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Tag: Indian Esports

  • From ‘go play outside’ to gaming glory: India levels up

    From ‘go play outside’ to gaming glory: India levels up

    MUMBAI: Once dismissed as a frivolous pastime that couldn’t put food on the table, gaming in India has hit the ultimate power-up.

    What was once the bane of parental lectures has become a billion-dollar behemoth.

    The gaming and esports industry is set to score big in 2025, with global tournaments and homegrown innovations fueling a feverish growth spurt.

    As per the India Market Model Report by Niko Partners, the country’s gaming market will hit the $1 billion jackpot in 2025, leveling up to $1.4 billion by 2028, riding on an 11.1 per cent five-year CAGR.

    Gaming fever is here, and it’s contagious!

    The spotlight will shine on the Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia, marking a milestone in global recognition for esports. Following India’s stellar performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Indian gamers will aim to contribute to the country’s medal tally in this rapidly growing competitive arena.

    The Esports World Cup, featuring chess as a title with a prize pool of $1.5 million, will provide another platform for Indian excellence. Chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju’s historic world championship win adds anticipation for India’s participation in this event, scheduled from 31 July to 3 August 2025 in Saudi Arabia.

    Domestically, the Waves Esports Championships (WESC), supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, will kick off the year with finals for titles like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), World Cricket Championship (WCC), and eFootball at the inaugural Waves Summit in February 2025. Government-backed initiatives like these will further shape India’s esports landscape.

    The convergence of cricket and esports continues to expand, with partnerships such as Mumbai Indians collaborating with BGMI, Gujarat Titans organising esports tournaments, and Kolkata Knight Riders teaming up with S8UL Esports. This growing synergy will solidify esports’ appeal in India’s sports ecosystem.

    NODWIN Gaming co-founder & MD, Akshat Rathee predicts deeper ties between esports and entertainment in 2025, “Cricket will integrate more with esports through collaborations with IPL teams and cricket esports titles. Bollywood stars and musicians will also engage actively, merging gaming with music, anime, and youth-centric entertainment. This trend was evident in NODWIN Gaming’s hosting of DreamHack India alongside Hyderabad Comic Con, and it will only grow stronger.”

    The rise of gamification across sectors will also redefine how users interact with platforms. Social media giants like Facebook and Netflix have integrated gaming features, with others like Amazon and LinkedIn following suit. This trend will intensify in 2025, reshaping user engagement.

    The surge in brand collaborations highlights gaming’s mainstream appeal. 8Bit Creatives secured a landmark sponsorship with iQOO, reflecting non-endemic brands’ interest in the gaming sector.

    8Bit Creatives founder & CEO, Animesh Agarwal emphasises the expanding scope of esports, “Esports will grow into new titles, attracting diverse players and audiences. South Asia and MENA regions will play vital roles in global esports, with content creators shaping fan engagement and brands leveraging gaming as a primary connection channel.”

    Prime minister Narendra Modi’s call for India to lead in video game development has accelerated the launch of Made-in-India games. Companies like 88 Games plan to launch major titles in 2025, representing India’s capabilities on the global stage.

    88 Games founder & CEO, Milind D. Shinde highlights technological advancements, “Generative AI and extended reality (XR) will redefine game development in 2025. For us, it will be pivotal as we launch our first PC and console game, contributing to gaming’s cultural and economic significance.”

    PC gaming also continues to gain traction, with a 150 per cent increase in new Indian users on Steam since 2019. High-profile investments in gaming setups and content creation systems, led by companies like CyberPowerPC India, underline the industry’s bright future.

    With major events, government support, and innovation shaping the landscape, 2025 promises to be a transformative year for India’s gaming and esports industry.

  • Gladiators Esports acquires Gods Reign, unites India’s top BGMI players

    Gladiators Esports acquires Gods Reign, unites India’s top BGMI players

    Mumbai: In one of the largest moves in Indian esports, Gladiators Esports has acquired Bengaluru-based Gods Reign, combining two of the nation’s esports powerhouses. With this acquisition, Gladiators Esports integrates Gods Reign, retaining the well-known Gods Reign brand for the esports team while all other content and marketing operations consolidate under Gladiators Esports. This alliance aims to streamline operations, strengthen brand identity, and harness the combined strengths of both teams.

    Gladiators Esports remarked, “We are thrilled to welcome Gods Reign into the Gladiators Esports family. This acquisition reflects our commitment to elevating Indian esports and driving its growth. By integrating the renowned Gods Reign brand and its talented roster, we are not only broadening our reach and influence but also creating a nurturing space for our players and creators to excel. This marks an exciting new chapter, and we eagerly look forward to shaping a bright future for Indian esports.”

    As part of this move, Gods Reign secures one of India’s most successful BGMI lineups, including top players who consistently perform on major stages with an impressive list of accolades.

    Gods Reign, CEO, Rohith KR added, “This acquisition by Gladiators Esports represents a pivotal step for both Gods Reign and the Indian esports ecosystem. By combining our expertise, experience, and shared vision for advancing Indian esports, we are poised to deliver unmatched experiences and achievements. Our new BGMI roster, featuring both seasoned talent and fresh perspectives, embodies the high level of competition we’re committed to bringing. Through this strategic move, we aim to amplify opportunities for our athletes, engage our community in exciting new ways, and elevate Indian esports on the global stage.”

