At a time when gaming in India is still battling stereotypes, professional gamer Adithya from Bangalore is urging budding players to stay focused, trust their passion, and recognise gaming as a legitimate creative career.

Speaking on the sidelines of Kappa CULTR, South India’s hottest music festival, Adithya shared how his journey from a Nintendo-playing child to a professional esports athlete. In a country where many young players struggle for parental approval, Adithya’s story began differently.

“They bought me a Nintendo console from America and that’s how it started.”

His earliest gaming memories include Super Smash Bros. Brawl and LEGO Star Wars, titles that shaped his love for competitive play and storytelling.

Though his parents were initially cautious about esports as a profession,  understandable in a market where competitive gaming is still growing, his consistent results and structured vision convinced them otherwise.

“I gave them proof. We are doing incredibly well and we’re incredibly happy doing this. We’re taking a very unique approach that nobody else has done in India before.”

Today, they eagerly wait to watch him perform live at events back in Bengaluru.

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Adithya (R) and his friend Shantanu having a blast

Budding gamers: Play to your strengths

Adithya’s advice to aspiring players is both practical and empowering: focus on your strengths and understand that gaming is a creative ecosystem.

“If you’re creative, you can do video game design. If you like talking, you can work in organisational management. Video games are a medium of art. If you like them, you can do whatever you want with them.”

He also pointed to the Indian government’s recent recognition of esports as separate from gambling, a crucial step that legitimises competitive gaming and opens doors to sponsorships, international tournaments, and structured careers.

From tournament sponsorships in Asia to competitions in America and Japan, the pathway is clearer than ever for skilled and disciplined players.

Why fighting games create a unique experience

At the gaming arena curated by Versus Experience during Kappa CULTR, Adithya was particularly excited about spotlighting fighting games such as Under Night In-Birth.

“It’s like having a conversation with your opponent. There are no teammates. It’s just you and the other person.”

Unlike team-based titles such as PUBG: Battlegrounds or Valorant, fighting games are intensely personal and strategic.

“No two people who pick the same character will play the same. You understand your opponent, bait them, counter them. It’s very dynamic.”

For Adithya, the appeal is nostalgic too. He remembers his uncles playing Mortal Kombat at home, often button-mashing without knowing the mechanics, yet having unforgettable fun.

“They didn’t know how to play properly. But they were having fun. That’s what we want to recreate.”

Gaming has no age limit

One of the biggest misconceptions, he says, is that gaming is only for youngsters.

“Parents can come down here with their kids. We see babies pressing buttons with their parents. It’s very cute. They have a great time.”

At Kappa CULTR, the gaming experience wasn’t restricted to hardcore players. Casual festival-goers could walk up to an arcade machine, press buttons, and instantly become part of the culture.

“It’s free-form. It’s fun. Anyone can do it,” he adds.

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While Kappa CULTR remains a high-energy music festival celebrating EDM and live performances, the collaboration with Versus Experience created a rare cultural crossover.

Adithya, an EDM enthusiast himself, believes the overlap between music lovers and arcade communities is stronger than it appears.

“Maybe they seem like two different things, music and video games but the kind of people attracted to them often coincide.”

With arcade machines sourced from Japan and international guests flying in, the initiative signals a bold new direction for India’s experiential festivals, blending stage energy with interactive gaming.

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Versus experience team at Kappa CULTR

Among the major highlights was the “King of the Hill” format, where any audience member could step up and challenge the reigning champion on stage.

“We’re not putting professionals there. Anybody from the audience can come up and try to become the king.”

The format encouraged spontaneity, inclusivity, and raw excitement, values both Kappa CULTR and Versus Experience aim to amplify.

For Adithya, being part of this crossover moment was deeply exciting.

“This is happening at such a large level in India for the first time. We have an opportunity to do something unique.”

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