Flipkart has announced that it will be conducting an online gaming championship in India exclusively for its fans. Touted to be held spanning one month, the Flipkart Online Gaming Championship (FGOC) will feature FIFA, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, League of Legends, and Dota 2. Interestingly, Flipkart will be live streaming the whole tournament on Amazon-owned Twitch from June 3 to July 11.
Even though Flipkart has included FIFA in the tournament, Amazon currently owns exclusive rights for the game in India. Moreover, Dota 2 and League of Legends are available worldwide for free as digital downloads. As of writing this, Flipkart only owns exclusivity to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive game.
With the tournament prize pool is fixed at Rs. 30,0,000, FIFA game is currently in progress and will continue till June 9 followed by League of Legends set from June 14 to 20. You can play Counter-Strike: Global Offensive from June 25 to 29 and Dota 2 from July 5 to 9.
While the first prize winner of FIFA (PS4) game fetches Rs. 20,000, the League of Legends, Counter-Strike and Dota 2 winners will take away Rs. 50,000 each, respectively. Runners-up will be eligible for a prize of Rs. 25,000 except for FIFA where there will be two consolation prizes. Flipkart will give away prizes in the form of electronic gift vouchers using which winners can buy products from their online store.
Responding to media, Adarsh K Menon, Vice President, Electronics and Auto at Flipkart, revealed that gaming is regarded as one of the key modules of the Internet economy not only in India but also worldwide. Even though gaming is a niche in India, the platform is rapidly evolving especially in the metros. We have seen instances where people invest their money to buy products that are required for building a high-end premium gaming computer, adds Menon.
Menon also disclosed that the gaming category has witnessed an unprecedented 50 percent growth in the last six months and the company expects that it will grow further by the end of 2016.
Even though Flipkart says that it has grown up to 50 percent, we are unable to believe it since the company was looking to close down gaming category in 2015 due to poor sales. However, if the revelations turn out to be true then it will a rapid change of affairs and needs to put into debate.
According to industry analysts, Flipkart and Amazon contribute 30 percent of the gaming industry in India. As per initial indications, Amazon has beaten Flipkart with the addition of several marketplace vendors coupled with excellent logistics mechanisms.
While Flipkart sold around 1,500 units of PS4 exclusive Uncharted 4, Amazon managed to sell 4,500 units. Hence, you can infer the growth and potential of Amazon in the gaming sector.
If you are interested in participating in the Flipkart Online Gaming Championship, you will not be able to register now since Flipkart has closed down registrations on the official Facebook page. The final participants and teams are determined on the first come first serve basis.
