‘Mortal’ Naman Mathur strives to maintain gaming alive in India after PUBG Mobile ban

For Naman Mathur — India’s most recognisable gamer who has heard his moniker ‘Mortal’ ring out on the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall in New Delhi in addition to arenas in Kuala Lumpur and Berlin — 2020 was a rollercoaster. The one-two punch of Covid-19 and the PUBG Mobile ban threatened to halt the momentum Indian esports has generated on the again of breakout stars.
Mathur spent the remainder of the 12 months shepherding his Team 8Bit’s transition to content material creation, entertaining his six million YouTube subscribers by streaming a wide range of video games — from breakout hits ‘Fall Guys’ and ‘Among Us’, to different battle royale titles corresponding to ‘Free Fire’ and ‘Call of Duty’. The numbers dwindled, an indication of the collective heartbreak of an viewers bred on PUBG Mobile, however Mathur and his workforce persevered.
The 24-year-old completed the 12 months as third within the ‘Mobile Player of the Year 2020’ class on the E-sports Awards 2020 and amongst YouTube’s most profitable reside streamers of the 12 months. Mathur catches up with The Indian Express to speak in regards to the challenges of 2020 and the pivot to content material creation. Excerpts:
Last 12 months was stuffed with ups and downs for you. What have been the learnings from 2020?
We are completely satisfied about our consistency. Even although there was pandemic and the PUBG Mobile ban, we didn’t wish to cease. We had our causes to be unhappy and sit and cease every thing, however we didn’t wish to do this. Our lives rely on this as gaming, YouTube is our profession. We have to seek out methods to outlive in entrance of the viewers and never simply crib or struggle one thing which isn’t attainable.
As of now, you’re a full-time streamer. Earlier, it was simply PUBG however now you’ve got ventured into totally different video games. Your viewership has additionally responded by exhibiting that they’re able to migrate to different video games. In that sense, has the Indian gaming viewers matured within the final 12 months?
The viewership clearly went down however a brand new set of viewers has come up. Many of the older ones are nonetheless there and so they take a look at me now as a full-time streamer who is able to discover.
Last time we spoke, you had simply competed on the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Your face was on posters all over the place. Do you continue to look again at that and really feel the itch for competitors or have you ever moved on?

We have been much more energetic when there was a aggressive situation. You are practising all through the day, taking part in and competing. Lots of feelings and dangerous moments too, however with time it has pale away. The determination to stop competitors and discover different video games means it has additionally been very stress-free. With competitors, there was in fact a variety of stress (laughs). But when it comes again, I’m not going to fully return to being a aggressive participant however will likely be specializing in my workforce extra. I haven’t left competitors as such however I will likely be extra as a fifth or sixth participant, a mentor for my workforce.
When you say that is stress-free, I’m positive it doesn’t imply it’s so simple as switching on the stream and taking part in. There will need to have been some new challenges?
Competition was a variety of onerous work. And that paid off. Right now, in content material creation, working onerous means a distinct factor. There is extra ideation like how do I create content material. But there isn’t any competitors as a result of everyone is doing their very own factor.
But there have to be some challenges? One viewer who retains asking about PUBG?

Yeah, there are. But I don’t contemplate this a problem as a result of there’s nothing we will do for that particular person. (Viewership) numbers is the one problem. Back then, there have been numbers. Now, comparatively, there are not any numbers. Many have tailored, and even when I get a watching of 10,000, it’s an enormous factor for me.
After the PUBG ban, all of the sudden there have been a variety of children who have been with out the sport which may’ve been a profession path.
This is as a result of we have been all loads into PUBG Mobile. Back when pandemic ka koi naamonishaan bhi nahi tha (there wasn’t even a hint of the pandemic), (Team 8Bit co-founder) Animesh (Agarwal) used to inform us ‘you guys should get into other games. Play more PC games. Apni audience ko thoda spread karo (spread your audience a little). Make them used to other games.’ Back then, due to competitors and different issues happening, we couldn’t. We realised the significance of not placing all our eggs in a single basket in a while.
I’ve carried out the grind in Call of Duty: Mobile. I’ve carried out the grind in FreeFire. I used to play Clash Royale. These are video games folks can take a look at as choices. If they wish to play tournaments and in the event that they actually wish to win, there are alternatives for them. But that uncooked bonding, that emotional join with PUBG, vo nahi hoga (that received’t be there).
The information of the ban will need to have been a kick within the intestine.

Absolutely. We have been taking part in the day it was introduced, we have been in a match because it unfold like wildfire in WhatsApp teams. Immediately, I texted Goldy (proprietor) to debate the plan ahead as a result of there was not a second to loosen up. This is our day by day bread and butter and we didn’t have any choice apart from shifting on and exploring different issues. It was an enormous gamble and we have been very involved. There was a downfall afterwards however we sustained ultimately.
The Asian Games has made esports a medal occasion. Olympics has been curious about it for a very long time. Do you are feeling esports wanted this validation from typical sports activities or is it its personal beast?
It positively wanted this. With cellular video games additionally being recognised, every particular person now has a shot. Everyone can now grind for a medal with the appropriate steerage. This recognition was completely vital as a result of it exhibits there’s extra to esports than one sport. After the PUBG ban, most mother and father will need to have thought ‘It’s unimaginable now. What will you do?’ I noticed this downfall on my channel too as a result of many individuals simply stop watching and went on with their careers. Our workforce made it a precedence to indicate folks all of the video games which might be there at these occasions so they may get acquainted and get into them.