Home
Popular devices
Latest News
Latest Reviews
Esports companies may cap player pay at Rs 2.5 lakh per month
Jan 07, 2024 News Source economictimes_indiatimes 24 hits
Top teams including S8UL, Revenant Esports, GodLike Esports, Enigma Gaming, Global Esports etc. are deliberating to cap the salaries of players at Rs 2.5 lakh per month as player poaching is hurting the team play at tournaments. Owners of as many as 15 met last month to deliberate that dolling out in a race to grab the top performing players is pushing many organisations in the red. “The entire poaching practice amongst us is disturbing the economics of the business,” said one organisation owner who did not wish to be quoted. “Every org spends a huge budget in running gaming bootcamps in posh locations of Mumbai, training the players, building team strategy, managing their branding, travel expenditure as well as taking care of their nutrition and mental well being.” This spending could be anywhere between 15-20 lakh per month depending on the number of athletes on board. However, even one player's exit not only impacts the overall business strategy but also disturbs the gameplay and morale of the team, he added. “Imagine the mood in the locker room if Kohli suddenly announced departure from the Indian cricket team just before a critical match,” another person said. “This is how our players feel when suddenly their in-game leader joins a rival team. More than the business, it's about the team spirit for esports. You are playing behind a mobile/PC screen and the only cheer in the room is from your fellow teammates. This requires a very strong team culture.” Besides the expenses, the earnings for organisations are either the prize money won in tournaments or brand endorsements. However, players believe capping salaries is unfair. "These same team managers capitalise on our growing popularity and are able to offer us higher packages. Capping salaries is like limiting our worth, no matter how good we perform," a top egamer said. Some players have also taken to social media to complain against unfair treatment of organisations who deny them a fair share of prize money and brand deals. “Esports is a buzzing and fastest growing industry in India today. Instead of limiting our payments, esports organisations must think about pushing the horizon, getting high value brand deals and creating innovative business avenues,” the gamer said. Popular video games such as Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Valorant, Counter Strike, Dota and Pokemon Unite are appealing to the masses in India, as millions of people participate either by playing them or viewing their favourite players compete in championships. These championships, which were primarily held online on YouTube or streaming platforms like Loco and Rooter, have lately become larger than life offline local area network (LAN) events held in stadiums, just like physical sports, a phenomenon popular in the West. As per market estimates, in 2023, nearly Rs 30-35 crore cumulative prize money was disbursed in both online and offline tournaments, the biggest ever in India's e-gaming history. Stay on top of and that matters. to our daily newsletter for the latest and must-read tech news, delivered straight to your inbox.
Rate this article:
Share this article:
Leave a comment: