Esports Revolution: How AI, Talent, and Tech Are Powering the Industry’s Explosive Growth

Excitement rippled through Gen Z on January 28, 2025, with the announcement that the Skillhub Online Games Federation (SOGF) is partnering with the Global Esports Federation (GEF) to bring the Global Esports Tour (GET) 2025 to Mumbai. This landmark event is set to catapult India into the rapidly growing world of esports.

In fact over the years, the esports industry has evolved from a niche hobby into a global phenomenon, fundamentally reshaping the way we engage with digital entertainment and technology. With rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), the e-sports sector has gained prominence as an entertainment powerhouse and played a pivotal role in transforming industries worldwide. The esports industry is thriving with viewership in the hundreds of millions for top events — and revenues projected at $4.3 billion — it’s apparent that esports has made a global impression.

This week, “The People Weekly” , a? PeopleLogic publication, explores the growing demand for esports, its impact on industries, and the rising need for skilled talent in this evolving ecosystem.

Esports Industry Growth?

As per Statista, the esports industry revenue is expected to touch US$4.8bn in 2025 and the annual growth rate (CAGR) during the period 2025-29 would be 5.54%. The total number of users is expected to reach 896 million by 2029.?

In 2022, the global eSports market was valued at just over 1.38 billion U.S. dollars. Additionally, the eSports industry's global market revenue was forecast to grow to as much as 1.87 billion U.S. dollars in 2025. Asia and North America currently represent the largest eSports markets in terms of revenue, with China alone accounting for almost one-fifth of the market.

As per a report, India’s gaming market grew 23 percent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) by revenue to $3.8 billion in financial year 2023-24 (FY24), despite the newly imposed 28 percent blanket goods and service tax (GST) on online gaming.? Soon India’s gaming industry will reach 9.2billion USD by 2029. User penetration in India will be 19.5% in 2025 and is expected to increase to 21.9% by 2029.

Industries at the Forefront of the E-sports Industry

As the e-sports industry continues to grow, its influence reaches across multiple sectors. Below are some key industries at the forefront of this revolution:

1. Technology and Software Development: The e-sports industry has driven significant demand for technology and software development. Game developers, AI researchers, and machine learning engineers are integral to shaping the future of e-sports. This includes the development of new gaming platforms, virtual reality (VR) experiences, and cloud gaming services. This technological evolution also extends to gaming hardware, with companies continuously innovating in graphics cards, processors, and peripherals to provide the best possible experience for both players and viewers.
2. Media and Entertainment: The rise of e-sports has revolutionized the media and entertainment industries by creating new forms of digital content, such as live-streamed tournaments and influencer-driven content. Streaming platforms like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming have turned e-sports into a massive digital entertainment ecosystem.?
3. Marketing and Sponsorship: The rapid growth of e-sports has created a lucrative market for brands looking to reach younger, tech-savvy audiences. Companies in the fashion, beverage, technology, and automotive industries are recognizing the value of sponsoring e-sports tournaments and teams.
4. Healthcare and Sports Science: The competitive nature of e-sports places a significant strain on players’ mental well-being. Research into the impact of gaming on cognitive function, reaction time, and stress levels is advancing, with AI-driven tools helping sports psychologists and trainers develop personalized programs for e-sports athletes.?
5. Education and Talent Development: As the e-sports industry matures, there is a growing demand for skilled professionals, not just in gaming but in roles related to team management, coaching, content creation, and event organization.?

Hiring trend in the e-sports industry

With the growth of the esports industry, the need for skilled gaming professionals as well as professionals in other roles like programmers, testers etc is ever increasing. As per a report by IGR(Indian Gaming Industry), ?the Indian gaming industry is experiencing a rise in the need for skilled professionals, with job opportunities spanning from 50,000 to 60,000 across diverse positions such as developers, programmers, testers/artists, and customer support.

As e-sports become more integrated into mainstream entertainment and technology, the demand for a wide range of skill sets has skyrocketed, leading to a broad spectrum of employment opportunities across various disciplines. Here’s an overview of the current hiring trends in the e-sports industry:

1. Increased Demand for Data-Driven Roles

• Data Scientists & Analysts: Companies and e-sports teams are actively seeking data scientists to analyze performance metrics, fan engagement, and tournament outcomes.
• AI Engineers: AI professionals are crucial for developing machine learning algorithms that can be used for things like game design, player performance analysis, and even cheat detection.

2. Growth of Esports Content Creators and Streamers

With the increasing popularity of platforms like Twitch, YouTube Gaming, and Facebook Gaming, content creation and streaming have become major aspects of the e-sports ecosystem. This has led to a surge in demand for content creators, producers, and social media managers. Some of the in-demand roles in this space are?

• Content Creators & Influencers: Influencers who can build a strong fan base through engaging and entertaining content are highly sought after.?
• Social Media Managers & Community Managers: Professionals who can manage their online presence, engage with fans, and build vibrant, active communities across social media platforms.

3. Event Management and Operations

With major e-sports tournaments becoming increasingly large and complex, event management has become a central focus of hiring in the industry. As tournaments and leagues expand in size and reach, the demand for professionals who can manage logistics, operations, and audience experience is growing.

• Event Coordinators & Managers: These professionals handle everything from event planning to on-site logistics, ensuring that tournaments run smoothly.
• Broadcasting & Production Teams: The need for high-quality broadcasts has led to an increase in demand for video editors, production assistants, technical directors, and broadcast analysts who can deliver engaging, visually appealing content to fans.

4. Esports Marketing and Sponsorship Roles

As e-sports continues to attract major corporate sponsorships and media partnerships, marketing professionals are in high demand. Some of the popular roles in this space are

• Marketing Specialists & Brand Managers
• Sponsorship & Partnership Managers.

5. Esports Team Management and Coaching

As professional e-sports becomes more structured, the need for dedicated team management and coaching has increased. Just like traditional sports, e-sports teams are looking for experienced managers and coaches who can guide players, develop strategies, and handle team dynamics.

6. Game Developers and Designers

Game developers remain the backbone of the e-sports ecosystem, as new games are continually created to fuel the competitive gaming scene. The industry has a high demand for professionals skilled in game design, coding, and development, especially as e-sports communities grow and diversify.

• Game Developers & Designers: These professionals are responsible for building and maintaining the games played in competitive e-sports, working on everything from game mechanics to in-game balancing and bug fixing.
• UX/UI Designers: With the increasing importance of user experience, UI/UX designers are needed to create intuitive, engaging, and user-friendly interfaces for games, websites, and tournament platforms.

7. Legal and Compliance Experts

As e-sports grows into a multi-billion-dollar industry, legal and compliance issues have become a major concern, particularly around contracts, intellectual property, and regulations. As such, there is a growing demand for legal professionals like legal advisors, contract negotiators, compliance specialists etc who specialize in the e-sports industry.

8. Customer Support and Technical Support

With the increasing number of players, fans, and stakeholders in e-sports, customer and technical support roles are becoming essential. These professionals help ensure that both players and fans have smooth experiences, whether they are troubleshooting technical issues, managing player accounts, or assisting with streaming platforms.

PeopleLogic Opinion

The e-sports industry is rapidly evolving at the intersection of entertainment, technology, and AI, reshaping the digital landscape. AI-driven innovations are not only transforming gaming but also impacting sectors like healthcare, education, and marketing. PeopleLogic highlights the growing demand for talent in this data-driven industry, where AI and analytics optimize performance, fan engagement, and business models. As e-sports drives emerging skills beyond gaming into media and tech, its influence on global industries is just beginning.