The Gaming Industry is Booming, and India is one of the fastest-growing markets. The Indian gaming market is expected to reach $5 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 28-30%. This growth is being driven by a number of factors, including the increasing popularity of mobile gaming, the growing number of gamers, and the rising disposable incomes of Indians.
One of the key drivers of growth in the Indian gaming industry is the increasing popularity of mobile gaming. Mobile gaming is now the most popular form of gaming in India, accounting for over 90% of the market. This is due to the increasing affordability of smartphones and the availability of high-speed internet.
Another factor driving growth in the Indian gaming industry is the growing number of gamers. The number of gamers in India is estimated to be over 420 million, and this number is expected to grow to 500 million by 2025. This growth is being driven by the increasing popularity of gaming among all age groups, including women and children.
The rising disposable incomes of Indians is also contributing to the growth of the gaming industry. As Indians become more affluent, they are spending more money on leisure activities, including gaming.
The growth of the Indian gaming industry is also being supported by the government. The government has launched a number of initiatives to promote the gaming industry, such as the National e-Sports Policy. This policy aims to make India a global hub for e-sports by 2025.
The growth of the Indian gaming industry is creating a number of opportunities for businesses. Game developers, publishers, and hardware manufacturers are all seeing increased demand for their products and services. The gaming industry is also creating jobs, with over 1 million people employed in the sector.
The Indian gaming industry is still in its early stages of development, but it has the potential to become one of the largest gaming markets in the world. The factors driving growth in the Indian gaming industry are likely to continue in the years to come, which means that the industry is poised for even more growth in the future.
Here are some of the biggest gaming tournaments in India and the prize pools they have offered:
Skyesports Championship 2023 – This tournament will feature a prize pool of ₹2 crore and will be held for multiple games, including BGMI, Free Fire, Valorant, and CS:GO.
Upthrust Esports India Rising 2023 – This tournament will feature a prize pool of ₹50 lakhs and will be held for BGMI.
Garena Free Fire World Series 2023 – This tournament will be the biggest Free Fire tournament of the year and will have a prize pool of $2 million. The tournament will be held in Singapore.
League of Legends World Championship 2023 – This tournament will be the biggest League of Legends tournament of the year and will have a prize pool of over $2 million. The tournament will be held in Europe.
The International 2023 – This tournament will be the biggest Dota 2 tournament of the year and will have a prize pool of over $40 million. The tournament will be held in North America.
| Tournament | Start Date | End Date | Winner | Top 3 Teams | Prize Pool | Price Taken by Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skyesports Championship 2023 | February 10 | March 12 | GodLike Esports | TSM Entity, OR Esports, Enigma Gaming | ₹2 crore | ₹50 lakhs (1/4th of the prize pool) |
| Upthrust Esports India Rising 2023 | April 22 | May 21 | GodLike Esports | TSM Entity, Enigma Gaming, Team XO | ₹50 lakhs | ₹12.5 lakhs (1/4th of the prize pool) |
| Garena Free Fire World Series 2023 | November 24 – 26 | Singapore | TBA | TBA | $2 million | TBA |
| League of Legends World Championship 2023 | September 12-25 | Europe | TBA | TBA | Over $2 million | TBA |
| The International 2023 | October 8-15 | North America | TBA | TBA | Over $40 million | TBA |
The prize taken by the winner is usually 1/4th of the total prize pool. However, this can vary depending on the tournament. For example, the winner of the The International 2022 took home $18.2 million, which was over 45% of the total prize pool.
2022 Tournaments:-
Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) India Series 2022 – The BGMI India Series 2022 is the biggest BGMI tournament to date, with a prize pool of ₹2 crore. The tournament was held in two phases, the first phase was a qualifier round and the second phase was the finals. The finals were held in Mumbai and were won by GodLike Esports.
Garena Free Fire India Championship (FFIC) 2022 – The FFIC 2022 is the biggest Garena Free Fire tournament in India, with a prize pool of ₹3.5 crore. The tournament was held in two phases, the first phase was a qualifier round and the second phase was the finals. The finals were held in Kolkata and were won by TSM Entity.
PUBG Mobile India Series (PMIS) 2021 – The PMIS 2021 was the last PUBG Mobile tournament to be held in India before the game was banned. The tournament had a prize pool of ₹1 crore and was won by OR Esports.
World Esports Series (WES) 2022 – The WES 2022 is a multi-game tournament that includes BGMI, Free Fire, FIFA 22, and Valorant. The tournament has a prize pool of ₹1 crore and is being held in multiple cities across India.