Highlights
- India’s esports ecosystem is moving from event-led formats to year-round competitive structures, deeper grassroots pathways, and multi-title competitive support.
- Regulatory clarity is encouraging institutional participation, state-level leagues, athlete development programs, and long-term investment in esports infrastructure.
- Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions are emerging as major talent hubs, with collegiate ecosystems, regional leagues, and structured scouting enabling wider national participation.
India’s esports ecosystem is entering a transformative phase in 2026. The conversation is no longer limited to tournaments, prize pools, or momentary hype cycles. Instead, the focus is shifting toward structure, legitimacy, regional expansion, and long-term athlete development. The future of esports in India will increasingly depend on how well the industry moves from spectacle-driven competition toward sustainable ecosystems that create continuity, opportunity, and identity.
To understand where the sector is headed, we spoke to Karan Pathak, Associate Director of Esports at KRAFTON India, Roby John, CEO & Co-founder of SuperGaming, Nauman Mulla, Co-Founder and COO of STAN, Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, and Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL Esports.
Their perspectives highlight the growing importance of ecosystem-building, regulatory clarity, regional league systems, collegiate participation, and the emergence of Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities as major talent engines. All leaders agree on one fundamental reality: India’s esports growth story in 2026 will be defined not just by scale, but by how well the industry builds pathways that last.
Indian Esports is Moving Towards a Better Ecosystem
For Rathee, the most critical shift India needs to make in 2026 is philosophical. “For India’s esports ecosystem to progress meaningfully in 2026, it needs to move from being largely event-led to ecosystem-led. The industry must prioritize year-long competitive calendars over isolated marquee tournaments, especially in mobile-first titles, while steadily strengthening PC ecosystems,” he says.
He believes that without seasonal continuity and standardized competition formats, esports struggles to function like a sport. India’s dependence on a very small number of titles is another limiting factor.
Rathee said, “On the title front, India needs to move beyond being perceived as a one-or-two-game market. Alongside BGMI and Free Fire, the ecosystem must intentionally nurture fighting games, sports simulations, and select PC titles by building grassroots pathways, improving infrastructure, and committing to long-term competitive support.”
He also stresses the importance of developing more India-relevant and Indian-published titles with esports readiness designed from the outset, instead of bolting competitive elements on later as an afterthought.
On the commercial side, Rathee expects sponsorship thinking to evolve significantly. “From a sponsorship standpoint, the shift that needs to happen is away from transactional visibility toward deeper, ownership-led partnerships. Brands should be integrated into leagues, teams, and narratives, not just present as logos.”
This mirrors broader changes in audience behavior. As Rathee puts it, “Indian esports fans are increasingly participatory, engaging through live events, creator ecosystems, regional storytelling, and community-driven formats. To meet these expectations, the industry needs to deliver continuity, authenticity, and cultural relevance, not just scale.”
In other words, lasting engagement will come from ecosystems that feel lived-in, not one-off spectacles. Nauman Mulla feels that Indian gaming will move toward a more community-driven ecosystem. He said, "In 2026, India will witness the rise of community-first gaming genres- experiences where the social layer is stronger than the gameplay layer. Think UGC sandboxes, creator-driven game modes, social deduction games, mini-battle royales, and squad-based progression formats. India’s youth want games where the squad matters more than the skill gap- and this is where we see massive growth."
Indian Esports: Regulation, Legitimacy, and Institutional Participation
Rathee believes that regulatory developments in recent years are already reshaping how esports is perceived, not just by the industry, but by families, policy stakeholders, and grassroots communities. He says, “Regulatory clarity will remain one of the most important enablers in 2026. The clear separation of esports from online-money gaming has already had a positive impact, and next year we’ll see that translate into more institutional participation.”
He expects state governments to play an increasingly hands-on role. “State governments will play a larger role, not just as endorsers but as organizers and facilitators of regional championships that feed into national circuits.”
This shift, he says, is also changing attitudes among parents and educators. “This clarity also changes perception at the grassroots level. Parents, educators, and local authorities are more willing to support esports when it is framed as sport, skill, and structured competition.”
Access to venues, training programs, and youth platforms becomes easier under such recognition, enabling healthier long-term athlete development. From an investment lens, Rathee sees stability as a catalyst for serious planning.
“At an industry level, regulation will encourage more serious capital and long-term planning. When the rules of engagement are stable, organizers and publishers can invest in leagues, infrastructure, and talent development with multi-year horizons rather than short-term experimentation,” Rathee elaborates. The ecosystem, he suggests, is finally beginning to think like an industry rather than a trend.
Pathak expects India to experience transformative growth next year through cross-border events and new monetization opportunities. He said, "At KRAFTON India, we are driving this evolution with a differentiated approach: expanding grassroots access through initiatives like BGIS, supporting structured professional pathways, and integrating immersive in-game experiences that connect fans and players. Our innovations in league design and player development ensure that teams and players are fairly rewarded through tournament prizes, sponsorships, and other earnings."
Indian Esports: Regional Leagues, Shared Value Models, and Cross-Border Opportunity
Looking ahead to 2026, Rathee expects new competitive structures to redefine opportunity and access. “One of the most impactful innovations will be the rise of regional to national league systems. State and city-level competitions feeding into national leagues will create a much wider talent funnel and ensure that esports athletes emerge from across the country, not just metro cities.”
