Indian Esports industry to piggyback on Saudi Arabia’s billion dollar gaming investments
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is emerging as a new global player with its Vision 2030 plan, aiming to develop 30 competitive games and establish itself as a global gaming hub by 2030.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is all set to host the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in 2025 and have invested $38 billion, KSA is decentralizing the global esports industry. Traditionally, the West has dominated the esports and game development sector worldwide. Additionally, the esports industry is experiencing stagnant growth globally, and it has struggled significantly in India.
According to a PwC report, global esports revenue is expected to grow to $1.86 billion by 2025, nearly doubling from $996 million in 2020. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is emerging as a new global player with its Vision 2030 plan, aiming to develop 30 competitive games and establish itself as a global gaming hub by 2030.
With this shift away from Western countries dominating the esports scene, India stands to benefit significantly through increased investments, decreased organizational expenditures, and, more importantly, exposure to global esports talent.
India's homegrown company, NODWIN Gaming has played a crucial role in Saudi Arabia’s expanding esports landscape, managing the production and broadcasting of the PUBG World Championship 2024 in August, with Freaks 4U Gaming serving as the endpoint.
Akshat Rathee, Managing Director and Co-founder of NODWIN Gaming, said, “Saudi Arabia's booming gaming market creates new opportunities for Indian developers, content creators, and tournament organizers to expand their reach. The country also serves as a launchpad for Indian developers to enter the Middle East and beyond.”
Rathee added, “Furthermore, Saudi Arabia's inclusion in BRICS+ presents a unique opportunity for the developing world to establish deeper connections in the esports and gaming sectors, independent of Western narratives. This alignment encourages greater collaboration, innovation, and economic growth among emerging markets.”
He further elaborated, saying, “Saudi Arabia's investments in gaming and esports have the potential to benefit the broader Asian region, including India. With Saudi Arabia investing heavily in gaming facilities and infrastructure, Indian players and teams could gain access to world-class platforms closer to home, potentially fostering cross-border collaborations that elevate India’s status in the global esports arena.”
Jetapult, a gaming investment startup supported by JetSynthesys and Accel, has invested $4.5 million in Saudi Arabia-based game developer UMX Studio, marking its first investment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
"We bring a wealth of proven gaming expertise and cutting-edge technology to this partnership with the aim of enhancing gaming experiences across the Middle East’s emerging development ecosystem," said Sharan Tulsiani, CEO of Jetapult.
With a lack of sponsors and declining esports revenue in India, many esports organizations are struggling; recently, 18 esports teams shut down their Battlegrounds Mobile India rosters due to the lack of a future roadmap for the game.
Rohit Jagasia, Founder and CEO of Revenant Esports, stated, “It will be easier for Indian esports athletes to participate in tournaments organized in Saudi Arabia, unlike in the USA, China or Korea, where visa restrictions often create complications.”
He continued, “Additionally, being closer to India, Saudi Arabia will definitely help the Indian esports ecosystem grow, leading to talent exchanges that bridge the global gap. It’s time for India to invest in the esports ecosystem for its growth.”
Discussing how Saudi Arabia's investments will benefit esports organizations in India, Jai Shah, Co-founder of Orangutan Gaming, commented, “I think it’s great for the overall industry worldwide. The scale of events and tournaments is better than ever. I see Saudi Arabia becoming the hub for esports globally.”
Shah added, “India is the future of gaming as it’s at an early stage of growth. Seeing how the West has developed in this sport, there’s no reason why foreign investors wouldn’t invest in India. An industry like esports needs capital to grow, and Saudi Arabia has the resources and has seized the opportunity.”
KSA's investment in esports will create a ripple effect benefitting neighbouring countries. It will be interesting to see Indian esports ecosystem to be proactive in harnessing this momentum and strategically aligning with Saudi Arabia’s growing influence and rising alongside KSA's bold 20230 vision.
