The esports industry has been in the limelight for quite some time now. With gaining popularity, the Indian esport industry today is worth Rs 90 billion by the end of 2020 already and looks to grow to Rs 143 billion by 2022! Esports and online gaming made their debut into the mainstream in recent years, transforming from a vibrant niche to a central hub of entertainment! Although the history of eSports in India has been widely undocumented, the increase in the number of game developing companies in India from 25 in 2010 to 250 in 2018 speaks for itself. While esports may have once stood for a subset of sports, it has now grown into a full blown industry of its own.

Presently, the esports business has been seeing enormous growth in just a couple of years, both in income and viewership. While these two are generally interconnected, esports measurements show that it’s not just viewership that gets income. Marketing and advertising have also had a deep impact on the industry, making it much bigger than it previously was. Besides, the COVID-19 pandemic here are some fascinating facts and figures that influenced past forecasts and achieved recent trends.

Some facts & figures of Esports

• Growing revenue stream comes from around the world:

Asia-Pacific (APAC), North America, and Europe are the top three esports markets of the world. As per PwC estimates, APAC represented more than half (57%) of worldwide esports viewership in 2019, which was a decent rise from 51% in 2017. In the interim, North America hit $300 million in esports income this year, while Europe is relied upon to reach $138 million. The remainder of the world just records for about 15% of complete esports income, however, it contains a few districts to watch. One of the quickest rising areas is Latin America, which hit $18 million in esports income in 2019 before rising to $42 million by 2023.

• Esports gamers and athletes are alike:

Athletes and gamers have more in common than you think. The two players go through a long stretch of time with strategic moves, practicing them, and playing collectively as a team. Examining the opposition’s gameplay to comprehend their techniques is a standard move in hockey, which also plays a part in esports. Not just athletes, but gamers too are inclined to injuries, trigger finger that reacts at the wrong time thus, losing the game. Other injuries include nerve pain in the neck or in the back, while some get carpal tunnel syndrome, these are some conditions that lead to the retirement of the gamer from tournaments.

• Revenue Generation:

Despite the fact that esports is at its beginnings, its expanding income demonstrates that it will keep growing both in viewership and in income. Income through esports is produced through various roads including sponsorship and promoting which is intended to take into account viewers and players everywhere in the world. According to Juniper Research, a sports-based research company, esports competitive gaming 2021 is expected to double its income generation to $3.5 billion. Owing to the popularity of esports, various gaming platforms allow both experts, amateur, and beginners to engage in gaming activities, bearing fruits with increased participation and viewership. Besides, the game titles have streaming rights offered to selective channels prompting a bait for gamers and game lovers. In 2019, the winning players for Dota 2 got $38.3 billion US dollars, while the winning group got $16 million. Every player got $3.1 million, $100,000 more than the winner of Wimbledon Novak Djokovic!

• E-Sports Encompasses Every Other Game:

Traditional games have a bunch of rules that a player is expected to follow in a competition. Esports are on the wild side, and any game that can be transformed into a match turns into esports. With esports, there are no limitations as to which games you can play as the conditions of the game will vary with each tournament. For example, you can take on the multiplayer online battle arena or MOBA for different players working next to each other. Dota 2 and League of the legends is a multiplayer game. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is a first-player shooting match-up or an FPS. Other mainstream FPS games incorporate Call of Duty and Halo. Esports is just rewarding for viewers and gamers the same whenever publicized for a particular game and not different games.

• Gamers Are Legal Athletes in the US:

Forbes shows that proficient gamers presently have a “lawful competitor personality” in the United States. The tip-top status comes as an amazement to many, however, the conditions in which gamers enter these competitions warrant it. An expert gamer requires everyday practice, ability or skill in the game, collaboration if playing a multiplayer game, and a strategic mind, particularly if the stakes are high. To further emphasize their legality, Comcast is planning and building a Fusion Arena. The Arena is set to be ready by this year and is said to have spent more than 50 million for its construction. It is a cutting-edge structural plan that will have a live entertainment venue and a fantastic games complex for seating more than 3500 visitors at a go.

• Get a Spot in the E-Sports Hall of Fame:

The E-Sports Hall of Fame is a new concept that permits esports and competition gaming fans to connect and interact with well-known players. It gives the gamers a chance to have one-on-one induction into the community and to their fans. It may not be a gigantic step, but it does provide a stepping stone for something bigger. The hall is said to have consecutive competitions with new and energizing players from around the world. The first inductees who received the Hall of Fame prizes and honours were back in 2016 from the Quake gaming franchise and the Counter-Strike team. Up until today, four more inductees have become part of the hall with notable titles, special awards, community titles, and more.

Despite the challenges faced by this emerging industry, the esports market is bound to grow exponentially. It’s not surprising to see numerous esports games out in the market every year, especially as publishers are likely to target the young adult audience more aggressively. Furthermore, the increasing number of active streamers and viewers will naturally encourage more advertisers and sponsors to invest in this booming industry as well.