DECODED INDIAN E-SPORTS SECTOR

“Reality is broken. Game designers can fix it” are the words said by Jane McGonigal. Gaming has always been a global phenomenon. The pandemic forced people to be confined within the walls of their homes. Furthermore, the fear of the virus played a huge part in people taking interest in virtual environments that these games provided. The people of India were always drawn towards gaming but due to economic limitations and parental restrictions, gaming could never come to the fore like it did in the rest of the world.

- Saptak Bardhan

There have been misconceptions associated with e-sports. People often think gaming and e-sports are the same. However, that could not be further from the truth. Gaming is a social activity and something that an individual would indulge in during his or her leisure time. E-sports, on the other hand is extremely competitive and structured component which is built around a goal which can be to get better or to win a tournament. E-sports tournament follow either a knockout format or a league format. A knockout format represents the survival of the best. However, a league format represents consistency and the person who is able to gather most points by the end of last match day wins the league. The match is played on a stage with thousands of spectators watching as two teams battle against each other to emerge victorious while commentators explain each and every move and the strategic motivation behind those moves.