01/26/2023
When I first plugged in that PS1, I never imagined “Esports” would become a thing let alone an industry.
4 consoles later, millions of dollars are being poured into it and it doesn’t look like it's stopping anytime soon.
Having made multiple decks for esports startups, here are some trends to look out for in the Indian esports industry in 2023:
1) Rise of the hardcore ‘casual gamers’: Internet data and mobile phones are becoming more accessible. 94% of all gamers in India are casual gamers. We can expect catered games for this segment of gamers.
2) Hanji, Paaji, 5G: With 5G already in the Indian market, we can expect longer game time due to faster speeds, no latency and better connection.
3) Baadalo par gaming?: Yes, we’re getting cloud gaming baby. It's been there but will take off in India this year. High-end gaming and graphics without local storage. This will remove resistance and make way for new gamers. Ventures like JioGames will surely make this mainstream.
4) Battle Royale (What a luxurious term, right?): With increased investments, we can expect new gaming companies. Innovative versions of battle royale with enhanced graphics and better gameplay are on the horizon. Let's not forget about the nationwide tournaments for this category!
5) Esports to grow: Esports athletes, teams, tournaments, and organisations will only increase in the country. Platforms and organisers have brought about a large number of eyeballs to the industry, and it will only increase hereon. We can expect a massive increase in new gamers in 2023 in India.
AR/VR are yet to make dents in the Indian esports market, gamified fintech is something new that's catching up and gaming unicorns are popping up left and right! There’s so much to look forward to in the industry. Only time will tell what goes viral next.
But one thing is for certain - picture abhi baaki hai mere dost!
