eSports

Esports Market Surpass $ 7131.8 Mn by 2028 Says Acumen Research and Consulting Experts

Published

4 years ago

December 9, 2021

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Global Esports Market size is estimated to grow a CAGR above 25.1% over the forecast timeframe and reach a market value of around USD 7131.8 Mn by 2028.

Esports is a burgeoning global industry in which skilled video gamers compete. Globally, time spent on mobile devices has officially surpassed time spent on television, with users spending eight minutes more per day on their mobile devices. By 2021, this figure had risen to more than 30 minutes. Over 380 million people watch esports worldwide both online and in person.

Covid-19 impact on Esports Market

Despite widespread economic disruption caused by the coronavirus, the global video game industry is thriving. The coronavirus is not immune to gaming. Esports, with its reliance on live events, was one of the first sectors to be affected. The majority of esports events have been cancelled or postponed, though some are still taking place without spectators. However, today the industry is performing outstanding driven by increasing number of global tournaments, growth in number of regional events, etc.

Global Esports Market Dynamics

The growing youth population and changing lifestyles have both contributed to an increase in demand for video games and online video games over the years. Growing audience reach and engagement activities, significant investments, rising live streaming of games, and expanding infrastructure for league tournaments are key factors driving the market growth. Global online platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch, which allow streamers to gain popularity and impressive earnings, have contributed to the esports market share’s increased growth. Increased smartphone penetration and improved internet connectivity have resulted in a rapid increase in the number of gamers.

However, certain constraints and challenges are likely to impede the overall growth of the Esports Market. The fraudulent betting that is leading to game piracy poses a threat to the market. Additionally, the market’s growth has been hampered by a lack of tournament infrastructure and a small number of organizations. The video game industry is rapidly evolving from a casual hobby to a professional career opportunity, which is also a global esports market trend. Moreover, large-scale esports investments are expected to fuel the esports industry’s growth. Furthermore, the increasing adoption of advanced gaming technologies increased smartphone penetration, and improved internet connectivity has increased the number of gamers, positively influencing the market growth.

Sponsorship accumulated for the impressive shares in the global esports market scenario

In 2020, the sponsorship segment acquired the largest shares. The well-known gaming/tech esports sponsors are increasing their involvement as the industry intensifies. Sponsorships are important in the esports industry because an increasing number of companies are investing in them. Furthermore, with rising player wages and an expanding esports market, the introduction of new sponsors is critical for esports’ long-term commercial success. To increase their brand value gaming as well as non-gaming sectors are also investing in the esports industry.

On the other hand, the media rights segment is anticipated to witness the fastest CAGR throughout the forecast period 2021 – 2028. Media companies pay exorbitant fees to win the exclusive right to broadcast the live streaming of major sporting events. Esports is made up of thousands of individual leagues, and events, and the media rights deal, thus the media rights segment is likely to register the fastest growth in the esports industry.

Esports Regional Stance

The global classification of the esports market includes North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. Among all the regions, North America conquered the global market with the largest shares in 2020. The growing number of investments and technological expansions are the key aspects that continue with the franchising North America League of Legends Championship Series (NA LCS) and Overwatch League are fueling the North American esports market. However, the Asia-Pacific esports industry is expected to dominate the market in the coming years. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Asian gaming behemoths such as Nintendo and Tencent saw increased sales in the first quarter of 2020. This trend is expected to continue, as an increasing number of gaming companies collaborate with sports organizations to provide virtual tournaments to sports fans. Furthermore, Asia-Pacific is also expected to register significant growth.

Major Players

The esports market is consolidated with a large number of players. The prominent players presented in the report include Activision Blizzard, Inc., Valve Corporation, Tencent Holding Limited, Modern Times Group, Faceit, Electronic Arts Inc., Gameloft SE, Nintendo of America Inc., NVIDIA Corporation, Wargaming Public, and others.

For instance, on September 29, 2021 – Electronic Arts Inc. and FIFA have announced the launch of a new EA SPORTS FIFA 22 esports program that is expected to attract millions of players and viewers. In 1v1 and 2v2 competitions, players will characterize themselves, globally recognized e-sports organizations, real-world football clubs, and their country in a series of FIFA esports events.

