2022 has been an exciting year for esports with some industry defining events taking place. The esports community has been rejoicing the latest good news, Indian esports getting official recognition as a multi-sport event with MeitY as its nodal ministry.
But this isn’t the only event that rocked the industry and neither will it be the last. Several fantastic events are awaiting excited esports fans as the year 2023 begins.
Read more: Esports Trends in 2022 that shaped the industry
For instance, the recent declaration by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to host the Olympic Esports Week in 2023 has the potential to revolutionise competitive gaming worldwide. This is a positive development in the lead-up to the Paris Olympics in 2024, and it’s surely the IOC’s attempt to push Esports in the right direction.
“The inclusion of Esports in international multi-sport events is something I, along with the entire Esports community, eagerly anticipate,” says Animesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO, 8bit Creatives and an ex-esports athlete.
Gamers have a target demographic that is very digitally savvy and fiercely loyal. Combining this highly engaged fanbase with their capacity to curate intriguing material and not just conduct brand plugs will make gamers the most sought-after influencers in the coming year
Animesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO, 8bit Creatives
In addition to this, we have witnessed an increase in large sponsorships from non-endemic brands seeking to capitalise on the Esports industry.
“In order to interact with their key demographic – GenZ and Millennials, gaming influencers have become their go-to source. Gamers have a target demographic that is very digitally savvy and fiercely loyal. Combining this highly engaged fanbase with their capacity to curate intriguing material and not just conduct brand plugs will make gamers the most sought-after influencers in the coming year,” he adds.
Events Line Up for Esports 2023
There is no dearth of big events to look forward to for esports fans in 2023.
“2023 is going to be a good year for esports in general with the Pokémon Unite Asia Championship followed by a potential World Championship again and Brawl Stars seeing a solid esports plan for the year will be great considering both the titles are non-violent games,” says Rohit Jagasia, Founder and CEO, Revenant Esports.
2023 is going to be a good year for esports in general with the Pokémon Unite Asia Championship followed by a potential World Championship again and Brawl Stars seeing a solid esports plan for the year will be great considering both the titles are non-violent games
Rohit Jagasia, Founder and CEO, Revenant Esports
Also, Valorant Challengers League 2023 is expected to be a big IP in 2023 along with the CS:GO IP by Sky Esports which is still under wraps.
“I think 2023 will be exceptional for India with the diversification and growth we have seen in India this year,” he adds.
“Last but not least, in-game trade, monetization, and transactions via blockchain and play-to-earn games, which have captured the attention of Indian gamers across all demographics, will also play a major role in the industry’s rapid expansion next year,” predicts Agarwal.
The industry is also waiting for the Asian Games to look forward to where India is going to compete in five Esports titles for an official medal.
“Since clarity is now slowly being established regarding the differences between Esports (which is a sport) and iGaming (fantasy, fantasy, teen patti, rummy, poker, online gaming, gambling, betting etc), we can hopefully expect to see Esports finally be considered as any other sport in our country. It’s time that our esports community presents a unified voice to make India the next esports hub,” says Lokesh Suji, Director, Esports Federation of India and Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF).
Read more: Indian esports gets official recognition as multi-sport event with MeitY as nodal ministry
He adds that the metaverse, Web 3.0, and 5G are going to be revolutionary for the industry in the upcoming year with an impact on upcoming events.
“We are eagerly waiting to witness their potential and impact on gaming. We will also be seeing a lot more physical LAN tournaments in 2023 being conducted on a large scale across various Esports titles,” he says.
