Breaking Barriers: How Indian Women Gamers Are Dominating the Streaming Scene

 These are merely a few of the remarks Kaira has encountered on YouTube during her Valorant gameplay, a tactical multiplayer shooting title predominantly occupied by male players. Her headshots are precise, yet earning respect remains a challenging objective.

“Regardless of your skill, male gamers will always devise ways to ridicule you. They are perpetually observing, ready to pounce on your mistakes to mock you,” Kaira stated. “The most effective strategy is to disregard it and concentrate on enhancing your abilities.”

India’s gaming sector is thriving and poised to reach $9.2 billion by 2029, as per a study by Lumikai, the nation’s premier gaming VC fund. Women represent a significant portion of this growth, currently constituting 44 percent of India’s 507 million gamers. However, for women like Kaira, gaming presents a battleground in multiple aspects. They experience sexist trolling, all-women competitions are rare, and it is challenging to be acknowledged in an industry where men predominantly steer the direction.

There will always be individuals who genuinely support you, but there are also those who are solely present to mock women gamers, commenting on their attire, makeup, and appearance. This kind of audience takes a mental toll on us and affects our gameplay

-Saloni Pawar, also known as Meow16K

Consequently, many women are transitioning. Rather than confronting prejudices in competitive events, they are gravitating towards streaming platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram Gaming. Here, they can engage, perform, and cultivate their audiences on their own terms, free from the gatekeeping and animosity of conventional gaming realms. Some are even merging their gaming abilities with lifestyle content, carving out a distinctive and expanding niche.

“Women who are enthusiastic about gaming should keep in mind that it’s acceptable to be unique and to select a different route,” said Salone Sehgal, founding general partner at Lumikai. “Female gamers and streamers like Ankita Chauhan, Shagufta Iqbal, and Payal Dhare have been popularizing gaming for quite some time. They’re not merely playing games but also entertaining, creating content, and shaping culture.” 

Yet, while streaming has opened avenues, it also highlights the systemic disparities that women continue to confront in competitive gaming. Worldwide, the upper echelons of the industry remain overwhelmingly male. Of the top 400 esports players globally, none are women, according to a 2023 report. Even in the US, female players earn an average of only $3.42 for every $100 earned by men.

Kaira has been gaming since childhood, originally playing on her cousin’s console and then on her mobile device. A few years back, she established her own gaming and streaming setup in her compact home in Paschim Vihar. She has partaken in numerous tournaments, securing third place at the Skyesports Grandslam in February 2023 and second place in March 2024. In November 2023, she also joined the Taiwan Excellence Gaming Cup.

 Nevertheless, it’s insufficient. In 2022, Kaira departed from her graphic design position to concentrate on gaming and streaming; however, due to a dearth of tournaments and earning possibilities, she had to pause that aspiration. She returned to her job in 2024 and now streams on weekends. On her YouTube channel, which boasts over 11K subscribers, her videos frequently illustrate her analyzing strategies with fellow gamers and occasionally singing mid-game.

“Female gamers being targeted or harassed occurs not just in India, but globally,” remarked Sehgal. “Nevertheless, an increasing number of female streamers are emerging to support one another, cultivate their communities, and unite to secure their space within the gaming industry.”

Even as India’s esports market expanded to $3.8 billion in 2024 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi endorsed the potential of Indian gaming talent, women continue to be marginalized.

Also Read: Pixels transforming into paychecks, as esports evolve into a feasible career path for young professionals

Talent, tactics, and flair

More than quick reflexes or high scores, successful streaming emphasizes personality, relatability, charisma, and securing brand collaborations along the journey.

Shagufta Iqbal, widely recognized as Xyaa, is among India’s prominent streamers. On YouTube and Instagram, she is renowned for her impressive gameplay in first-person shooter titles such as Apex Legends, as well as narrative-driven role-playing games like Dark Souls and Elden Ring. However, it is her genuine and warm interactions with her followers that genuinely differentiate her.

The 30-year-old gamer from Pune has also mastered the skill of delivering velvet-gloved comebacks to online critics.

During one livestream, a viewer directed a snide remark towards her: “Jindagi main hunar bhi apna liya karo aur kitne dino tak makeup karogi, kabhi bina makeup ke bhi live stream par aaya karo” (Develop some skills in your life rather than just applying makeup. Why don’t you attempt streaming without it)?

Xyaa reacted quickly and with assurance. In a 56-second clip titled “Xyaa Removes Makeup on Stream”, she eliminated her makeup during the live broadcast. The snippet, which amassed over 374K views, resonated with her fans. While some comments echoed sentiments about her “natural beauty,” many viewers applauded her demeanor. “Xyaa amazed, detractors stunned,” remarked one commenter.

