Just as the pastime of traditional sports blossomed into a respected art form in which the best of the best began to compete and became a spectacle, so too has competitive video gaming, following right in its footsteps. With the rise of 5G, cloud computing, and widespread Internet cafes along with the increasing availability of mobile phones, esports in India are primed for a CAGR of 24%. 

This field is becoming an excellent avenue for video game producers to promote their products, advertisers to gain exposure, and even a brand new career path for young Indians. We take you through this development in today’s article.

Growth of Esports in India

Esports first became officially recognized in India in 2022. The predominantly mobile-first gaming hosts a variety of esports tournaments organized by major players like ESL and Dreamhack. 

A number of games have unfortunately encountered bans by the government due to national security concerns and ties to China, such as Gareena Free Fire, PUBG Mobile, and BGMI.

Now for some of the top most popular esports games in India from odds96.in.

Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI)

This battle royale game developed by Krafton was banned for its association with Tencent in 2021 but afterwards came roaring back in 2023. In the game, players are dropped on a deserted island where they must fight to be the last one standing. They can choose to play solo, in duos, or as a team of four, using a variety of weapons, vehicles, and items. 

Call of Duty Mobile

COD Mobile has been a long-standing favorite particularly due to India’s cybercafe culture. This is a mobile version of the popular first-person shooter developed by Activision. The game broke sales records in its first week following its release in 2019. It features a fast pace with game modes like:

• Team deathmatch;
• Battle Royale;
• Search and Destroy.

Valorant

A tactical first-person shooter by Riot Games, its 5v5 tactical gameplay and strategic promotional campaigns have earned it quite the following. The game greatly increased its appeal when it introduced an Indian character named Harbor as well as through tournaments like the Valorant Challengers Series.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 

CS:GO is a multiplayer first-person shooter developed by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment. In the game, two teams (terrorists and counter-terrorists) compete in objective-based rounds, such as bomb planting or hostage rescue with a strong emphasis on teamwork, strategy, and aim.

Dota 2

This is a multiplayer battle arena game by Valve as well. Two teams of five players each control powerful heroes with unique abilities and work together to destroy the opposing team’s base, known as the Ancient. 

Pro Evolution Soccer

This one is known as eFootball in recent iterations and is a football simulation game produced by Konami. It’s made to be as lifelike as possible with detailed animations and movements.

Leagues

There is no esports federation officially recognized by the government; however, there are several esports associations, which include the Electronic Sports Federation of India and the International Esports Federation.

Some of the biggest tournaments there include the:

• Valorant Conquerors Championship;
• ESL India Premiership;
• Skyesports Championship;
• Snapdragon Pro Series;
• Dreamhack Hyderabad.

Esports Development

In 2023, the Indian esports market was declared at 40 million dollars with the potential to top 100 million dollars this year. The development of esports stadiums is one of the key factors contributing to the industry’s professionalization in India. Although matches have traditionally been hosted in temporary venues or online, there has been a notable shift toward dedicated, state-of-the-art esports stadiums.

In 2023, NODWIN Gaming and ESL took a significant step in hosting large-scale esports events in established venues. Skyesports launched India’s first dedicated esports stadium in 2023, which has quickly become a momentous location for high-profile tournaments. It’s designed to cater to both in-person spectators and online streaming, with high-end gaming setups, live broadcasting booths, and fan engagement zones. The most popular cities for esports hubs and events have been Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi.

Gaming-related enterprises have secured millions in funding, such as Rooster streaming platform and FanClas, a fantasy esports platform. There have also been corporate sponsorships from all sectors, including from world-beaters like:

• Samsung;
• Acer;
• Intel;
• Xiaomi;
• Realme;
• Coca-Cola;
• Nike.

These companies are using esports events to reach audiences in different countries that they otherwise would have few opportunities to advertise to. Most people watch these events on live streams, not in person, on platforms like YouTube and Twitch, which have been huge game-changers in establishing these leagues. Even regional leagues are gaining recognition. Communities like the Mobile Premier League and GamingMonk are organizing esports tournaments around the country.

The Fans

The esports community is diverse, encompassing individuals throughout India, as well as all over the planet. Fans interact with each other through social media platforms, streaming services, and even at live events. 

Many top players become internet celebrities, building dedicated fanbases that follow their every move, whether they’re playing at a tournament or casually streaming their gameplay. Esports stars have appeared in commercials, TV shows, and music videos, solidifying their role in pop culture.

Of course, people rally behind their favorite teams as well. Teams have generated huge followings like:

• Revenant: these guys have wreaked havoc. They won the India Championship in 2022 for Pokemon Unite, also finishing first in both the NODWIN Agni and Esportz Premier Series;
• Orangutan: won Valorant Challengers 2023: South Asia Split 2;
• S8UL: one of the biggest forces to be reckoned with in the nation, they have taken the trophy in numerous tournaments for PUBG and BGMI.
• Godlike: winners of the 3rd Skyesports Championship
• Global: absolutely dominant, they have taken first place in BGMI Masters Series, the Valorant Conquerors Championship, as well as the Skyesports SEA Championship and Grand Slam.

Local tournaments and grassroots competitions are just as important to the esports ecosystem, allowing fans to engage with the scene on a more personal level. Many fans attend regional events to support local teams, meet players, and enjoy the community’s camaraderie. These are analogs to the minor leagues, farm systems, and regional sports in other, traditional sports. In the future, fans will be able to attend tournaments in virtual reality.

Esports as a Career Opportunity

Thus far, Indian players have racked up 7,721,085 dollars, the cumulative earnings of 1,613 players, according to esportsearnings.com. Universities and institutions are offering courses for jobs in the esports industry, including:

• game developers;
• analysts;
• coaches;
• tournament organizers;
• equipment managers;
• last but not least – gamers.

There once was a time when playing in professional sports wasn’t particularly lucrative. Wives used to tell their husbands that there was no sense competing in professional sports and that they should get a real job instead. It’s a good thing that they didn’t listen. 

Esports has now reached that stage, where another competitive pastime, though purely digital, has won the appreciation of fans and thus followed in the footsteps of professional sports. Curiously, there has also been another movement combining both, known as phygital sports. It involves athletes playing games consisting of video games and physical traditional sports as part of the same games.