“A 12-year-old me playing Counter-Strike with his elder brother didn’t know he’d be playing the same game in 2023 on a TV show with thousands of eyes on him and winning a part of the Rs 50 lakh pot—that’s the beauty of the rise of esports in India,” said 24-year-old content creator/gamer Adit Minocha, the title winner of the best gamer in season two of the world’s first gaming entertainment show, Playground.

Minocha is one of the gamers who got fame and money from the ascent of esports (electronic games) in India. Frequently mistaken for normal video games, esports has seen a huge ascent in India in the past few years. The gaming industry in India was supposed to develop by 20-30% and was intended to make one lakh new direct and indirect jobs before the end of FY23, as per a report from staffing organization TeamLease Digital (these numbers still can’t seem to be checked).

As per a report by EY named “Ready.Set.Game ON,” India is supposed to encounter one of the quickest increments in esports viewership and revenue, increasing fourfold to Rs 1,100 crore by 2025.

To additionally reinforce the industry, the government on December 27 integrated esports into the main sports disciplines in India and recognised it as a component of a ‘multisport’ event. Esports will presently fall under the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs.

The rise and rise of esports in India

Technically, the expression “esports” includes the organised, competitive video gaming industry. Tournaments structure a significant piece of esports, and in these, players from different leagues or groups contend with each other.

India has seen an enormous ascent in tournaments and, surprisingly, has proper platforms that sort out these gaming leagues. BGMI, PUBG, Call of Duty, Tekken 7, DOTA 2, and FIFA are among the well-known esports games in India. India’s youthful population has aided in this.

“The ideal target audience for a career in esports is Millennials and Gen Z, since this audience can relate more to the industry and customer trends. With the funds flowing in the industry, the growth has been faster,” said Soham Thacker, Founder-CEO of Gamerji.

Esports and live streaming platform Loco, which has been in the industry for the past three years, organised an 8Bit Thug’s Invitational tournament in January that crossed 100,000 live views, and the finals of Skyesports’ AMD BGMI Grand Slam tournament saw 160,000 live views in February, as per the organization.

The development is high enough that the Indian DOTA 2 crew won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Esports Championship. One thing that has likewise been supporting the industry is flexibility.

“Gaming is not limited to only esport competitors; it is to be cherished by everyone,” said gamer and digital content creator Vanshraj Singh, who was the most valued player in Playground season two.

Is there a career scope in esports?

Despite being a new industry, esports in India has a ton of potential for employment. As per the FICCI-EY Media and Entertainment Report 2022, the number of esports players in India multiplied from 300,000 in 2020 to 600,000 in 2021.

As per Ashwin Suresh, Founder of Loco, the employment trends in esports, aside from proficient gamers, mentors, analysts, and event coordinators, incorporate game development (programmers, artists, audio engineers, and game designers), event management, marketing, content creation, and broadcasting. The industry additionally requires experts in technology, software development, and data analytics.

Furthermore, organisations are additionally investing in content creation and advertising to promote their esports offerings, prompting an increased demand for digital marketing and social media professionals. Albeit the esports industry has no age limitation, significant employment in the industry is driven by GenZ. Specialists additionally notice that GenZ and millennials are the interest groups in the industry.

Anyway, Vanshraj suggests that making a profession in esports is a slow, rough ride. It’ll be an ideal opportunity if it’s played alongside the studies, and taken forward as a full-time vocation choice.

“One thing I always tell everyone is that this is not a race, it’s a marathon. It doesn’t matter how fast you finish, but for how long you can run,” said Vanshraj.

What drives GenZ into the Esports industry?

When you are in school or college, it’s normal for you to be keen on video games, right? Well, as indicated by Minocha, the development of increasingly more esports gaming leagues and the opportunity to earn money through esports’ are driving GenZ into the industry.

In the interim, as per 26-year-old, Kaashvi Hiranandani (Kaashvi Plays), adolescents are crashing into esports due to the sense of community, opportunity, and self-expression.

“We enjoy playing games and participating in online communities where we can connect with other players who share similar interests,” she added.

Women as well as Gen Z, however, feel liberated by the esports industry. Esports is a male-oriented industry with few female gamers, as games in any structure, be it traditional or non-traditional, are frequently connected with men. Yet, presently, with time, an ever-increasing number of women have come up in the industry.

As per 22-year-old Kanika Bisht (Kani Gaming), the opportunity that video games give, the freedom, and the rising opportunities drive women into them, yet the path is still long.

“In recent years, female gamers have been actively participating in esports tournaments, and that number is only growing. I am confident that this trend will continue in the future, creating more opportunities for women to work in the esports industry,” added Bisht.

How can one make a career in esports?

The way to making a vocation in esports begins with having an enthusiasm for the games. ”A career in esports as a gamer (like any other sport) starts at a young age and by practising your skills daily,” said Shetty.

As per Suresh, the initial step is to comprehend the basics of gaming and the industry by exploring well-known games, leagues, and tournaments. The subsequent step is fostering the right skills through consistent practice and partaking in online competitions to make your name as an esports contender.

“Polishing skills such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are also essential to success in esports.” “Stay up-to-date about the game and the latest news and trends to adapt and evolve as the industry grows and changes over time,” added Suresh.

The third step includes making an impressive portfolio, which can assist you in turning into a professional contender. According to Suresh, this should be possible by connecting with employers, taking part in open tryouts, and highlighting your achievements, both throughout the game. A solid online presence further improves the likelihood of being chosen.

Furthermore, if you’re not competitive in terms of video games, you can seek professions in this field in strategy research, game creation, creative writing, sales and marketing, or data analytics.

What financial investments are required?

“If you’re starting in gaming or esports, capital is necessary.” I won’t lie about that. You need a good PC or a good mobile phone if you want to play games. But you can always start with your phone, like any phone you have in your hand,” said Vanshraj.

Suresh encourages individuals to begin investing in training or coaching programmes, attending industry events and conferences, or building an individual brand through social media and content creation once they feel they have done all necessary research and taken their excursion ahead by certain means.

When it comes to money, it can depend on the role in the industry.

“There are largely three ways to make earnings in this industry: regular streaming games, promotional brand deals, and prize money from tournaments. In addition, some esports companies may hire them as players, coaches, shout casters, or team members, paying them a monthly salary,” said Bisht.

One more approach to earning money in the esports industry is to combine it with gaming and content creation. Vanshraj exhorts individuals who are simply starting their excursion to choose games that run on low graphics and attempt to shoot a video out of them.

“If you like the process, I think only then should you invest in better gear. And if you think you can do this for years to come without seeing any growth, you should invest in more equipment, like whatever your source of streaming or gaming is, and also consider how much you can expect to earn from the industry,” he added.

Article Credit: CNBC TV18

Image Credit: Hypernia