Instances like these have turned her into a beloved figure in India’s gaming scene. Upon receiving the Streamer of the Year (Female) accolade at the 2024 India Gaming Awards, she shared images with her trophy and expressed, “My very first AWARD!! We achieved Streamer of the Year (Female)!!!”

Women gamers in India, like her, are making significant progress establishing their place on social media and streaming services, presenting a range of content from casual gameplay to highly competitive esports material.

“The sphere of content creation notably serves as a platform where women are augmenting their visibility,” stated Mohit Israney, co-founder of Global Esports, a professional esports organization. “Brands are starting to pay attention and are implementing measures to feature more female gamers—from solely female esports teams to brand collaborations, and increased representation in games themselves.”

However, fans engage not only to witness their favorite gamers conquer virtual foes but also to gain authentic, unpolished insights into their lives across platforms.

Beyond the controller 

Saloni Pawar effortlessly transitions between her gaming persona Meow16K and her everyday life on the internet. On YouTube, where she boasts 60.5K subscribers, the professional Valorant and Counter-Strike player frequently engages in virtual battles. Conversely, on Instagram, her 24.8K followers are treated to a different perspective—fitness photos, fashionable outfits, and spontaneous moments from her routine.

Pawar, a resident of Mumbai, did not always enjoy the support of her family. However, when the 25-year-old began to earn through streaming and content production, their perspective shifted. Now a full-time gamer and streamer, Pawar embarked on her journey nearly eight years ago with gameplay clips and voiceover commentary. Over the years, her content has expanded to encompass travel vlogs and unboxing videos. It’s now as much about her personality as it is about her gaming talents.

“During streams, I need to juggle tasks—engage with the audience, occasionally manage brand partnerships, which can be somewhat challenging at times, yet this is exactly what I relish and always aspired to do,” Pawar expressed.

This combination of gaming expertise and inspirational content has become a defining characteristic for numerous female streamers. Brand collaborations are now commonplace, with gamers endorsing everything from gaming gear to lifestyle products.

Xyaa recently shared an Instagram clip praising the Motorola Edge 50 Pro’s sleek aesthetics and rapid charging capabilities, all while gaming on it. The post garnered 6.7M views. Additionally, in another video from November, she provided fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into her

gaming arrangement and “ideal PC”—part personal exploration, part subtle marketing of items like her chair and display.

Pawar guided viewers through unpacking her recently acquired UltraGear 27GP750 Gaming Monitor. “I have upgraded my arrangement, now it’s time to enhance my gameplay,” the caption stated. Elite gamer Payal Dhare also shares a range of content from red-carpet appearances at award ceremonies to endorsements for items such as Myntra’s Glitchez OP collection.

Nevertheless, with increased visibility comes negativity and objectification. Female gamers frequently encounter remarks like “Wife material,” “Cutie lag rahi ho” (You’re looking cute), or crude personal observations regarding their physical attributes. Numerous commenters also enjoy ridiculing their gameplay, highlighting errors or attributing losses to their gender.

“Male pride is a significant element. When things don’t go well for male gamers, they begin to mock female gamers. Toxicity and misogynistic statements are very prevalent in gaming for women,” expressed Ashrit “notyAshritB” Goyal, an Indian Rainbow Six Siege player who recently played for Hasib Warriors.

Women gamers are not only role models but also represent inclusivity and empowerment. They motivate others to engage in gaming without fear of criticism or harassment.

-Harshleen Kaur aka Kaira

While female gamers are increasing in numbers, many are scrutinized more for their appearance rather than their talent. Audiences often turn to male gamers for tactics and strategies, regarding women’s streams as mere entertainment.

“There will always be supporters, but there are also those who exist solely to ridicule women playing games, commenting on their attire, makeup, and appearances. This type of audience affects us psychologically and impacts our performance, yet the most effective approach to cope with it is to disregard it,” stated Pawar.

Advancing, but not for women

 While sexism flourishes in streaming, it is even more deeply rooted in competitive gaming. Despite India’s esports market expanding to $3.8 billion in 2024 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi advocating for the potential of Indian gaming talents, women are being left behind.

The forthcoming Olympic Esports Games and the WAVES Esports Championship, backed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, have gamers excited for this year. However, concurrently, Indian women gamers are losing even some of the scant opportunities that were available to them.

