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Zupee, best known for reimagining board games like Ludo and Snakes & Ladders, is entering esports as part of its diversification strategy after India’s blanket ban on real-money gaming.
The deets: the platform, which has over 200 million registered users, plans to turn Indian classics such as Ludo, Carrom, and Chess into global esports formats.
The move will be supported by Zupee Studio, its recently launched content arm. It will stream live tournaments, player stories, and localised esports broadcasts to make competitive play more engaging for Indian audiences.
Why it matters: the company believes that India can lead the global esports wave with its 750 million internet users and strong gaming heritage.
Beyond giving players new opportunities, esports could also create jobs in content creation, shoutcasting, and broadcasting. It’s a chance to export traditional Indian games as cultural assets while experimenting with AI, AR, and VR.
Zoom out: Esports in India has moved from being a niche to a mainstream business in just a few years. The market was valued at about ₹1,400 crore in 2023 and is expected to cross ₹4,000 crore by 2027.
Prize pools for tournaments have jumped nearly 4x in the last five years, and platforms like Nodwin, MPL, and now Zupee are betting big on competitive play.
