Gaming

Why game streamers Rooter and Loco are gunning for new playbook

Soumya Gupta

September 22, 2022 | 15 Min Read

Indian government’s ban on PUBG, Free Fire and BGMI over China links slowed video-game streaming’s rise. Now, leading homegrown platforms Rooter and Loco are trying to shake off their dependency on battle-royale titles and tap revenue channels beyond esports events

In 2018, Amazon-owned Twitch was marking its dominance in live-game streaming with staggering scores: 15 million daily active users and 434 billion minutes watched in the year. (The numbers have since doubled.) Back then, Indian platforms Rooter and Loco were just getting started, looking in the general direction of sports and gaming content.

It was blood, sweat, and pivots before the two resolved to replicate US-based Twitch’s popularity in India. By this point, 2019-20, Indian esports and related segments had grown much bigger than the pastime of 20,000-odd recognised players.

The market today comprises 600,000 pro gamers and over 17 million viewers, who consume countless hours of streamed action, as per consulting firm EY. The conditions seem ideal for the two leading homegrown startups in the space to go out guns blazing in the hunt for elusive revenues.

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