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Tag: Nodwin Gaming

  • BGMS 4 drops with Rs 1.5 crore loot, fresh faces and fierce inclusivity

    BGMS 4 drops with Rs 1.5 crore loot, fresh faces and fierce inclusivity

    MUMBAI: Drop in, loot up, and get ready for the chaos. BGMS is back, and it’s bigger than ever. Nodwin Gaming has unleashed Season 4 of the Oneplus Android Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series, airing live on Star Sports Khel and JioHotstar daily from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM until 14 September, with a staggering Rs 1.5 crore prize pool on the line.

    But it’s not just about the loot this time. The tournament has levelled up with the launch of the Battlegrounds Mobile India Challenger Series (BGCS), the official amateur feeder league into the BGMS. Featuring 24 squads including 2 campus champs from the Oneplus Campus Dominate qualifiers, 1 team from TVS Raider Wicked Battles, 17 invited rosters, and a historic 4 all-women line-ups the Challenger Series is bringing fresh blood and fearless energy to Indian esports. Matches stream live on Nodwin’s Youtube channel from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm every day.

    “BGMS has become more than a tournament; it’s a cultural movement,” said Nodwin Gaming co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee. “Season 4 champions inclusivity at every level, from campus qualifiers to all-women teams on national television.”

    Title sponsor Oneplus is back for another round, powering gameplay with its flagship Oneplus 13 and Nord series. Android continues as co-title sponsor, while TVS Motor Company rides in as official mobility partner for a third year running with its TVS Raider Wicked Battles initiative.

    New faces join the fray too Duolingo English Test debuts as official learning partner, rolling out even a Gujarati-language feed, while Swiggy steps in as official food delivery partner, keeping players and crews fed through marathon matchdays. Red Bull fuels players for a second year, while Bisleri makes its debut as Hydration Partner.

    The BGCS runs till 7 September, setting the stage for BGMS Season 4’s finale stretch. With esports on primetime TV and national brands stacking up behind the action, BGMS isn’t just gaming anymore, it’s India’s newest sporting spectacle.

  • Evo changes hands as Sony exits and Nodwin takes control

    Evo changes hands as Sony exits and Nodwin takes control

    MUMBAI: The Evolution Championship Series (Evo), the world’s largest and longest-running fighting game festival, has entered new ownership and struck fresh partnerships that will steer its future through 2028 and beyond.

    Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has sold its stake in Evo to Nodwin Gaming, backed by Sony Group Corporation, while signing on as a global sponsor until 2028. SIE will continue to support the fighting game community via PlayStation Tournaments and new products in development.

    “When SIE acquired Evo alongside RTS in 2021, our goal was to spotlight fighting game fans on a global stage,” said SIE svp and head of global partner development & relations Phil Rosenberg. “As we transition to sponsor, Evo’s momentum has never been stronger, with expansion into new regions.”

    Nodwin Gaming co-founder & managing director Akshat Rathee said: “Evo was built on authenticity and passion. We will honour that legacy while opening the door for a new generation.”

    Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya, already a global partner, is investing in RTS, Evo’s co-owner and operator, and extending its deal through 2027. RTS chief executive Stuart Saw said the tie-up would “drive real transformation in the fighting game community through new opportunities, deeper connections and meaningful growth.”

    Evo’s global pull is surging. Its Las Vegas flagship drew players from more than 60 countries across 16 titles on a 14-acre floor, backed by brands including Chipotle, AT&T, PlayStation, Red Bull and Under Armour. Evo Japan at Tokyo Big Sight drew around 30,000, making it the largest in-person fighting game tournament in the country’s history.

    The festival will debut in Europe at the Palais des Expos in Nice, France, from October 10-12, with record registrations, and expand to Singapore in 2027.

    “Evo is accelerating from hosting renowned events to serving as a nexus point for fighting game culture worldwide,” said Evo general manager Rick Thiher.

  • From Panels to Portfolios Comic Con and IICT Team Up for Creator Power

    From Panels to Portfolios Comic Con and IICT Team Up for Creator Power

    MUMBAI: When cosplay meets classroom and panels turn into portfolios, you know India’s creative industry is getting its origin story right. In a move straight out of a well-scripted crossover, Comic Con India and the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT) have inked an MoU to jointly supercharge India’s animation, gaming, comics, and extended reality (AVGC-XR) ecosystem.

    The partnership, announced during the launch of the IICT-NFDC campus in Mumbai and the unveiling of the WAVES Outcome Report, was signed by Ashish Kulkarni, Board Member, IICT, and Shefali Johnson, CEO, Comic Con India. The high-powered event also saw the presence of government heavyweights like Devendra Fadnavis, deputy chief minister of Maharashtra, Ashwini Vaishnaw, union minister for I&B, Railways and IT, and Sanjay Jaju, secretary, ministry of information & broadcasting, a clear signal that India’s creative economy is getting serious state backing.

