Indian Esports Industry’s Trends and Triumphs in 2023
In 2023, Indian Esports has undergone a monumental journey, marked by significant achievements and establishing a thriving ecosystem including:
1. IQOO’s historic title sponsorship with Team SOUL: In a pioneering move for Indian Esports, Team SOUL roped in iQOO as its exclusive title sponsor for six months, marking the first time that an Esports organization in the country secured a high-profile title sponsorship with a mobile manufacturer that extends beyond individual tournaments. This was further testament to the rising number of brands entering the Esports ecosystem.
2. Streaming giants making a big push into gaming: Netflix recently introduced the GTA Trilogy on mobile devices for its subscribers and will have 86 games available by the year’s end, and have nearly 90 more games in development. YouTube also introduced a new feature called Playables, which allows YouTube Premium subscribers to play games on YouTube without having to download or install any games or separate apps. This streamlined access to gaming will attract a broader audience and contribute to increased engagement within the Indian gaming community.
3. International football icons investing in Esports – Football star Cristiano Ronaldo is part of a group of investors that has recently committed to invest more than $40 million into the development of the new title UFL, the free-to-play football video game. Brazilian esports organization LOUD announced that professional footballer Vinicius Jr has become a co-owner of the organization. Moreover, footballing legend and Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi also became co-owner of the Argentine organization KRÜ Esports, which was founded by former footballer Sergio Agüero, reflecting the growing interest in Esports amongst prominent football personalities who have identified its potential.
4. Glory on the international stage: In a remarkable feat for the second consecutive year, S8UL, India’s leading Esports organization, has secured the prestigious ‘Esports Content Creator of the Year’ award at the Global Esports Awards 2023. Having also won the inaugural ‘Global Impact on Mobile Gaming’ award at the MOBIES earlier this year, these milestones elevated the stature of Indian Esports worldwide.
5. Esports World Cup 2024: The announcement of the Esports World Cup 2024 in Saudi Arabia has further promised a world of opportunities for Indian Esports, promising global recognition and attracting investment from sponsors, legacy brands, and venture capitalists.
6. Esports taking center stage at Asian Games 2022: With Esports debuting as an official medal sport at the Asian Games 2022, India’s 15-member contingent showcased its prowess in four different titles at the prestigious tournament where its League of Legends contingent secured a historic fifth-place finish.
Niko Partners’ “India Games Market 2023” report projects India video games revenue across all platforms to reach $868 million in 2023, up 21.2% YoY. India’s video game market is the fastest growing by gamers and revenue, which is forecast to reach $1.6 billion by 2027, growing at a 5-year CAGR of 17.2%. The report excludes revenue generated from Real Money Games.
The number of gamers in India across all platforms is forecast to reach 444 million in 2023, up 12.1% YoY, and reach 641.2 million in 2027, growing at a 5-year CAGR of 10.1%.If you are planning any year-end stories on the growth of gaming and Esports in 2023, we can share the responses or articles on behalf of the below-mentioned personalities on how the year fared for them and the Indian Esports industry:
1. Esports Federation of India
Spokesperson: Mr Lokesh Suji, Director, Esports Federation of India & Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF)ESFI is a full member of the International Esports Federation (IESF), Global Esports Federation (GEF), and Asian Esports Federation (AESF)
2. 8bit Creatives, India’s leading esports consulting and talent agencySpokesperson: Mr Animesh Agarwal, Founder & CEO, 8Bit Creatives
Mr Animesh Agarwal, Founder, and CEO of 8Bit Creatives, India’s leading esports consulting and talent management agency. He is also the founder of S8UL, a hub of gaming content and esports. S8UL is the parent org of team sOul, the reigning champions of BGMI in India. Animesh dons several hats as an entrepreneur, an ex-pro gamer, a monster energy esports athlete, a gaming & luxury lifestyle content creator and a pioneer in the Indian Gaming Industry. He has a deep understanding of the industry and is dedicated to shaping the esports and gaming industry in India. He has partnered with other industry front runners like Nodwin Gaming & LOCO to make substantial strides in advancing gaming & esports in India. With some of India’s top gaming talents in their line-up and backed with experience and exposure of collaborating and curating campaigns with 100+ top-notch brands like Netflix, Coca-cola, Reliance Digital, Mx Players, OnePlus, Realme Narzo, Flipkart, Airtel, and many others; 8Bit Creatives boasts of managing popular and renowned gaming content creators and influencers- Mortal, Scout, Mavi, Snax, Thug, Payal, Kaashvi, 8bit Goldy, 8bit Sid to name a few.
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