Gaming
Tapping the Untapped: How the Indian Esports Industry is Reaching Out to a New Market for Brands
Mumbai: The esports industry in India has been on rapid growth over the past few years, with a growing number of gamers, esports enthusiasts and game developers across the nation. Esports, which refers to competitive gaming, has emerged as a mainstream form of entertainment, attracting millions of viewers, and generating significant revenue globally. In India, the esports industry is estimated to be worth over $2.5 billion by 2025, and brands are increasingly recognizing the potential of this untapped market to reach out to a diverse and engaged audience.
Although esports and online gaming have been around for some time, there has been a recent surge in interest from investors, developers, and gamers alike. Contrary to popular belief, the last decade has seen a significant increase in the popularity of esports, particularly among millennials and GenZ in India. As a result, brands are taking notice and showing more interest in the industry. Investors and developers are leveraging the growing popularity of esports and online gaming to potentially reap lucrative returns. This trend reflects the evolving landscape of the gaming industry and its increasing appeal to both players and investors in India.
One of the key reasons why the Indian esports industry is attracting attention from brands is its massive and diverse audience base. Esports appeals to people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds, and it has a particularly strong following among the youth population. According to reports, around 90% of esports enthusiasts in India are aged between 15 and 26 years, and this demographic presents a lucrative market for brands looking to engage with the younger generation.
Brands are leveraging the immense popularity of esports among the 15 to 26-year-old age group by utilizing various marketing channels to connect with this audience. One highly effective approach is through sponsorships and partnerships with esports tournaments, teams, and players. Tournaments like the Indian Gaming League (IGL), ESL India Premiership, and Challenger League South Asia draw in millions of viewers, providing a prime opportunity for brands to showcase their products and services to an actively engaged audience. Brands can opt to sponsor entire tournaments, teams, or individual players, gaining visibility through logos on jerseys, banners, and social media promotions. This allows brands to raise brand awareness, expand their reach, and establish meaningful connections with potential customers.
Most of the brands are working with influencers and content creators in the esports industry, apart from sponsorships, to establish connections with their desired audience. Esports influencers and content creators have a substantial following on platforms like YouTube and Instagram and wield significant influence over their fans’ purchasing choices. Brands are partnering with esports influencers to produce sponsored content, such as gameplay videos, reviews, and tutorials, which enable them to showcase their products or services in a genuine and captivating manner. This approach helps brands access the esports community and foster brand loyalty among gamers.
Another avenue that brands are exploring in the Indian esports industry is product placement and in-game advertising. Esports tournaments and games provide opportunities for brands to feature their products or services in the virtual world, reaching a captive audience. For example, a brand could have its logo displayed on virtual billboards within the game or have its products integrated into the gameplay itself. This form of advertising allows brands to seamlessly integrate their offerings into the esports experience and create memorable brand associations with gamers.
Furthermore, brands in the Indian esports industry are also exploring product placement and in-game advertising as marketing avenues. Esports tournaments and games offer opportunities for brands to showcase their products or services within the virtual world, reaching a captive audience. For instance, brands can have their logos displayed on virtual billboards in the game or integrate their products into the gameplay. This type of advertising enables brands to seamlessly integrate their offerings into the esports experience, creating lasting brand associations with players.
In conclusion, brands are recognizing the growth potential of esports as a spectator sport and are capitalizing on it. Esports tournaments draw millions of viewers online and offline, with esports gaining mainstream popularity as a form of entertainment. Brands are leveraging this trend by sponsoring esports broadcasts, creating branded content, and running advertisements during live streams or on social media platforms. In India, the viewership of esports is projected to grow significantly, offering brands a vast opportunity for reach and engagement.
The author of this article is Orangutan co-founder Jai Shah
Gaming
IICT signs three MoUs to boost AVGC-XR and esports
Partnerships with Zenfluencers, Yologram and Eruditio at Chennai Gaming Show 2026 strengthen education, XR innovation and nationwide talent outreach.
MUMBAI: IICT has just levelled up the game in a big way. The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies signed three strategic Memorandums of Understanding on 17 April 2026 at the CII Summit FX – India Gaming Show in Chennai, forging alliances with The Zenfluencers, Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. and Eruditio Consultants to accelerate India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem.
The tie-ups combine IICT’s strengths in education, skilling and research with specialist expertise across esports, immersive technologies and large-scale outreach.
- With The Zenfluencers, IICT will roll out globally benchmarked esports programmes, including joint certification courses, industry workshops, tournaments and masterclasses, creating clear career pathways across the full esports value chain.
- The partnership with Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. focuses on gaming, immersive storytelling and extended reality (XR), delivering industry-aligned curriculum, faculty mentorship, student showcases and collaborative research in immersive AI and virtual production.
- Collaboration with Eruditio Consultants targets awareness, accessibility and career alignment, with nationwide counsellor training, institutional engagement and structured guidance frameworks to reach students beyond Tier-1 cities.
IICT CEO Vishwas Deoskar said, “As the AVGC-XR sector evolves at a rapid pace, strong collaborations between industry and academia are essential. These partnerships will create meaningful impact across education, innovation and outreach.”
Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. founder Aditya Mani added, “AI-driven creator worlds are transforming games into engines of culture, commerce and careers. Together we aim to empower a generation to build immersive futures.”
Eruditio Consultants founder Indrajit Ghosh noted, “This is not just about awareness, it is about building a structured ecosystem that connects aspiration with opportunity.”
The Zenfluencers CEO Atharva Gupta said, “This MoU is a big unlock moment for the esports ecosystem in India. We’re building a structured pipeline for talent across the full stack.”
By bringing together academia, industry leaders and ecosystem players, IICT is creating scalable models that blend cutting-edge skills with real-world relevance. In a sector racing toward the future, these three partnerships ensure India’s next generation of creative technologists won’t just keep up, they’ll set the pace.
