eSports is quickly becoming one of the most popular sports industry across the globe, and no country is seeing this kind of rapid growth more than India in the value
According to many analysts, it is expected that the industry will reach a total of ₹1,100 crore over the next three years. This is according to the Federation of Electronic Sports Associations of India (FEAI).
eSports Industry In India Has Gargantuan Value
The FEAI is the governing body of eSports in India, and they are about to release a policy paper outlining the framework on how eSports will develop in India. Part of the paper will provide a detailed roadmap for the formalization of this industry. The FEAI currently has chapters in all 26 Indian states and is connected to all the international governing bodies covering eSports.
Cricket Leading the Way
There are many factors that are playing a significant role in the advancements and growth of eSports within India, but it is Cricket that is driving the success according to the FEAI. The governing body explained that more companies are focused on developing an electronic version of the game, which would be a boon to this industry as Cricket is the most popular sport in India.
“Cricket presents a massive opportunity for growth of Esports in Commonwealth Nations,” explained Vaibhav Dange, founding President of the FEAI. He added that the “fillip that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided to the animation, visual effects, gaming and comics (AVGC) sector will start delivering results soon.”
The overall goal of the FEAI is to help India develop an ecosystem that is able to compete against any market in the world. This includes the creation of global tournaments that the governing body hopes will be the best in the world.
According to the upcoming policy paper, the FEAI is recommending strong intervention by the Government of India, helping to formalize the eSports sector. This is seen as a necessary step, as government support would help to promote a number of industries getting involved in eSports, including animation, visual effects, gaming and comics (AVGC).
Explained Dange, “We will facilitate a policy-controlled outlook to address the talent development ecosystem that encompasses the spectrum of skill-sets, businesses, job creation, education and revenue generation for the entire country.”
Setting the Bar
India has already established itself as the number one country in terms of gaming participation and money spent on such things as eSports. With over 560 million Internet users, the second largest number of Internet consumers, eSports has quickly become a popular choice for entertainment among citizens of the country.
Adding to the rise in popularity has been the use of mobile devices to play these games. According to insiders, 85% of India’s population play these games using their mobile devices,
with only 15% using either a PC or tablet. Because smartphones have improved in technology
and are quite affordable, it has helped to make these devices the number one choice for users when playing these games.
According to https://www.fragster.com/, as many as 34 million Indians are playing a game at any time during the day. Their popular game Battle Royale has been downloaded over 175 million times in the country alone. PUBG and other developers have discovered that players are quite amenable to making digital payments so as to enjoy playing their favourite games.
Recent world events have only helped to spur this industry even more.
With such a rabid fan base, it is not surprising that government agencies are looking to ensure that the proper regulations are put in place to protect consumers while also enhancing the success of the industry. At this rate, it may not be long before India surpasses all countries in terms of the development and advancement of eSports.