Bengaluru Esports Athletes Show Strong Career Intent: 73% Have Considered Pursuing Esports Professionally, Finds JetSynthesys x YouGov Survey
Bengaluru: India’s Esports ecosystem has reached a critical inflection point, with rising ambition of Esports athletes, increasing consideration of esports as a serious sport, and growing consideration of esports as a long-term career option, according to a first-of-its-kind JetSynthesys X YouGov Indian Esports Report.
Confidence in esports careers runs high in Bengaluru
Confidence in Esports as a long-term career is notably strong in the city. 82% of daily esports players in Bengaluru see esports as a financially viable career, with 44% describing it as very viable. This confidence is translating into intent, with 73% of esports players in Bengaluru saying they have considered pursuing esports professionally, signalling increasing seriousness around long-term careers in the ecosystem.
Career ambitions extend well beyond competitive play
Bengaluru’s esports players are also displaying a mature understanding of the ecosystem’s breadth. While 60% aspire to become competitive players, interest spans a wide range of roles across the value chain. 51% want to pursue streaming or content creation, 40% are interested in coaching, 44% in team management or event organisation, and 33% in roles such as esports journalism or commentary. This reflects a growing recognition of esports as a multi-layered industry rather than a single-track pursuit.
Ambition is real, structure is still catching up
When asked what would meaningfully strengthen the esports ecosystem, players in Bengaluru consistently point towards long-term enablers. 91% cite government recognition and regulation as important, while 91% highlight the need for infrastructure such as video gaming cafés and arenas. Access to structured guidance also emerges as a priority, with 92% of respondents in Bengaluru citing career counselling and mentorship pathways as critical. Challenges related to family support, social stigma, and broader social acceptance remain significant, with 82% of respondents citing these among their top three concerns.
Institutional adoption is seen as a key support lever, with 87% of respondents saying inclusion of esports in college and university-level sports events is important. Expectations from the private sector are equally pronounced, with 93% citing sponsorships from brands as important, alongside 90% highlighting the role of scholarships, coaching programmes and training academies in enabling sustainable esports careers.
Esports increasingly viewed as a sport in the city
Esports is now being viewed through a distinctly sporting lens in Bengaluru. 62% of daily esports players in the city consider esports to be same as physical sports and mental disciplines such as chess, recognizing the discipline, preparation and performance it demands.
This evolving perception is also reshaping how athletes see themselves. 69% of esports players in Bengaluru say they are comfortable referring to professional esports players as “athletes”, while 65% say they already identify themselves as athletes, signalling a clear shift in sporting identity within the city’s esports community.
A competitive ecosystem
Sustained exposure to competitive video gaming is also shaping how esports players in Bengaluru perceive the capabilities developed through esports. 89% associate professional esports with capabilities such as strategic thinking and planning, adaptability, reflexes, hand–eye coordination, and quick decision-making under pressure, ranking these among their top five capabilities. Beyond gameplay, 69% cite discipline, serious practice, focus and concentration as key capabilities developed through esports, while 65% highlight problem-solving, mental resilience and toughness.
Commenting on the findings, Rajan Navani, Founder and CEO, JetSynthesys, said, “This study captures a pivotal moment for esports in India. What stands out is the clarity with which Indian esports players are thinking about the future, not just in terms of opportunity, but in terms of longevity. The next phase of growth must be about building durable pathways, credible institutions and support systems that allow talent to progress sustainably. This is how India moves from participation to leadership in global esports.”
Bengaluru audiences behaving like sports fans
Consumption patterns in the city further reinforce esports’ growing sporting status. 87% of esports athletes in Bengaluru say they watch esports tournaments or leagues at least once or twice a month. This regular viewership coincides with awareness of major competitions such as the BGMI Mobile India Series, the Esports Asian Games, and leagues like the Global eCricket Premier League, with 82% of respondents saying they are aware of at least one of these events.
