India, which is home to a billion plus population, is not very visible on the global gaming map. Nevertheless, the esports and gaming culture is emerging in the country primarily due to the mobile gaming industry. However, there is a core audience for games such as VALORANT.
A Preview of the Global Esports vs. Bleed Esports Event
Global Esports, the only Indian organization in the VCT Partnership program, has been hosting several events since the partnership leagues of VALORANT were initiated with the VCT Lock//In in 2023. This season, the team has undergone massive roster changes in a bid to prepare for the VALORANT Champions. The stakes were high for this match: a loss would be very detrimental to their chances of making the playoffs.
It was held at Khar Social which is easily reachable by local transport. Upon my arrival, I was welcomed by VALORANT and Global Esports logos in red and blue flags, the team colors. The interior was charged with the fans’ excitement and people from different parts of the country.
Global Esports made sure that the audience was offered some drinks and food boxes because of the match’s timing in the middle of the day. The audience was young, mostly students, but there were also parents with their children, which proved the versatility of the audience.
Interacting with Fans and Industry Aficionados
During the event, the Global Esports staff was walking around the venue, motivating the crowd to cheer louder and talking to them. The atmosphere was tense especially with Global Esports having performed well. Some of the fans stated their desire to work in the esports industry, which proved the community’s passion and desire.
Sponsors Acer and Intel made it even better with a gaming station where fans could test their skills on VALORANT on the latest Acer laptops. This interactive element was very popular and attracted a lot of attention.
The Match and Its Impact
The energy was at its highest during the first map as Global Esports went on the upper hand against Bleed Esports. The win was followed by celebrations and I got a chance to interview Umesh “Kripz” Kripalani, a key person at Global Esports to discuss about the team’s gameplay and the ways they interact with their fans.
Reflections and Future Prospects
VALORANT is still in its infancy in India, which is the first large FPS game with a developed esports system in the region. The passion of Global Esports fans is similar to the passion that is observed during football matches’ broadcasts. As they head into important matches, Global Esports needs to win their next two games in the VCT Pacific Stage 2 to qualify for playoffs, and this is definitely going to bring even more packed view parties.
This year, Global Esports has done a good job in reaching out to fans all over the country through conducting events in different cities to popularize the game and the community. Their efforts are a proof of the fact that India has a lot to offer to the world of esports and it is only growing with the population of over a billion people in the country.
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