Effective government policies and support can play a crucial role in the growth and maturity of the esports industry, South Korean gaming company Krafton's India chief executive, Sean Hyunil Sohn, said on Tuesday. “There is a lot of demand for Esports events. Esports athletes have also started gaining popularity, etc., but I think we have yet to see the industry's maturity,” Sean said at an event in New Delhi.The Krafton's India CEO was speaking at an Esports Conclave organised by the Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI) and supported by Krafton and Invest India.“If you look at any industry in emerging countries that has grown at a fast pace, there were government incentives, guidelines, and support, which can serve as a strong signal for many stakeholders in the industry,” Sean said. In February, esports was included in the Indian sports ministry’s list of sports eligible for cash incentives for medal winners at world and continental championships. “I think that's a good start, but we need a strong policy that goes beyond just rewarding a few athletes and supports larger stakeholders or industry players. This could include tax incentives or specific guidelines for esports events,” Sean added. Esports is gaining in popularity both globally and in India. The first-ever Olympic Esports Games, initially planned for 2025 in Saudi Arabia, have been rescheduled to 2027 and will be hosted in Riyadh.Krafton has invested in more than six Indian gaming and tech startups over the last few years. The company recently acquired a 75% stake in Nautilus Mobile, the Pune-based studio behind the Real Cricket franchise, for Rs 118 crore. The publisher of India’s most popular video game BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) previously held a minority stake in Nautilus.The professional esports or e-gaming industry in India was worth nearly $40 million in FY23 and is expected to scale up to $100 million by FY28, as per a study by venture capital firm Lumikai.According to Sean, the esports industry in India faces a lack of commercial interest from brands.“I think, in general, sports have a lot of advertisement and sponsorship opportunities that sustain the professional sports ecosystem. But in esports, I think we have yet to see that develop to a level where it can sustain the industry through commercial interests from outside,” he said.