Competitive gaming has recently emerged as a viable source of income in India, with Bengaluru becoming a hub for gamers worldwide to compete, connect, and advance personally and professionally. We spoke with the Super Smash Bros (SSB) community in Bengaluru to gain insights:

"The COVID-19 lockdown prompted many to delve into gaming," says Shreyas, India's top-ranked SSB player. "My friend and I started playing Super Smash Bros during the lockdown and discovered online tournaments. This grew into a significant passion for many of us."

Bengaluru attracts gamers from around the globe, including players from the UAE and Mumbai. Arjun, ranked fifth in India, mentions earning over ₹1.5 lakh through gaming, with tournaments offering prizes ranging from ₹20,000-50,000. Shreyas adds that weekly tournaments typically award ₹5,000-10,000 to winners.

Rahul, a techie in the community, highlights the significant presence of female gamers in the SSB community, making it stand out compared to others."In the grand scheme of the gaming world, our community is known for attracting a large number of female gamers. We have a diverse group of members who are very inclusive. Super Smash Bros stands out as a game that offers the challenges and intensity of professional gaming, yet without the violent content. With its range of characters like Kirby and Jigglypuff, the game appeals to fans of various entertainment genres," says Rahul. Ipsita Thapa, a student at NIFT and part-time cosplayer, shared that she happily invests time and money in creating cosplay outfits. The community of professional gamers has shown improvement, now being able to compete and win against international players. Arjun Sivaram pointed out that the social nature of Bengaluru has fostered the growth of the gaming community, transforming it from an online group into a close-knit circle of friends beyond just gaming. Nitin Rao described the SSB community as a giant family due to the strong bonds formed offline.