Moreover, in November 2017 – Electronic Arts and FIFA collaborated to launch an esports tournament series for the Electronics Arts FIFA video game franchise.

Akshat Rathee

Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone

Published

2 hours ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

indian-esports-2026:-strategic-growth-and-the-asian-games-milestone

The Indian esports landscape is transitioning from a period of rapid “spectacle” growth to a phase defined by lasting institutional structure. Following the implementation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), 2026 is set to be the year where regulatory clarity, international competition, and domestic grassroots development converge.

The Impact of PROGA: Policy into Practice

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), signed into law in August 2025, has officially moved from policy to practice. Its primary contribution to 2026 is the explicit separation of esports from money-based gaming.

Legitimacy: By categorizing esports as a legitimate competitive pursuit, PROGA has unlocked state-level adoption and cleared the way for schools and colleges to integrate gaming into their sports frameworks.
Commercial Confidence: With a clear regulatory environment, brands in sectors like FMCG, automotive, and BFSI are now viewing esports as a stable, long-term youth engagement platform rather than a risky experiment.
Athlete Pathways: PROGA facilitates the creation of standardized national registries for athletes, ensuring that competitive integrity is maintained across grassroots and professional tiers.

The Asian Games 2026: A Global Stage

The Asian Games 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, serves as the most critical milestone for the ecosystem this year.

Medal Status: Esports will feature as a full medal event with 11 confirmed titles, including League of Legends, PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version), and Pokémon UNITE.
Indian Prospects: India’s best historical result (quarter-finals in League of Legends at Hangzhou) has set a high bar. For 2026, the focus has shifted toward high-performance training camps and long-term athlete mentorship to secure a podium finish.
Multi-Sport Integration: Participation alongside traditional athletes reinforces the narrative that esports is a viable professional career, further encouraging government investment through schemes like Khelo India.

Market Evolution and Key Trends

The Indian gaming market is projected to reach approximately $5.02 billion in 2026, driven by a massive player base exceeding 500 million gamers.

Trend	Impact in 2026
Mobile Dominance	Over 95% of the market remains mobile-first, fueled by 5G expansion and affordable hardware.
Beyond BGMI	2026 is seeing a push to diversify the market into fighting games, sports simulations, and PC titles to avoid “one-title dependency.”
Monetization Shift	Revenue is shifting from pure advertising toward battle passes, subscription models, and in-game progression.
Tier II & III Growth	Most new user acquisition is coming from smaller cities, demanding more vernacular and localized content.

The post Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Anushka Bhatnagar

From Rolling Loud to Riot Games: How 2025 Became the Year of Indian Gaming

Published

2 weeks ago

December 23, 2025

Wladimir P.

from-rolling-loud-to-riot-games:-how-2025-became-the-year-of-indian-gaming

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: India has long been a mobile-first gaming market (thanks to PUBG Mobile/BGMI). But 2025 proved that PC esports is not dead; in fact, it’s thriving culturally. Riot’s ability to integrate VALORANT into mainstream Indian youth culture—from “topper” billboards on exam result day to hip-hop festivals—is a masterclass in localized marketing. The success of S8UL Esports in League of Legends also signals that South Asia is finally ready to compete in global Tier 1 events.

The Full Story

Riot Games has released a retrospective on 2025, describing it as the year gaming in South Asia “didn’t feel tucked away anymore,” but rather became an unmistakable part of mainstream culture.

From filled cafés during watch parties to billboards featuring “inside jokes” from voice comms, the publisher’s year was defined by a massive surge in engagement across India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan.

The Competitive Surge: LoL and VALORANT The year began with the launch of Legends Ascend South Asia, a structured pathway for League of Legends talent that the region had been demanding. Ninety-five teams competed, culminating in S8UL Esports lifting the trophy and qualifying for the LCP Wild Card Playoffs—placing South Asian talent directly into the global conversation.

Simultaneously, PC esports found its footing in India through VALORANT Challengers South Asia.

The Numbers: The circuit recorded over 103 million live and non-live views throughout the season.
The Finals: The LAN event peaked at 50,000 concurrent viewers, proving that the appetite for PC tactical shooters remains fierce in a mobile-dominated region.

