eSports in Pakistan: Hype vs Reality
Ashes to ashes? Let's rewrite the script
Not too long ago, gaming in Pakistan was seen as nothing more than a waste of time. It was seen as a hobby in which "lazy kids" were interested, or something you did just to kill boredom.
But now? Things have changed quite a bit.
Whether it’s some casual mobile games or full-blown eSports tournaments, the gaming scene here is slowly getting the spotlight it deserves.
The truth is, Pakistan has serious potential when it comes to gaming. It’s filled with people having:
- Raw talent
- Those who want growth
- Who have the hunger to do something big
But if we were to actually focus on the real world. Then it’s quite obvious that while the opportunity is huge, the challenges are just as real. There are tons of problems that the gaming industries face, due to which eSports in Pakistan is having a hard time rising.
Problems such as:
- Infrastructure gaps
- Lack of proper investment
- The mindset of people which are holding them back more than it should
And today? Our goal is to explore problems exactly like these and uncover the truth behind the reality of eSports in Pakistan.
So, grab your coffee, fellas - it's about to be a bumpy ride.
The Rise of eSports in Pakistan
Gaming in Pakistan has gone from a casual hobby to a whole culture. In the beginning, everyone simply used to play games for fun, or they would play games in their free time, but then things started to shift when some of the new games were introduced. Games such as Tekken and PUBG played a crucial role in the whole thing.
Early Days and the Tekken Boom
For the majority of kids in Pakistan, eSports wasn’t born in some shiny arena. It quite literally started in some random sweaty gaming zone, with the clink of coins. Back in the 90s and early 2000s, consoles and PCs were a dream, and most people couldn’t afford them. That is why gaming in local gaming zones on second-hand, cheap PC’s was the norm.
And in those gaming zones, there was a game named Tekken 3 that ruled the scene. People played and waited for that game like their own lives were on the line. These gaming zones would have long queues, with people having to wait for quite some time before getting their chance to play.
Then came legends like Arslan Ash, a name that nobody was able to ignore. Here is the thing: He wasn’t molded in some eSports academy; he came from those same sweaty gaming zones where hundreds of children would play.
And when he won at Evo Japan 2019 and then again in the US, his victories inspired countless young gamers and proved that Pakistan could compete at the highest level in eSports.
The PUBG Phenomenon and Expanding Game Base
Other than Tekken, games like PUBG have also played a massive role in the rise of eSports in Pakistan. As soon as this game dropped, everything started changing, and everyone from school kids to full-grown adults was landing in Erangel, chasing chicken dinners. Other than that, the fact that it was free on mobile and one didn’t need a beast PC to run it, made it even easier for PUBG to explode across Pakistan.
As time passed, things got even more interesting because you see…PUBG didn’t just create gamers, it created careers. Players like Crypto and Blade went from casual players to serious pros, they were pulling in tons of money through tournaments and streaming by playing this game. Because of this, gaming started looking less like “just a waste of time” and more like an actual career option.
Gaming Cafes, Lounges, and Tournaments
Back in the day, things weren’t as they are now. There was no discord culture, and nobody knew about all that. So, if you wanted to play some online game with your friends, your only option was to grab your bag and head straight to the nearest gaming café.
One of the reasons for the gaming café being successful was due to Internet speeds at home not being that “multiplayer-friendly,” so gaming zones were the place to be.
Fast forward to today, the old-school gaming cafes have kind of faded, but the essence of gaming in a special environment has only grown. Premium lounges like Portal in Lahore, E-Club in Karachi, and Mindstorm Studios setup in Islamabad are equipped with high-end PCs, console setups, and so much more.
In short, these big gaming cafes are a heaven for gamers, and things don’t just end here. I brought them up because they are one of the reasons why eSports culture has risen over the past. Some major gaming tournaments, meetups, and community events are hosted at these places, which is a very good thing. Because of this, players now finally have real platforms to sharpen their skills, build a community, get noticed, and grow into pros.