This, he believes, will also create more space for women and underrepresented regions to enter the ecosystem. Operational reform, he says, will be just as important as competitive reform: “Equally critical is operational innovation. The industry would benefit significantly from a single-window clearance mechanism for esports tournaments, covering permissions, visas, taxation clarity, and compliance requirements.”
On the commercial front, Rathee expects fairer value distribution. “Commercially, we’ll see smarter revenue-sharing models between publishers, organizers, teams, and creators. Sustainable esports ecosystems cannot be built where value flows in only one direction.”
Media rights, ticketing, merchandising, and in-game integrations, he believes, will increasingly move toward shared upside rather than transactional benefit. Finally, Rathee foresees India playing a more integrated role in international circuits.
“Cross-border events involving South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East will grow in importance. Platforms like the Esports World Cup and emerging nation-based formats give Indian athletes global exposure while allowing Indian organizers to plug into international circuits.”
According to him, India’s esports growth will be defined not just by scale, but by how well it integrates locally built ecosystems with global competitive pathways.
According to John, socially-embedded competitive games are also about to break out in emerging markets like India. He said, "We're talking about titles where your network of friends, their progress, and collective achievements drive engagement more than individual progression. In markets where community and social standing matter deeply, games that let you build reputation, support your squad, and participate in group achievements will massively outperform solo experiences."
Tier 2 and Tier 3 Regions are Becoming the Heart of Indian Esports
While Rathee emphasizes ecosystem and governance reform, Agarwal focuses on how aspiration in smaller cities is reshaping collegiate esports participation. “Collegiate esports adoption in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities is being driven by three forces coming together at the right time: access, aspiration, and institutional validation.”
Affordable devices and better connectivity have lowered entry barriers, while on-campus competitions have expanded exposure. PROGA has played a significant role in legitimizing esports among families outside major metros.
According to Rathee, “Opportunity is no longer restricted by geography. Open qualifiers in top-tier tournaments now allow players from any college or city to compete on equal footing.” For many non-metro students, esports represents mobility and possibility. He adds, “In metros, esports is one of many career options. In smaller cities, it represents a way to overcome geographical limitations.”
According to Agarwal, students outside metropolitan centers often display stronger discipline and commitment because for them, performance is tied directly to opportunity.
According to John, player-skill is what determines whether players can break into esports. He said, "The "skill-first" competitive segment is now bound to mature post-regulation clarity around skill-based gaming. This sits between casual entertainment and high-stakes esports, competitive games where outcomes genuinely depend on player skill, with transparent systems and fair matchmaking. We expect this to professionalize further in 2026 with better infrastructure, and it's attracting audiences who want their gaming skill to mean something more."
The Next Generation of Indian Esports Talent Might Come From Smaller Cities
Agarwal is confident that India’s upcoming esports stars will increasingly emerge from Tier 2 and Tier 3 hubs. “Yes, I believe a significant share of India’s next generation of esports talent will come from smaller cities. This is where raw ability and self-motivation are most visible, often because there are fewer alternative pathways,” he says.
At S8UL, talent discovery is structured with this very objective, according to him. He says, “At S8UL, we actively scout talent across Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions to ensure geography is never a barrier to opportunity.”
He points to initiatives such as the FGC Talent Hunt as examples of how structured scouting bridges opportunity gaps across India. “What needs to evolve is the support system,” he says, noting that many colleges lack coaching access, regular tournament exposure, mentorship, and stable infrastructure.
Beyond hardware and connectivity, he stresses the importance of clarity about esports careers. Competing professionally, content creation, coaching, and operations roles all demand long-term discipline and structured growth pathways. “The talent already exists. Clearer pathways will allow it to grow sustainably.”
Agarwal believes that meaningful collegiate engagement requires continuity, not one-off events. “The biggest shift should be moving from one-off tournaments to season-based, campus-integrated ecosystems.”
Students respond more strongly to structured leagues, long-term recognition, and systems that mirror sports culture rather than standalone prize events.
Brands and publishers, he says, should focus on trust and familiarity instead of purely visibility-driven engagements. Colleges, in turn, must treat esports as a legitimate extracurricular platform that builds teamwork and strategic thinking.
“When brands, publishers, and institutions align, collegiate esports can become one of the strongest long-term talent pipelines for Indian esports.”
KRAFTON is investing in collegiate esports. Pathak revealed the company's plans for 2026, saying, "Platforms like BMIC give Indian teams the opportunity to compete internationally, while we continue to strengthen our focus on college esports talent through structured tournaments, mentorship, and campus engagements. We have also seen a renewed interest from sponsors, underscoring the growing appetite among brands to partner with esports initiatives as a powerful way to engage with larger and more diverse audiences."
He revealed that KRAFTON's events are experiencing increasing viewership and the company wants to bring gaming to the frorefront. He added, "Coupled with emerging regulatory clarity for skill-based esports, KRAFTON India is advancing its vision of India not just as a market but as a global esports hub, unlocking opportunities for players, teams, creators, and the broader esports community.”
What we Learnt About Indian Esports: A Future Built on Structure, Inclusion, and Regional Pathways
Across all perspectives, a clear picture emerges for 2026. Esports in India is moving toward deeper regional and collegiate pathways, regulatory confidence and institutional backing, and broader representation across cities and demographics.
The industry is beginning to think more like a sporting ecosystem than an entertainment vertical. If the last decade was about establishing visibility, the next phase will be about building credibility through systems that nurture talent, sustain careers, and connect India’s local esports communities to global competitive pathways.
