Despite all the challenges that the world has faced, the cumulative growth of the esports industry has been unprecedented and phenomenal
Lokesh Suji – Director, Esports Federation of India | VP-Asian Esports Federation
Esports & Gaming industry in 2020:
We saw a boom in digital entertainment in India with the COVID-19 uncertainties and the lockdown in place in most of 2020, both esports & video gaming playing a key role. With the pandemic continuing and active sports hit mostly, the penetration of esports has only depended and efforts are being made to make it reach to more and more individuals across the country by various stakeholders in the esports community. However, despite all the challenges that the world has faced, the cumulative growth of the esports industry has been unprecedented and phenomenal.
What are the expectations in 2021:
Though the video games industry is recognized as an industry in India, we hope and look forward to esports being recognition in the same way soon. While esports is now going to be a medal event at the Asian Games 2022 as well as few other Asian Championship events, it is a must that esports needs to be recognized by the Ministry of Sports as a “Sport”. We mustn’t club it with Online Gaming, Fantasy, Teen Patti, Poker, Rummy and brand it as a source of betting or gambling. Esports is like any other sporting discipline sports where India has a chance to win medals and bring glory to the country. We need to recognise and regulate it as any other sport.
I am confident that these developments will also propel more brands to invest and associate with the Esports Eco-system and it is an opportune time for Indian Esports Industry to take a quantum leap economically as well as a new avenue in the sports genre.