    The new roster, led by In-Game Leader (IGL) Ammar Khan (Destro), includes players Justin Nadar (Justin) and Parth Garg (DeltaPG), who won the BGMI Series (BGIS) 2023 and BGMI Masters Series (BGMS) 2023 and took runner-up in BGMI Pro Series (BMPS) 2023. The team is further bolstered by Shubham Ranjan Sahoo (NinjaJOD), the BGIS 2024 champion, and coach Robin Singh (Robin), who recently led the team to a win in the Titans Rising tournament.

    This elite roster earned approximately Rs 2.5 crore ($276,703) from esports tournaments in FY23, reflecting a track record they aim to surpass in future competitions.

    IGL Ammar Khan, also known as Destro, expressed, “Having previously played with these talented players and achieved success together, returning to Gods Reign feels like a true homecoming and it’s an honour to reunite under this banner. This acquisition unites some of India’s top esports talent, all of whom are dedicated to constant improvement and focused on victory. With our combined strengths and support, we hope to set new benchmarks in BGMI and demonstrate our potential on both national and international stages.”

    With rosters in games like Counter-Strike 2, Pokémon UNITE, and BGMI, along with gaming creators such as Thor Gaming, Harshdeep Singh, Red Parasite, Miss Senorita, and AJ Jeffy, Gods Reign attracts over 6 million YouTube subscribers and over 1 million Instagram followers. Together, Gladiators Esports and Gods Reign are set to make waves in India’s fast-growing esports and content ecosystems.

  • Orangutan Gaming unveils ‘The Forest’

    Orangutan Gaming unveils ‘The Forest’

    Mumbai: Orangutan Gaming has introduced its very own training facility known as ‘The Forest.’ This training facility adores international standards of architecture and sheds light on the bright future of esports in India.

    ‘The Forest’ is South Asia’s finest esports training facility and is now open to the world. Right from the front door to the terrace, the facility explains how Orangutan has envisioned esports and the lives of the athletes and content creators making a career in this rapidly growing industry.

    Speaking about the new facility centre, Orangutan founder Yash Bhanushali said, “The future of esports has unlimited potential, and to achieve it to the fullest, you need a state-of-the-art training facility. The Forest is now getting decked up with more rosters and content creators to show that while we are here to take part, we work with the mission to take over. This is just the beginning for Orangutan and there is a lot more to come.”

    ‘The Forest’ is a 15,000 sq. ft., four-story training facility for Orang-utans’ competitive teams and content creators. It houses esports rooms for all the games, namely BGMI, FreeFire, and Valorant. The facility is content-friendly and also houses its content creators, who create some exclusive content for their supporters.

    Adding to it, Orangutan co-founder Jai Shah said, “To create what I possibly believe is South Asia’s finest esports training facility, there are a lot of intricacies involved. We have spent countless hours building every corner of this house, and it feels surreal to see this turn into a reality. The importance of a good training facility has been reflected in the motivation our athletes have shown, and now that we’ve set the bar, we only plan on setting the next bar higher.”

    The reveal video has been posted on the YouTube channel Orangutan TV and has garnered over 500K views in a week and has received appreciation and recognition for the work that they have done in their esports training facility. Along with the efforts that they have made to make esports in India compete closely with organisations internationally.

  • Puma becomes official kit partner of Revenant Esports in India

    Puma becomes official kit partner of Revenant Esports in India

    Mumbai: Homegrown esports organisation, Revenant Esports, has announced sports brand Puma as their official kit partner for the upcoming season. This association came as one of the major non-endemic brand collaborations in the Indian esports industry. Under the terms of the partnership, Revenant’s creators and esports roster will don the exclusive kits produced by Puma.

    With both brands sharing similar ideologies in terms of propelling esports to greater heights, they will leverage this association to make their presence felt among the community in India, said the company in a statement.

    “Puma is one of the most successful sports brands in the world and it makes us extremely proud to be the first esports team in India to be associated with them. This partnership is a step in the right direction for Revenant Esports and a testament to our aim of enriching the experience of the community and our fans. Esports merchandise has become an integral part of the industry in the last few years, and seeing our athletes, creators, and fans wear the apparel produced by one of the world’s best is a privilege. Together, we hope to achieve immense success in the coming years and capitalise on the growing esports culture in the country,” said Revenant Esports founder and CEO Rohit Jagasia. 

    Puma has emerged as one of the top sports brands in India after generating record revenues last year and is also familiar with the esports industry, having partnered with numerous international organisations. By joining forces with Revenant Esports and their massive fanbase, they will look to maximise their potential in the Indian esports market.

    Commenting on the occasion, Puma India executive director-retail Vishal Gupta said, “We are extremely excited to be associated with Revenant Esports as their official kit partner and become the first leading sportswear brand in the country to enter the deeply engaging space of esports. India is one of the biggest markets for the video gaming community and competitive esports is immensely influencing our youth across tiers.”

    “That esports gets incorporated as a medal sport into the Asian Games next year is evidence of its huge popularity & potential today. As a brand, Puma strongly supports influences on youth culture such as sports, fitness, art, cinema, music, and now new age sports, i.e., esports. With this association, Puma & Revenant will leverage each other’s huge audience base and wide reach to connect with esports athletes in the country and penetrate deeper into the market,” he further added.

    According to the recent Ficci-EY report, 100 brands have invested in Indian esports this year, compared to 72 in 2021. Similar to traditional sports, esports merchandise is an essential part of any organisation’s growth in the industry by raising brand awareness and cultivating fan loyalty among their ardent following.