Unlocking the World of Gaming: A Dive into Gamerji’s Evolution and the Rise of Esports
CXOToday has engaged in an exclusive interview with Soham Thacker, Founder CEO, Gamerji
- Give a brief info about Gamerji? Why choose Esports and not RMG?
Gamerji started in 2019, with the idea to bridge the gap between amateur and professional players through tournaments. It holds daily tournaments featuring popular titles for aspiring gamers to develop and showcase their skills. Although both E-sports and RMG fall under the umbrella of online gaming, they are different. E-sports refers to competitive video gaming where players or teams compete against each other in organised tournaments. It involves skill-based gameplay, strategy, and teamwork. The purpose of E-sports is to focus on entertainment, competition, and professional gaming. Some famous examples of e-sports games are Call of Duty, Dota 2, and League of Legends. Real Money Gaming (RMG), on the other hand, involves playing games for real money wagers. Purpose of RMG is to win money or prizes. With the clear difference, a passionate gamer will opt for an e-sports startup, which allows players to host tournaments, win cash prizes, share cross-game leaderboard, and allow players to share content on different chat groups to experience Pro-level gaming.
- What is your total user base? Please share the growth Gamerji has witnessed since inception and over the past one year how has the response of gamers been for Gamerji?
Gamerji’s current user base is over 9.5 million and we cater to 27 game titles on our platform. With Gamerji’s expansion into the MENA, the platform has witnessed a remarkable growth in the number of players from 6M to 9.5M. Along with the user growth on the Gamerji platform, the service caters to over 15M gamers through our partner networks.
- Share details on the growth of business in B2B vertical. Will this be an important pillar for growth and future expansion plans?
In 2022, Gamerji partnered with VI India, their app, now hosts games like Battle Royale, Racing, Cricket, Action Role Playing, etc under the umbrella of Gamerji. Currently Gamerji is live as a B2B SaaS product in 23 telecoms & brands across the globe. The SaaS offering vertical is pivotal for Gamerji’s reach in multiple geographies as the combined audience of its partner platforms is over 50M.
- How many such B2B partnerships does Gamerji intend to have in the next 12 months?
At 23 today, Gamerji plans to reach 50 partnerships over the next 12 months which comprise of telecoms, brands & ecommerce platforms across the world.
5. Why do you think it is beneficial for Gamerji to expand in MENA region?
Industry Growth:
Gamerji entered the MENA region in 2022. We have studied this market before launching our operations there. The region’s gaming sector has witnessed rapid growth with the revenues reaching $1.76 billion in 2021, and is expected to reach $3.14 billion in 2025 at a 5-year CAGR of 13.8%, presenting a lucrative market opportunity for Gamerji. Moreover, the MENA region boasts a high-paying audience, especially in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, there was a gap in the region’s market for instantaneous tournaments. With India’s wider audience reach and their spending habits with minimal competition in the region, Gamerji has leveraged an early mover advantage to establish a strong foothold and build a loyal user base. Furthermore, the favourable regulatory environment and govt support along with spending habits of players, MENA region posed as the best route for further growth of the business.
- How many tournaments do you organise on a daily basis and monthly? Please name the titles you offer, any which are played at international level? Five Most recommended titles a gamer should venture in esports
Gamerji has an active user base of over 6 million gamers and conducts tournaments across 22 gaming titles. The daily 300 plus tournaments include games like PubG, Call of Duty, Free Fire, PUBG, and Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), where players participate and compete for cash prizes. The number varies for monthly tournaments but Gamerji constantly offers a variety of competitions throughout the month. Gamerji caters both casual and competitive players at global level with international titles like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), BGMI, Call of Duty Mobile, and Clash Royale. And as for five highly recommended titles would be League of Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, Clash Royale, CS:GO, and BGMI. With competitive and diverse gameplay experience, these titles cater to a wide range of gaming preferences, ensuring there’s something for everyone on Gamerji’s platform.
Gmerji’s approach has been to target tournaments for popular AAA games in different geographies. However we are also exploring smaller titles which show promising future.
- India’s Esports growth story, where does India stand compared to other countries, is India emerging hub for esports in 2024? What are the challenges and opportunities it withholds?
The increasing popularity of mobile and PC-based video games among millennials is driving the esports market in terms of community, investments, career opportunities, and global recognition. India;s esports market size is expected to reach$ 919.0 Million by 2032, exhibiting an impressive growth rate CAGR of 18.42% during 2024-2032. Today, Esports organisers offer lucrative opportunities, including international prize pools, streaming revenues, and sponsorships. India ranks among the top 10 gaming countries globally, with 71% of the urban population playing casual or professional games on smartphones, consoles, and other devices. While India’s esports popularity is relatively low compared to countries like the US and UK, the industry has a bright future. With increasing popularity we can see improvement in framework, which is crucial for building a sustainable and healthy industry, different monetization models apart from In-app purchases and advertising drive revenue, like sponsorships and merchandising – essential for long-term growth, better Infrastructure connectivity as there are gaps in rural areas & talent development.
