Once a specialized form of competitive video gaming, esports is now a realistic career path with pay on par with IIT grads.
With games like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) growing in popularity and being televised on Indian television, top esports players may make incomes that reach into the crores.
With its inclusion in the Olympics and Asian Games, esports has gained popularity.
Rising Esports Popularity: Comparing Salaries with IIT Graduates
Competing globally or as a member of a professional team, skilled esports players can make anywhere from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 30 lakh annually.
Top esports earners have the ability to make over Rs 1 crore from tournament prizes, sponsorships, and endorsements, in addition to earning over Rs 50 lakh.
IIT graduates typically earn between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 25 lakh annually, with top graduates in highly sought-after sectors making much more.
For instance, IIT Bombay graduates made an average gross pay of Rs 16.66 LPA on average, with an average CTC of Rs 21.82 LPA in 2022–2023.
Tier-3 esports competitors usually make between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 6 lakh a year from content production, sponsorships, and minor competitions. Tier-2 players can make anywhere from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 15 lakh a year from team pay, bigger events, and sponsorships.
Pro or proficient esports players can make more than Rs 1 crore a year from prestigious competitions, sponsorships, original content production, streaming, and product sales.
Because of the popularity of the game, the big prize pools, and the strong corporate sponsorships, BGMI players typically make the most money in Indian esports.
Pro BGMI players have monthly earnings ranging from Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh. With over 100 million cumulative users, BGMI rose to the top of the app charts in India upon its relaunch in May 2023.
FIFA, Pokémon UNITE, and Valorant are among the other well-liked video games in India.
Growing Revenue in Esports
Brave sportsmen make between Rs 3–4 lakh and Rs 7-8 lakh a month, with elite athletes like SKRossi earning much more.
In 2023, the count of notable esports titles in India more than doubled to 19, with 1.8 million players across 20 platforms.
In the last year or two, esports players have made between fifty and one hundred percent more money thanks to bigger events, increased popularity, increased viewership, and improved sponsorship deals.
Prize pools for major esports competitions have increased significantly; for example, the 2024 BGIS prize pool doubled to Rs 2 crore.
The BGMI Master Series (BGMS) has grown in popularity and prize money because to its broadcast on Star Sports.
Brand Sponsorships, Government Policies, and Global Recognition
Companies such as AMD and Puma have formed partnerships with esports teams; for example, Revenant Esports and AMD, and Orangutan and Puma India, have linked up.
Players’ wages have increased as a result of brands’ increased interest in sponsoring esports.
More Indians are thinking about pursuing professions in esports because to supportive government legislation; esports are now officially recognized as multi-sport events in India.
In 2025, Saudi Arabia and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) will host the first-ever Olympic Esports Games.
India advanced to the Asian Games’ League of Legends quarterfinals and won a bronze medal in DOTA 2 at the Commonwealth Esports Championships.
Notable players in esports come from Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Assam, among other minor cities and towns.
A significant source of income, game streaming is becoming more popular in smaller cities. Additionally, viewership for game streamers increased by 20–25 percent, especially in Tier II cities.
