The Indian esports ecosystem has recently been hit hard, as Tencent, the publisher of PUBG Mobile, is said to have rejected two of the country's best organizations—S8UL and GodLike Esports—the opportunity to enter the PUBG Mobile ecosystem. This is in light of Tencent's stringent "One Org, One Lineup" policy that limits teams to one lineup for all its PUBG Mobile-related games.
Tencent's tactic is to ensure tournament integrity by not allowing any possible conflict of interest. However, the effect of such regulation is far-reaching, especially for Indian esports teams that have already established themselves within the local community and would like to make a dent internationally. With S8UL and GodLike having competitive teams play BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India), their potential to form partnerships or cultivate squads for PUBG Mobile is effectively blocked. This limitation not only restricts their competitive progress but also limits the Indian team's scope in securing a spot in the world esports order.
In addition to this frustration, another key aspect of the situation concerns the GodLike x Dagestan 77 partnership, which seems to be halted as well. Sources indicate that this deal has not been ratified by Tencent primarily because Dagestan 77 only just made it to the PMSL CSA (PUBG Mobile Super League – Central & South Asia) prior to the official declaration of the deal with GodLike. This raises the issue of competitive integrity, as purchasing or rebranding a team after qualification for a major tournament is typically frowned upon by Tencent.
The consequences of these developments are massive and unsettling for Indian esports as a whole. The constraints enforced by Tencent effectively bind talented Indian teams to domestic platforms like BGMI, depriving them of experiences and visibility provided by PUBG Mobile's global ecosystem. For budding organizations, the inability to secure international partnerships can leave them in a state of stasis, diminishing their growth prospects and aspirations on the global front.
Aside from that, frustration is also evident among players, stakeholders, and the Indian esports community's fans. Community growth has been fueled by a tremendous amount of zeal, piling enormous pressure on governing bodies and organizations to improve and adapt. However, bureaucratic obstacles emanating from Tencent appear counter to the momentum that had been gained in the Indian esports ecosystem over the past couple of years.
So what awaits these two firms? Without an official announcement from Tencent or even a whisper of policy change, the future of S8UL and GodLike is far from bright. They must navigate a complicated esports ecosystem rife with obstacles—an ecosystem that may not be altogether hospitable to their aspirations of expansion overseas.
Lastly, the future route is fraught with complexities for Indian esports giants who wish to be globally acknowledged. Unless there is a change in Tencent's policy or exceptions being made, the aspirations of organizations such as S8UL and GodLike for increased international participation continue in dormancy. Continual growth of Indian esports remains a great tale, but for the time being, these obstacles might put off the dreams that are held dear by so many users and fans.
🛑 Disclaimer: This article is based on currently available information and industry speculation. None of the details regarding Tencent’s nor Karfton decisions or internal policies have been officially confirmed.