Influence of Global eSports and Pakistan’s Growing Gaming Community
So…We have been talking about gaming for a couple of minutes, but I didn’t touch upon one of the most important topics…yet. Yes, I am referring to how much international players and tournaments have shaped the scene in Pakistan. Big names like Shroud, MrSavage, and a dozen more professional players have inspired a whole generation here, not just to play, but to grind seriously.
When a person watches these players dominate in global arenas, it makes people in Pakistan think:
“Hey, if they can do this, we can do this too.”
That’s the thing, watching these different streamers play doesn’t just act as a motivating factor. It’s also acting as a helping factor for local players to improve their gameplay by analyzing how international players play the game. And all this? It’s only growing with each passing day.
You see…Gaming is no longer a small thing in Pakistan anymore. And the numbers back it up as well:
Currently, Pakistan has around 34 million verified online gamers, and that number’s set to hit 45 million by 2025. Mobile gaming is currently leading the charge:
- About 60% of players prefer smartphones
- while 30% stick to PCs.
- And 10% are on consoles.
In short, the gaming community isn’t just growing, it’s leveling up really fast.
Challenges eSports Face in Pakistan
I know there is a lot of hype when it comes to eSports, but the reality is very different - There are tons of challenges that are faced by Pakistan.
First off, let’s talk about the government and institutions.
Truth is, they don’t really care about this whole eSports thing, to them it’s nothing more than a “waste of time”. Many gamers have reported that they feel like the authorities just don’t care about their dreams or the industry’s growth. There aren’t many dedicated institutes or training centers focused on eSports.
Although I must say that things are changing slowly, the Prime Minister Youth Program (PMYP) has launched a major eSports initiative, which will make things better, but the truth is: It’s just the start to a new beginning, and nobody really knows if things are going to actually progress.
This was just one of the issues that I stated off the top of my head, and there are so many more challenges to be discussed. So, let’s get right into it.
Internet and Electricity Issues
Firstly, let’s discuss one of the biggest and most famous issues ever: Internet & Electricity issues!
The reality is: It doesn’t really matter how talented you are because internet and electricity problems are like constant roadblocks. Imagine grinding day and night, trying to climb leaderboards, just for your internet to die mid-tournament. There are kids with real potential to go pro internationally, but half the time, they can't even finish a scrim without basic issues like these killing the momentum.
This issue might seem like something small, but trust me, I have experienced it firsthand, and I can say with experience that it is not a small issue. I once dreamt of going pro myself. But every time things started to finally get better - boom, no light, no Wi-Fi.
It was so hard to find good teammates, and it was even harder to build chemistry with them because it took constant in-game grinding to actually become a team. And once we were ready to go play tournaments? Lag spikes or load shedding started on my end, due to which my teammates always had to abandon me.
And because of such issues, I finally had to give up on this dream of mine.
Lack of Family Support and Social Stigma
Other than the technical challenges in this country, we also have cultural and social challenges that involve parents discouraging their kids when it comes to eSports.
Most families here still don’t take gaming seriously. According to them, if you're not becoming a doctor or engineer, you're seen as a failure. Many kids get pressured and pushed so much that they end up burying their dreams before they even get a chance to try.
On top of that, there is the social pressure that burdens the kids as well. Parents and people constantly pressure the children with words like:
“Log kia kahenge, kabhi socha hai?”
“Tumhara zindagi mein kuch nahi bany ga!”
One does get disappointed after learning about such things, right? One truly gets sad when one gets to know that, although:
- The passion is there
- The talent is there
But due to the absence of real support, thousands of dreams die every day.
Poor or No Financial Backing for Upcoming Players
If we are being really honest, then I must say: there's almost no financial support for rising eSports players in Pakistan.
Yeah, I get it that once in a lifetime, someone might slap a fancy club logo on their profile and call it a "sponsorship.” But when it actually comes down to helping with actual expenses, in that case no nobody really helps.