Global Esports was among the pioneers to establish an all-female team back in 2018-19, initiating with League of Legends. However, akin to other organizations like Orangutan and Velocity Gaming, they disbanded their female roster for games like Valorant in 2024, citing a shortage of tournaments and lack of brand interest.

“We make adjustments based on the games and upcoming events,” expressed Israney of Global Esports. “From including female players from all over Asia to focusing solely on Indian players, we adjusted as necessary. However, sometimes the excitement around a game wanes—like with CSGO—or players opt for different career paths.”

Aside from audience bias, tournaments exclusively for women are rare and organized by only a few groups. This compels many women to transition into content creation or to forfeit esports as a career path—as was the situation for Kaira.

Content creation is particularly highlighted as a domain where women are enhancing their presence. Companies are becoming aware and are taking steps to integrate more female gamers—from all-women esports teams to brand collaborations.

-Mohit Israney, co-founder of Global Esports

“Tournaments are where we can display our skills and attract audience interest, but this is not occurring on a considerable scale in India,” she articulated. “It’s not solely the responsibility of organizations—the government should also intervene and start organizing various styles and levels of tournaments.”

This shortage of opportunities not only hampers visibility but also financial gain. While gamers can generate income through numerous avenues—salaries from organizations, sponsorship arrangements, YouTube advertising revenue, brand endorsements, event appearances, and exclusive content—the potential greatly fluctuates based on the game and the player’s profile.

“BGMI professionals earn between Rs 50,000 and Rs 5 lakh monthly, with some leading athletes earning higher salaries. In VCT (Valorant Champions Tour), the minimum league-mandated salary is $50,000 per year, which translates to around Rs 42 lakh yearly. Most Indian athletes fall around or above this level,” stated Dr Rushindra Sinha, co-founder of Global Esports.

For female gamers, however, these income levels are typically unattainable.

AlsoRead: Like & share or unsubscribe? Delhi HC might determine what influencers are permitted to express in their videos

---

Creating space beyond streaming

When searching for Indian female gamers, one name stands out: Payal Dhare, also known as PayalGaming. With 4.24M subscribers on YouTube and nearly as many followers on Instagram, she is not only India’s most sought-after female gamer but also the first Indian woman to secure an international gaming accolade, winning the ‘Streamer of the Year’ award at the Mobies Awards in Los Angeles on 20 November.

Last year, Dhare was the sole female gamer invited to meet Prime Minister Modi alongside six male esports athletes, including Animesh Agarwal, Anshu Bisht, and Tirth Mehta, to discuss the prospects of the Indian gaming sector.

In a domain where female role models are scarce, the achievements of players such as Dhare, Pawar, and Iqbal are establishing a new standard for what women can accomplish in the gaming world.

For 25-year-old Uzma Ansari from Srinagar, gaming commenced as a four-month distraction using PUBG, now known as BGMI. Everything transformed in 2021 when she discovered Dhare’s videos. Uzma absorbed gameplay advice and found an inspirational figure.

“I began by using my brother’s ID, but after I noticed more female players, I transitioned to my own. I still engage in gameplay and support other women gamers,” Uzma explained, who is currently pursuing a master’s in Arabic.

Kaira, for her part, regards Saloni Pawar as her benchmark. She expresses that viewing Pawar’s videos and live streams has educated her on how to engage with audiences and produce captivating content.

“Female gamers are not merely role models but also emblems of inclusivity and empowerment,” stated Kaira. “They encourage others to engage with gaming without the apprehension of criticism or harassment, thus fostering a burgeoning community of female gamers and followers.”

Gaming collectives are also enhancing efforts to ensure esports are safer and more attainable for women. The Female Esports League (FSL), Women in Games (WIG), and Global Esports now offer salaries, boot camps, and professional coaching for female players. Although their reach remains limited—most initiatives could be counted on one hand—they are bridging the way for more women to enter esports.

On a global scale, Riot Games has also made considerable strides with the Valorant Game Changers Championship, creating an ecosystem for all-female teams to compete on an international level.

“Female esports is still relatively small in India. The viewership and enthusiasm are quite constrained, but women gamers and organizations continuously strive to make the industry more accessible and inclusive for women,” remarked Pawar.

The stakes are even greater for players like Siona, a 25-year-old from Delhi, who claims that streaming is not her forte, but quitting gaming is off the table.

“If someone doesn’t excel at gaming, they can still earn a fair amount from streaming. However, to be recognized among the elite gamers, one must possess exceptional skills and compete in national and international tournaments,” she stated. “I am camera-shy and not particularly adept at addressing an audience. I would rather enhance my gaming abilities instead.”

(Edited by Asavari Singh)