DreamHack Mumbai 2017, where they defeated several top international teams to take home the gold medal. The team has also performed well at various other tournaments, including the Dew Arena New Delhi 2018 and the ESL India Premiership 2018.

• Signify is a relatively new Indian eSports team that was formed in late 2017 by a group of friends who were all experienced in competitive gaming. The team’s first major tournament win was at the DreamHack Hyderabad 2018, where they defeated several top international teams to take home the gold medal. Signify has also performed well at various other tournaments, including the ESL India Premiership 2018 and the WCG India National Finals 2018.

• Savage Gaming is another relatively new Indian eSports team that was formed in late 2017 by a group of friends who were all experienced in competitive gaming. The team’s first major tournament win was at the WCG India National Finals 2017, where they defeated several top international teams to take home the gold medal. Savage Gaming has also performed well at various other tournaments, including the ESL India Premiership 2018 and IeSF 8th South East Asian Games 2018 (Bronze Medal).

• NoCrows is another popular Indian eSports team. The team was founded in 2016 and has since become one of the most successful teams in India. They have won several tournaments, including the 2017 ESL India Premiership Winter Season.

• ROG Titans is a team that was founded in 2014. The team is considered to be one of the most successful teams in India, having won several tournaments including the IGL 2017 Summer Season and the ROG Masters 2017 South Asia Qualifier.

Conclusion

While professional gamers in India still struggle to make a living out of their passion, things are slowly changing for the better. There are now a few gaming academies that offer training and scholarships for talented players, and a few brands that are starting to invest in the scene. With greater awareness and investment, it is only a matter of time before eSports becomes a mainstream sport in India.