Cultural Crossovers: V5 and Rolling Loud Midway through the year, VALORANT celebrated its fifth anniversary (V5) with a campaign deeply rooted in Indian student culture.

“VAL Toppers”: On JEE results day (a major academic milestone in India), Riot reimagined the traditional “exam topper” billboards to celebrate Radiant-ranked players, sparking a viral conversation.
Rolling Loud India: In November, gaming met hip-hop. Riot integrated VALORANT into one of the world’s largest hip-hop festivals, with karaoke pods and gaming zones operating alongside performances by Wiz Khalifa and Central Cee.

Management Commentary Anushka Bhatnagar, Publishing Lead for Riot Games India & South Asia, reflected on the shift:

“2025 felt like a year when India’s gaming and esports landscape stepped into the centre of cultural conversation. VALORANT turning five reminded us how deeply the community here has shaped the game. From grassroots watch parties to moments like Rolling Loud, the ecosystem grew with a confidence that felt distinctly homegrown.”

Grassroots Momentum Beyond the flash of festivals, the year was sustained by community energy. College events introduced first-time players to the ecosystem, while local watch parties turned malls into pop-up arenas, ensuring that the growth of South Asian gaming was built “together” rather than just broadcast from above.

The post From Rolling Loud to Riot Games: How 2025 Became the Year of Indian Gaming appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.

CS2

GG.RECAP 2025: How GG.BET Bridged the Gap Between Football and CS2

Published

2 weeks ago

December 22, 2025

Wladimir P.

ggrecap-2025:-how-gg.bet-bridged-the-gap-between-football-and-cs2

Editor’s Take

Why this matters: While many operators treat sports and esports as separate silos, GG.BET spent 2025 actively dismantling that wall. Their strategy isn’t just about slapping logos on jerseys; it’s about content crossovers. Events like the “Match of LeGGends”—where pro footballers played Counter-Strike against NAVI—demonstrate a sophisticated understanding that the modern bettor is often a hybrid fan. This cross-pollination strategy is likely the future of betting marketing.

The Full Story

GG.BET, the international betting brand, has released a comprehensive video recap of its 2025 activity, showcasing a year defined by major traditional sports sponsorships and innovative projects that blurred the lines between the pitch and the server.

The recap, which details the operator’s expansion in both the sports and esports verticals, highlights a strategy built on immersive content rather than passive branding.

Traditional Sports: Boxing and Football In the world of traditional sports, GG.BET secured high-visibility partnerships. The brand served as the official partner for the heavyweight clash between Usyk and Dubois II, executing a global media campaign at Wembley Stadium.

In Ukraine, a key licensed market for the brand, GG.BET solidified its football presence by signing a three-year contract with the legendary FC Dynamo Kyiv, alongside sponsorships of FC Polissya and FC Zorya.

The “Dynamo 3.0” Campaign: To celebrate Dynamo Kyiv’s 30th championship, GG.BET hosted a “star-studded” press event featuring a short film on the team’s history, custom jerseys, and fan-centric activations, moving beyond standard sponsorship duties.

Esports Innovation: Mapping the Industry GG.BET continued to lead in its native esports territory. A standout project was the launch of the Interactive Esports Map in collaboration with Esports Charts. This tool provides users with retrospective data on global esports trends, including regional top disciplines and prize fund statistics.

The brand also focused on industry education, organizing the “Ukraine in Esports: Myth vs Fact” panel at the SBC Summit Ukraine and curating a unique “Esports Museum” to display legendary trophies and history.

Blurring the Lines: The “Match of LeGGends” Perhaps the most distinct initiative of 2025 was the “Match of LeGGends: Server Derby.” This crossover show match saw the current NAVI Counter-Strike 2 roster face off against footballers from Dynamo Kyiv inside the game server.

The Format: GG.BET designed unique game modes and special rules for the event, which was streamed with commentary from major figures in sports and entertainment. The project successfully introduced traditional sports fans to esports mechanics and vice versa.

Industry Recognition The efficacy of this hybrid communication strategy was acknowledged by the wider industry, with GG.BET securing the Operator of the Year in CEE title at the EGR Global Europe Awards 2025.

The post GG.RECAP 2025: How GG.BET Bridged the Gap Between Football and CS2 appeared first on Gaming and Gambling Industry Newsroom.