India’s First Esports Academy- What it Means for Gamers

The Indian esports industry is expanding with leaps and bounds. The country is all set to get its first-ever online gaming industry named- MP State Esports Academy in Madhya Pradesh.

This marks a significant milestone in India’s journey towards adopting Esports as a career option. The initiative also helps to bridge the gap between passion and professionalism for budding gamers, as this academy will offer them a structured platform for all their esports needs.

Let’s move ahead and discuss What this academy will mean to the gamers.

Also Read: Esports as a career

ESports Academy: Nurturing Talent

The MP State Esports Academy will be focusing on identifying and nurturing budding talent in the world of esports. The talented players will get access to professional coaches with cutting-edge gaming gear and training plans customized for different games, the academy will assist aspiring gamers in honing their tactics, reflexes, and collaboration. The Indian youth has been more into esports of late and the MP State Esports Academy will leave no stone unturned in nurturing the talent.

To Professionalize Esports in the Country

Gone are those days when Esports was just about casual gaming. People have started looking at Esports as a legitimate career choice. The launch of MP State Esports Academy signifies a step towards professionalizing the Esports industry in the country. The academy is all set to play a crucial role in fostering talent and setting industry standards to elevate the stature of Indian esports on the world stage.

Economic and Social Impact

Not only the gamers but also the establishment of an Esports Academy like this are testaments to the government’s recognition of esports as an evolving sector. The industry is expected to boost employment and investment in the sector and foster a vibrant gaming community. Also, this initiative may inspire other states and cities to launch similar academies and expand the Esports community in the country.

Prospects other than Gaming

The academy not only focuses on training players and making them compete at the highest level. It also aims to create an ecosystem for the e-gaming industry by offering players training in the fields of game development, content creation, streaming, and event management. This approach will open doors for diverse career opportunities for all enthusiasts.

With the growing popularity of esports, the demand for skilled professionals in the field will be upright. Contributing to the industry in various capacities will serve as a launchpad for enthusiasts who can then look for dispersed opportunities in the field.

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The Growth of Esports: Career Opportunities in the Gaming World

From being a pastime niche, to a career opportunity, esports has come a long way to become a global phenomenon. Not so long ago, it was once considered a fad for games, but it has now turned into a billion-dollar business. From professional gaming, production, management, and marketing and coaching, there are promising careers up for grabs within this esports ecosystem. But it takes more than just having a passion for gaming, one has to be technologically sound as well to enjoy a fulfilling career.

Also Read: Revenue models in professional sports league in India


Numbers Backing Exponential Growth of Esports

This is not an exaggeration but esports has grown at an exponential rate, fueled by technological advancements, internet accessibility, and the ever-increasing video gaming culture. Here is an overview of the numbers backing that discussion

  • The global esports market is expected to reach a valuation of over $1.6 billion by 2024.
  • Games such as Diablo, Dota 2 and League of Legends World Championship draw millions of viewers worldwide.
  • Social media platforms such as Twitch and YouTube Gaming boast robust communities where fans watch their favorite players and teams compete live.

Career Opportunities in Esports

This unprecedented growth within the Esports Ecosystem is creating a demand for professionals, who can handle various activities.

1. As a Professional Player

  • Role: Playing games for a pastime and relieve stress is a different thing than playing it professionally. Becoming a professional gamer requires skills such as faster reflexes, quick decision making, and creative thinking. Competitions are held worldwide were professional gamers participate in tournaments and leagues for games such as Fortnite, CS:GO, and Valorant.
  • Earning Potential: Big companies are always on the look out for professional gamers with great skills. Gamers are paid handsome salaries and earn sponsorships as well.
  • Challenges: There is tough competition in this field. The need to perform consistently, and the shorter lifespan of an esport player, makes this a challenging job option.

2. As a Streamer or Content Creator

  • Role: Many gamers are now making streaming their full-time career as platforms such as Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming rope in audiences. Streamers entertain by playing games, and discussing a whole lot of other things to engage their users.
  • Earning Potential: Streamers like iShowSpeed earn in millions through advertising, subscriptions or sponsorships.
  • Challenges: Building your own following is hard considering a huge community of E-Gamers already exist. The biggest hurdle is to keep creating engaging content which requires top creative skills.

3. As an Esports Team Manager

  • Role: With Esports becoming a billion dollar industry, there’s a demand for managers who can handle logistics, work on contracts, maintain schedules, and keep a tab on subjects such as sponsorships. The focus point for team managers is to ensure that there is nothing left for the players but to focus on their games.
  • Earning Potential: Just like any other domain, there’s no limit to what a manager in the ESports Ecosystem can earn.
  • Challenges: As the ESports ecosystem is relatively new, opportunities are few and far between.

4. As a Coach or Analyst

  • Role: Coaches and analysts help teams in strategizing and analyzing gameplay to improve performance in esports. Their role become critical for teams fighting for the titles.
  • Responsibilities: Analysing opposing teams, developing training schedules, and giving tactical insight during matches.
  • Challenges: Someone looking to become coach or analyst, must possess skills better than actual game players.

5. As an Event Producer and Broadcaster

  • Role: As someone working in production and broadcast, his role could be of a host, cameramen, sound engineers, or event managers.
  • Responsibilities: They can work as event managers, video producers, commentators, or broadcasting professionals.
  • Growth Prospects: The more these events go into large numbers, the more will be the demand for talented production teams.

6. As a Game Developer and Designer

  • Roles: They are the ones who develop and design the games. But someone developing the game should have skills more then being of a developer. Interest in gaming helps a lot.
  • Responsibilities: Game Designer, Developer, Quality Assurance Tester, and UX/UI Designer.
  • Skills Required: Programming, creativity, and love for gaming.

