What was once considered as a way to pass time and as a fun hobby, now stands tall as a multi-billion industry. Every person with a smartphone is a gamer, even though it’s just LUDO. Smartphones have revolutionized the gaming industry – multiplying its possibilities and reaching players from diverse demographic regions and age groups. What started as offline entertainment has evolved into one of the most exciting online things. Combined with the social media platforms, the gaming industry has a new category in its lime lights – eSports, with thousands of active players.

So what is eSports?

eSports, short for electronic sports, is an online video gaming competition where players or teams compete against each other. It requires practice, skills and above all a dedicated mind. The main highlight of eSports is the associated perk. The winners get a chance to take home money/goodies. eSports transforms online gaming into a spectator sport – just like we have viewers for the traditional sports broadcasts for football, cricket, hockey, etc. When the players compete against each other, the audience can stream the same. This can range from local small-scale events to large-scale international tournaments that feature popular games across different genres.

You might be already familiar with the concept if you are a player or have heard about one of the most popular games in the country currently – PUBG(Player Unknown’s Battleground). But this is just a drop in the endless sea of gaming. With the rapid growth of the digital landscape in the country, eSports may soon open up new horizons of monetization opportunities in the form of advertising, ticket sales, licensing, team sponsorships and even merchandising.

So who are the major players involved in it?

The publishers

The most important player is the publisher or the entity that has planned, developed and deployed the game. They are solely responsible for the creation and distribution of these games.

The tournament organisers

These are individuals or a group of individuals who conduct these events. This can be the publishers themselves or others who provide a platform, plan, set the guidelines and organise the event – in and out.

The teams

Several organisations around the world hire individuals to represent them in eSports events. These are professional teams just like the ones we have in our IPL.

The players

In every game, the most important asset is the player. They are the people who take the game forward. There are individual and team-based tournaments.

Audience

The audience comprises every individual who loves games. Each game attracts a specific set of audiences as unique as its characteristics!

Now let’s look at how an eSport event helps students. eSport arenas serve as one of the best places for the students to connect and network with like-minded people, learn and get to meet the key players of the industry. This can also act as a stage for individuals to gather inspiration in designing games that are just created for eSports and also refine the existing games.

eSports is on its way to becoming one of the most promising investments. With the gaming industry leaping into more immersive experiences, the future looks exciting. Stay tuned to read more updates from the gaming industry.