Red Bull M.E.O. Season 5 India Finale: Payal Dhare Talks About Merch, Dealing With Trolls and Her Favourite Game

Red Bull M.E.O Season 5 India Finale ended with a bang. We saw some impressive matches across all three titles, Clash of Clans, Pokemon UNITE and WCC 3. The finalists are now looking towards their opportunity to witness the Austrian Grand Prix 2023.

Apart from the esports competition, there were a lot of other activities including meeting and greeting famous gaming personalities. One of them being, none other than the inspiration for female players and streamers in India, Payal Dhare aka Payal Gaming.

Payal was greeted with roars from her fans, everybody’s attention just shifted to her as soon as she entered the venue. We sat down for a one-on-one conversation with her at the event. Here’s how the conversation with Payal Gaming went at Red Bull M.E.O Season 5 India Finale:

Q. Payal, you are an inspiration to all the up-and-coming female gamers in India. We have seen steady growth in that section, but it still isn’t at the level we see globally. What do you think can be done to bring more female gamers into the pro field?

Payal: So, I think there were fewer female gamers in India before. But after COVID, I have seen that a lot of female streamers have appeared, and their parents are supporting their choice. They are supporting the daughters that wish to Stream or open their YouTube channel. So, I think, in these past 2-3 years there has been a lot of difference and gaming has seen a lot of growth.

There are a lot of female gamers in the country now, but it’s like they are not recognized, or many people do not know about them. Even though I have been playing games for a very long time, no one knew about me. It was only when I started my YouTube channel and made it public on my social media platforms that people started recognizing Payal Gaming.

Just like that, there a lot of female players in India that already play games. There is no gender-specific change that developers should bring about as every player has their preference. Some girls like shooting games and some like girly games, it depends on their choice. So, I don’t think that they need to change anything.

Transcript: So, I think India main pehle female gamers kam the. But after COVID, meine dekha hai ki bohot saare female streamers aa chuke hai and already parents bhi bohot support kar rahe hai. Unke jo daughters hai, unke family me jo bhi karna chahta hai, Stream ya YouTube, they are also supporting. So, I think in do-teen saalo mean bohot difference aaya hai and gaming actually bad raha hai.

I think there are a lot of female gamers in our country, but it’s like they are not recognised or people don’t know about them. Mein bhi bohot saalo se game khel rahi hoon, but mere baare main koi jaanta nahin tha. Jab meine apna YouTube channel start kiya, jab mein publicly social media pe aayi, tab logon ko pata chala ki ‘haan yaar, Payal Gaming ek female streamer hai.

But aise India main bohot saari ladkiyan hai jo games already khelti hai. And there is no gender specific change jo developers ko karne ki zarurat hai, because sabka apna apna preference hota hai. Some girls like shooting games, some girls like barbie type girly games, it depends on their choice. So, I don’t think they need to change anything.

Q. Nowadays many gamers release their own line of products and merchandise, is there some kind of similar project that you might be working on? Something like Payal Gaming Merch?

Payal: So, I am from a clan called S8UL, we have our own merch, and that is also the place where merch for all creatives is present. So, I guess in a span of a month or two, a particular merch for me should release. Players can only get it through S8UL though.

Transcript: So, mein jis clan mein hoon, S8UL, we have our own merch, and uss mein saare creatives ke merch bhi hai. So I guess ek ya do month mein, mera bhi ek particular merch aane wala hai. Jo mere clan ke through hi milega.

Q. In one of your previous interviews you spoke about how trolling and other forms of hate got you down for a bit in the beginning of your career. How did you manage to get back up and work towards the name you have created in the industry?

Payal: So, when I started gaming, I was not familiar with all these things. I had no idea that something like this could exist. And it was not too much. This is the case for every field to be honest, whether it be studies, school, or college. There is trolling, pulling of legs everywhere you go. If someone is doing well, then people will purposely poke them. These things happen and it’s very normal.

When I was new to the field, I couldn’t understand how to handle it. How to answer them or how to take these trolls in a fun way. I used to take it to heart. But as time passed by, I gained a certain level of maturity, which made me understand that if 1000 people are supporting me, then I don’t need to focus on those 100 trolls. No matter how far you go in life, you will always be a troller. If you are doing good, and have confidence in yourself, then you don’t need to pay attention to what others have to say.

Transcript: So when I started gaming, i was not familiar with all these things. Mujhe idea bhi nahin tha ki aisa bhi kuch ho sakta hai. And it was not like too much. Yeh har field main hota hai to be honest. Agar aap dekho, har field main yeh cheez hoti hai, chahe woh studies se ho, chahe aap school main ho, chahe aap college main ho. Har cheez main trolling, taang kheechna, agar koi acha kar raha hai, toh usko jaan buchke poke karna. Yeh cheeze hoti hai, and its very normal.

Jab main new thi, tab mujhe samaj main nahin aaya how to handle it, kaise usse answer karu, kaise uss troll ko fun way mein loon. Mein usko dil pe le liya karti thi. But time time ke saath, ek maturity level aajata hai and you understand ki, if 1000 people are supporting you then woh 100 log pe focus kyun karna hai right. Life main aap kitna bhi aage badte raho, troll toh hote rahoge. If your doing good and agar aapko apne upar confidence hai, toh aap ko dusro ki sunne ki zarurat hi nahin hai.

Q. How has Red Bull helped boost gaming, esports and the gaming industry in India according to you?

Payal: So, when I started gaming, there was a time when I used to play for hours, like 10 to 12 hours. I was very new, and I wanted to explore more things to grow my channel and everything else. At that time, the first package I received was from Red Bull. They are supporting gamers, they are organizing such events as M.E.O and so many other competitive events for everything and every field, not a particular game.

In the case of actual sports, Red Bull plays a big hand in that, and we all know about that. Red Bull has always been supporting athletes, whether it be sports athletes or esports athletes. So ya, it is great for the country, it’s great for India and lots of love for Red Bull.

Transcript: So when I started gaming, there was a time when I used to play for hours, like 10 to 12 hours. I was very new and I wanted to explore more things to grow my channel and everything else. Tabhi mujhe first jo ek package mila tha was from Red Bull. They are supporting gamers, they are organising such events like MEO and itne saare competitive events for everything and every field, not a particular game.

Jo actual sports hai usme bhi Red Bull ka bohot bada part hai, we all know that. Red Bull hamesha se hi athletes ko support kar raha hai, chahe woh sports athlete ho ya esports athlete ho, so ya it’s great for our country, hamare India ke liye bohot acha hai, lots of love for Red Bull.

Q. What was your favorite game that was released in 2022? Which game are you looking forward to the most in 2023?

Payal: My favorite game was actually BGMI, but you all know what happened to it. But it’s fine, I am exploring more games, currently my favorite game is Valorant, I love playing Valorant. I’m ranking up in the game, I am Platinum now and soon Radiant. So ya, I’m exploring more, every month I have a new favorite game, depending on the graphics of the game.

Transcript: My favorite game was actually BGMI, but you all know kya hua. But it’s fine I’m exploring more games, currently my favourite game is Valorant, I love playing Valorant. I’m ranking up, I am Platinum now, soon Radiant. So ya exploring more, har month mera naya favourite game aata hai, depends on the graphics of the game.