“For the last 3 years, we have tried to build a sustainable ecosystem for gaming in India,” exults Nodwin Gaming CEO Akshat Rathee.
There is a fine line which distinguishes gaming from eSports and that can be sufficed into one word, not passion but profession. With professional video gamers and organisations springing forward throughout the globe, we stand on the verge of an eSports revolution as it still has so much of untapped potential and is surging forward every day.
For those who are not familiar with the term ‘eSports’, here is a little information that might help you get some perspective to start with:
eSports translates to electronic sports, casually known as video games.
How does it differ from casual gaming?
eSports are video games, which are played professionally. The players sign contracts with organisations as a team/individual and receive salaries just like any other profession and (or) by garnering prizes (which are mostly cash) from various tournaments replete throughout the world.”
It’s still video games, why should you be paying any attention?
Here’s why:
- A SuperData report from May 2015 asserts that the eSports market is worth $612 million globally and its audience is 134 million and growing.
- A part of a free preview to its new report: “The Global Growth of Esports: Trends, Revenues and Audience Towards 2017” states that there could be as many people watching eSports in 2017 as many are watching NFL now. Possibilities of the viewership reaching 1 billion plus in two years are also been speculated, given the growth.
- Previously, eSports tournaments were sponsored by companies who manufactured gaming products (PCs, consoles, etc.) like Intel, Razer, Asus etc. But the recent outburst of its popularity has attracted sponsors from famed and globally renowned consumer brands like Coca Cola, Red Bull, Monster and many more, why? That is for you to decide.
- Last year “The International” for the game Dota 2 garnered a prize pool of $18,429,613.05, which is expected to grow this year.
- eSports tournaments have graced the New York’s Madison Square Garden for a League of Legends live competition for 2 days. These are just some of many reasons.
Now that we’re through with that, this brings one question to our mind. Given its global acceptance and popularity, where does India stand in terms of ‘eSports’?
To get some perspective, we reached out to NODWIN Gaming, CEO and director, Akshat Rathee.
“eSports will always be something which is very, very niche. It is obviously doing well today than it was back then. Still, just like any other sport, let’s say Kabaddi, the total number of kabaddi players in our country who are professionals, that is, who earn ‘this’ amount of money to make a livelihood out of it are less than 150 or something. So, you say that gaming would have thousands of pro players, no, it will not.” Further, he implied that there may be an average of 100 pro players for each game, which has eSports potential and influence in the country naming Dota 2, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, FIFA and League of Legends (maybe).
NODWIN Gaming is currently one of the beacons in Indian eSports scene, which came into being after the infamous IGC, which left the country’s eSports image tarnished. As Rathee informed us that back in the time, the Indian eSports scene was decent with events like ICGC doing a really good job, while his team was just meeting people to start a proper venture dedicated to eSports in the country. It was the aftermath of IGC, that they formed the company.
A thing that is to be noted here is, by partnering with big names in the gaming industry, adds to the credibility of the company and hence the indigenous gamers and foreigners can trust the events and take part, which eventually puts India into the radar of big eSports organisations, for good.
While the opportunities are increasing for Indian eSports enthusiasts, the mindset is yet to take a blow. The major chunk of population still sceptic about a career in eSports and we cannot put the blame on them given the scenario although things are now moving towards betterment, at a steady pace. So, how much has the thinking actually changed?
“It has not changed for a lot of people; it will change for a select few. For example, how many people actually earn from cricket, the biggest game we have here? Less than a thousand, so if you go to your parents and say I want to play cricket and earn a livelihood out of it. They will maybe say yes, but there are only a thousand people in the country who do that. So, keeping the odds in mind, if we go and assert to our parents that we want take up gaming as a career, they will probably say, it’s better you play cricket.”
So, we still have a long way to go.
NODWIN gaming is currently, working in two fronts, partnerships, where they collaborate with brands like Mountain Dew and Red Bull to create eSports properties for them while earning revenues while pushing their cause and properties, like ESL India Premiership, which was recently announced. With their own property they are trying to invest and etch their mark in the Indian gaming scenario. Other than that, the company has also partnered with Valve, which seemed to have worked pretty well for them.
But one thing Rathee confirmed was that if someone wishes to take up a career in gaming in the country, he/she should have played at least, “thousand hours of that game”, hinting at the dedication and practice required to make the cut.
The eSports scene in India is not ‘very good’, but it is definitely better than what it was a few years back. Indigenous organisations are now taking up teams for specific games and the opportunities have increased overall. Although the global scene is dotted with countless events and competitions, India is yet to see that intensity in the country. A company or an individual single-handedly, can only achieve so much in changing the milieu. The country has a long way to go in order to compete with the best ones in terms of eSports. But the change that is already taking place is a refreshing sight. Let’s hope that in the time to come, we can have our name penned in the history of eSports.