“Esports is ambitious like any other sport…”: Head of Riot Games India | Technology News

“We have athletes who come from small towns and districts that don’t have the infrastructure, and playing the game was a huge challenge until mobile gaming brought them to the main stage. Now that Talent is being rewarded.”

India is still new to esports, the world of professional competitive video games played on various platforms. Competitions are often held in large venues and live-streamed for spectators to watch professional players vie for supremacy. One of the most ambitious publisher-led efforts in esports comes from Los Angeles-based game developer Riot Games. The company is the developer of League of Legends and Valorant, and operates leagues around the world.

Riot executives and tournament organizers see India as the next frontier in esports, targeting young players who want to pursue a professional career. This works in two ways. Game publishers who host events have the opportunity to promote their games, and brands who participate in high-stakes esports tournaments gain attention. “For every dollar you spend in India, you get far more miles than in any other market we have ever experienced, not just in developed markets but also in some emerging markets in Asia Pacific.” Peg says. . “We are seeing growth not only in the number of players playing our games, but also in how players are interacting with our esports products,” he added.

Prize money and prestige also contribute to its adoption among younger viewers. However, esports remains heavily concentrated in large cities and towns, which prevents it from gaining national attention.

“I don’t think we as publishers can solve the access problem alone; we need the infrastructure and support of the markets and countries in which we operate,” Pegg agrees. “We know that a lot of athletes, even people who are interested in the PC esports scene, are primarily from big cities and not necessarily from villages or third-tier cities. “We recognize that there is no limit,” he continues. But Pegg is hopeful that things will change in the future, with more athletes drawn from small parts of India to the lucrative world of professional video gaming competition.

Countries like South Korea have the concept of a “PC bang” that has played an important role in the development of the domestic gaming ecosystem. Along these lines, similar gaming cafes could come up in India, which could not only host esports leagues and area tournaments at the regional level but also spur the growth of esports viewership. Dew.

“We’re interested in that, but we can’t invest in building those infrastructures ourselves. But what we plan on doing is partnering. A set of experiences will be built. If that’s the case, we’ll not only support you with the IP, but we’ll also make sure we have a footprint and that people who visit those cafes and areas can interact with our games in a way that wouldn’t normally be possible. “We’re willing to make the extra investment to allow people to experience that. Play at home,” he says.

Building infrastructure at the local level is important to promote esports in India, but policy changes also need to be made to support the young and growing industry. Pegu is calling on the government to make it “easier” to host large-scale events in India. This will not only promote sports tourism but also accelerate infrastructure development in Indian cities, especially in upcoming towns and cities. “Guidelines are needed to provide a platform for safe and meaningful conversation and interaction for India’s youth through esports,” Pegu added.