7. As an ESports Marketing Professional

  • Roles: As e-sports takes more and more centre stage, there’s demand for individuals who are skilled in marketing, branding, and sponsorship.
  • Responsibilities: As someone working as a ESports marketing professional, the individual should have skill set in marketing campaigns; acquisition of sponsorships; and marketing of tournaments or teams.
  • Skills Required: This role requires esports Culture Understanding, Creativity, and Negotiating Skills.

8. As an E-Sports Journalist

  • Roles: Journalists write stories from tournaments, interview players, or focus on trends within the industry.
  • Responsibilities: Craft engaging content for the internet. Post articles on trending topics and egamers.
  • Opportunities: From Writers, Editors, Social Media Managers, and Video Content Producers, there are a host of opportunities for individuals.

How to Start a Career in Esports

  1. Identify Your Passion: Identify whether you want to be a coach, content creator or someone else within the esports ecosystem.
  2. Develop Your Skills: Make sure to invest time in honing the skills relevant to your chosen role.
  3. Build a Portfolio: Showcase your achievements, whether it’s a high rank in a game, a popular YouTube channel, or articles on gaming platforms.
  4. Create Network: Attend gaming events, join online communities, and connect with industry professionals.

Challenges in the Esports Industry

  • Player Burnout: Intense schedules can lead to physical and mental exhaustion.
  • Lack of Regulation: In India, there’s certainly a lack of standardized rules and regulations.
  • Gender Disparity: Women face challenges due to stereotypes.
  • Monetization: It’s hard to create a following on any streaming platform due to already existing strong esports community.

Conclusion

Whether you are a player, coach, manager, or creator, emerging opportunities in this field make it a good career choice for an ethusiasts who have interest in playing games. It can be a win-win situation for someone who loves playing games and have coding skills as well. As Esports continues to grow, the industry will only grow in future with an increasingly deeper impact on entertainment and culture. But playing and the dedication alone will not make Esports a job. One has to be innovative to become part of an explosive industry.

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Top 5 Esports Games Popular in India

Esports in India has grown by leaps and bounds, and it’s no surprise—gaming has become not just a hobby but a potential career path for the youth. The esports landscape in India is now mobile-first, marking a significant shift from PC or console games. There’s no denying that this is the golden period for gaming culture! Let’s explore the most popular esports games in India that have taken the gaming industry by storm.

1. BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India)

The game of the masses, BGMI, is the most popular esport in India. It’s the go-to battle royale game for mobile gamers across the country and one of India’s most-watched esports titles. After PUBG Mobile was banned in India in 2020, Krafton’s BGMI stepped in to fill the void. BGMI itself faced a ban in 2022 but made a comeback in 2023. The BGMI Masters Series and BGIS (Battlegrounds Mobile India Series) have attracted massive viewership and top-tier players worldwide.

2. COD Mobile (Call of Duty: Mobile)

The iconic Call of Duty franchise has been a part of the gaming scene for decades. Since its launch, Call of Duty: Mobile became a massive hit among Indian esports enthusiasts. It’s now a staple in major mobile esports tournaments in India, including the Call of Duty Mobile India Cup and Snapdragon Pro Series.

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3. Valorant

In a mobile gaming-dominated landscape, Valorant proves that PC gaming is far from dead. Riot Games’ tactical 5v5 first-person shooter has gained popularity in major esports tournaments in India, such as the Valorant Challengers Series and Skyesports League.

4. Pokémon UNITE

Who would have thought Pokémon UNITE would become so popular in India? As India’s esports scene continues to evolve, this free-to-play multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game is a shining example. The Pokémon UNITE Pro League and Pokémon UNITE Championship Series have seen massive interest from gamers.

5. Counter-Strike 2

Like Call of Duty, the Counter-Strike franchise has been around for a long time. The buzz surrounding the newly launched Counter-Strike 2 suggests that it is poised to take the legacy forward. The excitement for Counter-Strike 2 was evident at the Skyesports Championship and Skyesports Masters.

Top Esports in 2024 by Prize Money

GameTypePrize Pool ($)Peak ViewersTournaments (Ongoing / Total)Last Event Date
1Honor of KingsMobile20,091,745481,2122 / 6704 Aug
2Dota 2PC / Console19,825,8341,523,95714515 Sep
3Counter-StrikePC / Console18,621,3461,853,9543 / 54631 Mar
4PUBG MobileMobile16,007,793718,5061 / 15903 Nov
5FortnitePC / Console11,862,571809,85430308 Sep
6Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six SiegePC / Console9,407,233521,3744 / 12026 Feb
7League of LegendsPC / Console8,862,2146,941,6102 / 16302 Nov
8ValorantPC / Console7,199,0361,687,8483 / 27524 Mar
9Mobile Legends: Bang BangMobile6,673,7274,008,66214527 Oct
10Call of DutyPC / Console5,904,050283,1842828 Aug

Source: escharts

Esports in India has experienced tremendous growth and accelerated popularity since the COVID-19 pandemic. Only after 2020 has it been recognized as a mainstream industry, thanks to the widespread use of smartphones, affordable internet access, and streaming platforms. Projections suggest the esports industry in India will reach Rs. 1100 crores by 2025.

With a young, tech-savvy population and ongoing digitalization, India is poised to take the lead in the global esports arena. With new opportunities and esports becoming a career option, it’s an exciting time to be a gamer in India. Keep an eye on this dynamic and fast-growing industry!

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