Think about it:
- Your gaming PC upgrades? Nobody cares
- Your travel costs to tournaments? You're on your own
- Even internet bills or basic gear like headsets and chairs? Forget about it
If you look at international eSports players, these folks are getting professional coaching, mental health support, bootcamps, hell - they are living a different life. Now, take a look at the players in Pakistan, they are stuck using the HP mouse from their grandpa’s era because they simply can’t afford better setups.
The point is that there’s a lot of “namesake support” but no real investment in the players themselves. And without real backing, most dreams can’t be turned into reality.
Lack of Professionalism & Tons of Toxicity
Another major hurdle for eSports in Pakistan includes a serious lack of professionalism and an excessive amount of toxicity.
The majority of tournaments often feel like they're being held at gunpoint because nobody really cares about what is happening in the actual event itself. Most events start late with no proper communication. And when it comes to the Prize money? It gets delayed - sometimes by weeks, and sometimes players don’t even get that money, how ironic, right?
On top of that, when it comes to the behavior of the players? That is a whole different story. A lot of players just rage-quit between the game because of X reason, and some don't even bother showing up for their scheduled matches. Other than that, players don’t even know the meaning of discipline or any serious structure. They simply hop from team to team without any serious note.
And things don’t just end here; the toxicity that lurks in our gaming culture is also a major problem. There is tons of news when big Pakistani streamers start to trash talk, spread negativity, and create drama for views.
When newcomers who are filled with passion experience all this, they either end up getting discouraged or they end up becoming just like the rest of them. Imagine for a second: If you were someone who wanted to step into this career, and the moment you walked in, veterans started bullying and mocking you, how would you feel?
Visa Issues & Global Competition Barriers
Lastly, we have one of the biggest issues, this issue isn’t just for the newbies but for everyone who is born in Pakistan. The thing is that Pakistan’s reputation isn’t really at the top of the leaderboard, due to which getting a visa with a green passport is like pulling your teeth bare-handedly.
And the worst part is that all this doesn’t have anything to do with your talent. Take Arslan Ash, for example. He has faced crazy visa delays, missing major international tournaments like the Evo Japan and Riyadh’s Gamers8 because he simply couldn’t leave the country in time. He himself expressed frustration, saying:
“I’ve learned to live with passport limitations; maybe one day, things will change.”
When the system doesn’t let someone as reputable as Arslan Ash through it. And when the younger players witness this, they truly get discouraged and wonder:
“How are they supposed to prove themselves? If they can’t even show up to compete.”
Now, let’s stop thinking about the problems for a moment and talk about the global competition. The truth is that the global competition itself is a whole different beast.
Players from countries like Korea, Japan, and the USA have easy travel, corporate sponsors, boot camps, and everything set up for them. Meanwhile, Pakistani players? They are struggling against basic necessities such as the Internet and electricity. Not to mention, they also have to fight the war against financial struggles, and after all this, they have to try to somehow magically compete at the same level.
It’s like showing up to a gunfight with a wooden stick.
But here’s the crazy part: Despite all these issues, somehow, many Pakistani players have won countless battles and proved themselves in front of the world. So, enough talking about the issues - let’s actually talk about the different successful Pakistani eSports players and discuss whether it is still possible for players to further rise as long as they are in this country.
Success Stories: Can Pakistan Produce Pro eSports Players?
So, I know many of you might have gotten discouraged after reading about so many problems that exist in Pakistan, but now we will take a look at the positive side. There is solid proof that even after all the hurdles from power cuts and internet drops to visa denials, Pakistani players have still managed to somehow break through.
We have seen players in different games not just compete but actually stand out on regional and even global levels. These individuals got to the top purely based on their talent and dedication to become one of the greatest.
Short answer to our question?
- Yes, Pakistan can produce pro eSports players. And it already has.