    Comic Con India, now part of Nodwin Gaming, has long been the country’s pop culture mothership, attracting fans, creators, and cosplayers in droves. On the other side, IICT, a newly announced National Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR aims to be the IIT of the creative world, with a mission to train top talent, foster original IP, and bridge academia with the industry.

    The MoU packs in more than just fanfare. IICT students will get a dedicated showcase zone at Comic Con India events, along with masterclasses from top creators in gaming, comics, animation, and XR. The partnership also includes hackathons, design jams, behind-the-scenes internships, and initiatives to promote youth-led fan art and indie content creation.

    The collaboration comes at a time when India’s AVGC-XR sector is levelling up. As per the FX & Beyond: Shaping India’s AVGC Landscape report, the sector accounted for 20 per cent of the broader M&E industry in 2023, with revenues of 3.9 billion dollars. That figure is projected to rise to 6.8 billion dollars by 2026. Perhaps more crucially, AVGC-XR is expected to generate 160,000 new jobs annually with a roadmap to reach over 2 million direct jobs by 2030.

    “We are proud to collaborate with IICT as part of the broader AVGC-XR vision for India,” said Shefali Johnson. “Through Comic Con, students can gain mentorship, connect with pop culture communities, and better understand the commercial dynamics of their craft.”

    Ashish Kulkarni added, “This partnership aligns perfectly with the government’s vision of making India a global creative content hub. We aim to carve pathways for Indigenous IP using a transmedia ecosystem and build a vibrant pipeline of cultural ambassadors from India.”

    For fans, creators, and students alike, this crossover has franchise potential. With India looking to go from content consumer to content powerhouse, the IICT-Comic Con alliance might just be the origin story the AVGC-XR sector needs.

    Get your pens and pixels ready.

  • One last split to rule them all as Valorant Split 3 kicks off today

    One last split to rule them all as Valorant Split 3 kicks off today

    MUMBAI: The battle lines are drawn, and the bullets are digital but the stakes? Very real. South Asia’s most prestigious Valorant showdown OMEN VCSA 2025 Split 3 blasts off today, 27 June, in what promises to be the most high-pressure sprint of the season. With Rs 53 lakh up for grabs and only four golden tickets available to the VCT Ascension Pacific Qualifiers, the eight teams in the fray aren’t just aiming to win, they’re fighting to represent the region on the global stage.

    Running online until 3 July, the final split in this year’s three-part saga will determine which top four teams move to the Ascension Qualifiers (online: 7–8 July, LAN in Gurugram: 12–13 July), where just one squad will earn the honour of donning South Asia’s colours at the VCT Ascension Pacific 2025.

    Who’s in the arena?

    Revenant X Spark (155 points), Velocity Gaming (130), and Reckoning Esports (120) currently top the Challenger Points leaderboard. They return alongside S8ul, Dot Exe Esports, and GE Academy from earlier splits. New challengers XO Ind and Asterisk enter through the Promotion and Relegation bracket, and every match now could shift the leaderboard entirely.

    Velocity Gaming stole Split 1 in a stunning undefeated run. Revenant X Spark bounced back with a LAN-finale victory in Split 2, defeating Reckoning Esports, whose player Kirill ‘moner’ Matsanov bagged the MVP title with a jaw-dropping 258 kills and a flurry of clutch plays.

    This final split isn’t just about glory, it’s about survival. With a cumulative prize pool of Rs 1.13 crore, VCSA 2025 introduced a points-based system to reward consistency across all three splits. Now, with Challenger Points accumulated so far, Split 3 becomes the final checkpoint before Ascension.

    The winner of the upcoming Ascension Qualifiers won’t just hoist a trophy, they’ll enter the VCT Ascension Pacific tournament, facing off against elite teams from across the Asia-Pacific region. The dream? Securing a slot in next year’s prestigious VCT International League.

    “Split 3 is where pressure peaks,” said Nodwin Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee. “This is South Asia’s final shot at international glory and fans can expect the fiercest Valorant action yet.”

    Riot Games’ South Asia Esports Lead Sukamal Pegu echoed the sentiment: “Every match is make-or-break. It’s a chance to witness the best of our regional talent rise.”

    Tournament Timeline:

     . Split 3 (Online): 27 June  – 3 July

     .  Ascension Qualifiers (Online): 7 – 8 July

     .  Ascension Qualifiers (LAN – Gurugram): 12 – 13 July

     . Watch Live: Nodwin Gaming YouTube (Hindi & English), Facebook (Hindi)

    With the battlefield heating up and a shot at global domination on the line, