Now a days when we watch tournaments of many esports games like BGMI, valorant , free Fire or call of duty, it feels like unreal that india has truly reached on global esports stage. but have you thinks once where it all started from. if you are fan of gaming and want to truly understand the history of esports in india. let me take you on a journey of how indian esports evolved from cyber cafes to global stage championships.
The Beginning – When Gaming Was Just a Hobby
In the 1990s and early 2000s people only knew about playing Counter Strike, Road Rush , Midtown Madness, Age of Empires thats all gaming in india meant. people would gather in cyber cafes with friends and casual lan matches. nobody imagined that one day this timepass gaming would become a full fledged gaming industry and esports career
Rise of LAN Tournaments
when cyber cafes started organizing small tournaments for people they start getting more interest in gaming and now they just they dont play for fun these LAN tournaments make them serious. because they would pay entry fee of rupees ₹50-₹100 and winner would get ₹500 or free gaming hours. these small competitions sparked a sense of competitiveness among the players.
The First Evolution – The 2010s Shift in Indian Esports
Things started changing rapidly after 2010 because of Gaming PCs it is a bit more accessible internet connectivity improved and already launched new title of PCs gaming like dota 2, CS:GO, League of legends gained more popularity in india. people started playing serious gaming at home only not just in cafes.
The Online Gaming Era Begins
- Got the internet broadband connectivity which made multiplayer games more acccessible
- platforms like steam made it easier to buy original games.
- tournaments started streaming live youtube
During this phase of indian esports organizations began to emerge like entity gaming, global esports, and more
“This was when the Indian esports scene started becoming truly professional.”
PUBG Mobile – The Game That Changed Everything
If we you are talking about the history esports in india we can’t forget to mentioning PUBG Mobile. launched in 2018 this singal game created massive gaming explosion in india
The Power of Mobile Gaming
- india is mobile first nation almost everyone had a smartphones and PUBG leveraged this.
- young gamers from small towns participated in various tournaments and started shining like Mortal (Naman Mathur), Scout(Tanmay Singh), Dynamo(Aditya D. Sawant), Jonathan.
- Tournaments like PMCO, PMIS, and PMWL, gave indian players a global platforms
PUBG mobile helps to brought gaming in india at mainstream. for the first time gaming and esports were being talked about on TV, News, and households.
“This wasn’t just a game; it was a revolution in Indian esports history.
The Pandemic & The Rise of Gaming Creators
In 2020 when the COVID 19 Pandemic hit and people were locked in their home. they are only option left to entertain themselves to play games and at that time gaming became the lifeline for both entertainment and career.
The Era of Gaming + Content
- In the pandemic 2020 gamers like Mortal, Scout, and Dynamo attracted milliond of subscribers on youtube and build there own gaming community.
- the line between esports players and content creators began to blur.
- gaming was not just about tournaments anymore it become a full fledged career option with good earning sources like ads, sponsorships and live streaming.
Government Recognition – Esports as an Official Sport
From 2023 esports gets officially Government Recognition esports considered as a sports under the ministry of youth affairs and sports. this was milestone in the evolution of esports in india.
Esports vs Gaming – What’s the Difference?
its very important to understand:
- Gaming refers to casual play for entertainments.
- Esports refers to structured, competitive gaming with professional players, Rules, and prize pools.
after this indian esports community finally had formal identity and legitimacy.
India on the Global Stage – Beyond PUBG
after the ban of PUBG Mobile everyone thought indian esports would crash but not really new games stepped up. people started playing other competitive games or pc games
The New Era of Competitive Games
Valorant has revived the PC gaming scene or competitive in india. teams like global esports represented india on international platforms
BGMI( The indian version of PUBG) returned in india and tournaments resumed for everyone
Free Fire continued to grow in smaller towns, nurturing grassroots level esports.
The Rise of Esports Tournaments & Organizations
A major factor in the growth of esports in India has been the structure and consistency of tournaments organized by dedicated organizations.
Popular Indian Esports Events
- Nodwin Gaming organized events like ESL India and BGMS, giving local players big opportunities.
- Skyesports, TEC, and Upthrust Esports brought regular competitive leagues.
- Game publishers like Riot, Krafton, and Garena started treating India as a key market.
These platforms gave Indian players a stage to grow and shine.
These platforms gave Indian players a stage to grow and shine.
Today, esports in India is more than just being a player. A whole career ecosystem has developed around it.
Career Roles in Esports
- Shoutcasters & Hosts (like MambaSR)
- Coaches & Analysts
- Esports Managers
- Esports Managers
- Editors, Designers, Social Media Team
- Brand and Sponsorship Managers
“The modern Indian esports industry offers diverse career paths, just like cricket or Bollywood.”
Challenges Along the Way
Despite the massive rise, the growth of esports in India hasn’t been smooth. Several obstacles still exist.
Key Challenges
- Frequent bans on major games like PUBG Mobile, Free Fire.
- Limited esports infrastructure in rural areas.
- Internet speed and device affordability issues.
- The stigma many parents still believe “gaming is a waste of time.”
However, mindsets are slowly shifting, especially with government backing and increasing media coverage.
The Future of Esports in India
Looking at the journey so far, it’s clear that the history of esports in India is still in its early stages.
What Lies Ahead?
- Esports could become part of the Olympics.
- More Indian colleges may start offering esports programs.
- Players may get regular salaries and global sponsorship deals.
- International organizations may invest more in India.
- More female gamers and esports athletes entering the scene.
India is well on its way to becoming a global esports powerhouse with the right mix of infrastructure, support, and talent.
Conclusion – From Cafes to Championships
When we see glamorous esports stages today, with huge lights, live commentary, and massive prize pools, we should remember it all started in a small cyber café.
The evolution of esports in India is a perfect example of how passion, technology, and youth culture can come together to create a billion-dollar industry.
So the next time you cheer for your favorite team, stream a creator’s gameplay, or grind for a rank in BGMI, remember you are also a part of the ongoing Indian esports journey.
What’s your esports story? Did you start with Counter-Strike in a café or with PUBG Mobile on your phone? Share your journey in the comments below!