Esports Feature:  Is Esports a viable employment option in India?

Even though the idea is still new in our country, esports - essentially referring to organized multiplayer games or competitive gaming competitions - has successfully penetrated the country's youth gamers and the rich digital media and entertainment ecosystem

However, until about a decade ago, playing video games was considered a social taboo or stigma as it was portrayed negatively; hence esports was not considered a real career option for young professionals in India. 

Things have drastically changed for the better, and a career in esports is now considered one of India's most lucrative, fun and potent career paths.

India has been gearing up to catch up with other top esports nations. By 2025, several thousand more esports teams and esports athletes in India will be ready to participate at the national and international levels.

India has already started sending its esports teams to prestigious international platforms like the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games. Many esports players and content creators - often with fan bases in the millions or billions - are doing the country proud in parallel by winning major international esports titles.

Thanks to this massive rise in popularity and acceptance, India is now South Asia's most prominent esports market. No wonder industry experts believe that now is the time to see and explore esports as a viable career option, with both the private and government sectors supporting its growth.

The average salary in Esport ranges from Rs 30,000 to Rs 1,50,000.

If you want to pursue a career in esports, then, as in any industry, hard work and perseverance are required. 

Attend tournaments and events to connect with many developers and players so you can learn from them and spend time perfecting your skills, resume and craft. You also need to use social media to improve your game.