Grind, Grit, Glory: Pakistani eSports Stories
Let’s take a look at the fighting game community, for example. Pakistani players have made a remarkable mark in the Tekken World Tour (TWT) rankings. In 2023, Arslan Ash was ranked No. 1 globally, with fellow Pakistani pro Atif Butt securing a top 6 position. And even now - as of 2025 Arslan remains near the top at No. 2, while Atif Butt climbed to No. 3, which is proof that determination coupled with hard work can get you anywhere.
In fact, the interesting thing is that these players weren’t the only ones who made it to the top; there were seven Pakistani players in the Tekken World Tour Top 50 - placements such as these truly highlight the strength of Pakistani talent in this genre.
And the story doesn’t end here. We also got mobile gaming, especially PUBG Mobile, in which teams like Team Bablu - a prominent PUBG Mobile team- have consistently performed well in national and regional tournaments. They also won the PUBG Mobile National Championship Pakistan in 2021 and placed highly in Pro League seasons, which is a very big achievement.
Similarly, Team QWERTY has also been grinding hard. They’ve earned respect across South Asia, played in global qualifiers, and made a name for themself in the gaming community.
Other than that, we also have players like Sumail Hassan (SumaiL) - This guy is like the Shroud of Dota 2. Although he is based abroad. But still, he has brought global attention by earning millions in prize money playing Dota 2, including winning The International, which is the biggest tournament in that game’s ecosystem.
The following is a chart that clearly represents the amount of money different Pakistani gamers have racked up throughout the years by competing in different games as listed below:
My point is that a person can’t really be blamed for not becoming the best due to the problems they face. All these stats and stories are not made up, this is literal proof of “If there is a will, there is a way.”
Learning from Their Grind: Struggles & Takeaways
So far, we have seen how different Pakistani gamers went from absolute 0 to hero. But here is the thing: It’s one thing to celebrate the wins, but what really stands out is how these players got there.
Take Arslan Ash, for example. This guy didn’t just show up at EVO with a dream. He trained for a decade while having no support from his family and flew halfway around the world on his own. Other than that, we also have Team Bablu and Team QWERTY, who faced similar struggles. They didn’t even have money to travel, and because of that, they had to play hundreds of late-night scrims on potato connection, so they could travel and compete at tournaments.
So, the real question to be asked at this point is:
What can we learn from these people? The following:
- Resourcefulness beats resources
- Persistence makes the difference
- Surround yourself with like-minded individuals
- Keep pushing yourself beyond your limits
So, whether you are trying to become the next Tekken pro or just trying to become the best in your particular niche and you feel like the odds are stacked against you. You can take the lessons from the lives of such people and apply them to yourself
The truth is, all the points stated above aren’t just lessons; they are a mindset, and this mindset? It’s something any of us can borrow to tackle our own challenges.
The Road Ahead: How Pakistan Can Win in eSports
We are all well aware of the fact that Pakistan is overflowing with raw talent. Whether you are talking about Tekken, Dota, or any other competitive game on the planet, our gamers have proved that they have what it takes to be the best.
On top of that, we have seen that the majority of the pros share one thing in common: a bulletproof mindset that we can and must borrow.
But let’s be real:
- Nor any kind of mindset
- Neither any amount of talent
Will be able to solve the power cuts, spotty internet, zero sponsorship, and a culture that too often doesn’t even give us the chance to hit “Play.”
The eSports world in Pakistan is in dire need of brand investors, institutions to build training grounds, and families to see gaming as a legitimate career path instead of viewing it as a “waste of time.”
And here’s the simple truth: While there are tons of talents in this country, Pakistan’s future in eSports isn’t going to get brighter unless we tackle the problems that we have in front of us. Regardless of all this, always remember that:
“No matter how stacked the odds, anyone with the will can carve their own path.”
If you made it this far, then congratulations, though I have some questions for your friend:
- Do you believe eSports in Pakistan can truly go mainstream?
- According to you, what challenges should be solved first?
- And most importantly, what would you do differently if you had the power to change everything?
You can comment down below and let me know about what’s cooking in your brain, and lastly, if you found any value in this piece, then do drop a comment and let me know about it.
Until next time….
Stay safe, stay secure.
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