Play to Pay: Indian gamer earnings soar to Rs 20 lakh annually as esports goes mainstream

After making a comeback in May 2023, BGMI has once again topped the list of highest-grossing Android apps in India

Playing video and mobile games in India is turning out to be a lucrative venture for gamers with earnings going as high as Rs 20 lakh annually amid expectations of strong growth in the coming years.

In the last 1-2 years, esports players have experienced notable growth in earnings, said Lokesh Suji, Director of Esports Federation of India, and Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF).

"We expect a growth of about 20-25 percent in the average player earnings in the next 1-2 years, considering the growth of esports," said Rohit Agarwal, Founder & Director, Alpha Zegus, a marketing agency specialising in gaming and lifestyle.

He said as esports gains more recognition, they are seeing more tournaments happening more frequently, and with higher prize pools. "This would mean that esports investors have more avenues to get returns on their investments, so they often look at onboarding stronger esports players at competitive pay."

While earnings depend on game titles which include BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India), Counter-Strike and Valorant, among others, Agarwal said that top esports players from different games earn an average of about Rs 20 lakh per annum, which could go further upwards depending on their popularity. "Outside of the top 10 pool of players, we see the average earnings of around Rs 4-5 lakh per annum and this is exclusive of prize pool earnings."

Esports players have contracts with esports organisations like Gods Reign and Revenant Esports, among others. Their earnings also include the prize pool of the tournaments they win along with revenue from team sponsorships.

Also read: Gamers seek fame, riches in world’s next esports hub India

"Currently, BGMI players are the ones earning significantly more than their counterparts in PC or console titles. This is due to the game's popularity, consistent sponsorship and brand collaborations, and the frequency of official tournaments," said Animesh Agarwal, aka 8BitThug, Founder and CEO of 8Bit Creatives, a gaming talent management firm and S8UL, an esports organisation.

For the top 10 BGMI players, earnings are estimated to be in the range of Rs 2-6 lakh per month and outside of the top 10 pool, the pay ranges from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh per month.

"Over the past 1-2 years, the growth trajectory in esports players' earnings has been significant. The industry's evolution, fuelled by high interest, increased sponsorships, and a growing fan base, has translated into substantial financial progress for players," said K R Rohith, CEO at Gods Reign.

The percentage of serious gamers seeing growth in their earnings has seen a significant increase this year versus 2022. While gamers earning over Rs 12 lakh per annum have increased from 5 percent to 6 percent this year, gamers earning Rs 6-12 lakh per annum have increased from 16 percent last year to 40 percent in 2023, according to HP India Gaming Landscape Study 2023 released last week.

The report also noted that half of serious gamers in the country see a career in gaming, which has become a viable profession because of the surge in esports tournaments.

Also read: Free Fire's return expected to spark 30% growth in Indian esports: Experts

"The industry's expanding ecosystem, coupled with a surge in corporate partnerships and a growing viewer base, positions esports as a lucrative and sustainable career choice," said Rohith.

Not a level-playing field

On the other hand, esports player Sahil Jakhar also known as Soul Omega, said that BGMI gamers tend to dominate the top-earning positions while players of other games often encounter challenges in achieving similar income levels. "For players outside the top 10 in various games, earnings are frequently influenced by factors such as individual brand partnerships, the success of their organisations in tournaments, and the popularity of the game."

AESF's Suji said that most of the highest-earning players in the country are mobile gamers due to the mobile-dominated ecosystem. "Those competing in PC or console titles do not rank as high earners due to the absence of a proper ecosystem for these titles."

Jakhar also pointed out that when it comes to players abroad, it's not only the top players who benefit. "On average, every player often enjoys more lucrative deals and operates within a more established ecosystem."

Also read: Esports looking for acceptance as one of the top three sports in India, says NODWIN Gaming MD

Suji added that compared to international players, India still has a long way to go in terms of earnings.

But with the consistent presence of esports in major international competitions, and the upcoming Esports World Cup, there will be a rise in the revenue for gamers across all titles, he said.

In October this year, Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, announced that the Esports World Cup would kick off in the summer of 2024 in Riyadh, replacing Gamers8, a renowned esports festival held in Saudi Arabia.

In this year’s edition of Gamers8, the prize pool was $45 million, which is the largest in the history of esports tournaments. The tournament recorded a viewership of 1.3 billion, with peak concurrent viewers reaching 1 million. The event's sponsors included names such as Adidas, Pepsico, Aramco and Razer, among others.

Asian Games impact

Along with the expected impact of the upcoming Esports World Cup, some say that the recognition from the Asian Games for Indian esports athletes has fuelled their earnings.

"The inclusion of esports in Asian Games has had a positive impact on the earnings of players in India, as the recognition on such a prestigious platform has attracted more sponsorships and opportunities for our players," said Suji.

Also read: Esports industry pins hopes on Asian Games for player growth in India

Rohith said that esports' addition to the Asian Games roster has fuelled an upswing in Indian esports players' earnings. "This international stage has catapulted Indian esports talent into the spotlight, enhancing their appeal and marketability, sparking a significant earnings boost," he said.

However, some say that the tournament has not moved the needle.

Animesh Agarwal said there has not been substantial movement in the industry concerning earnings for players in India due to the Asian Games held this year where esports was included as a medal event.

"Asian Games and mainstream esports in India are quite disconnected as both have different gaming titles, different audiences, and different outcomes. While Asian Games as a whole gives a strong boost to the gaming sector, it did not have any direct effect on the earnings of players in India," said Alpha Zegus's Rohit Agarwal.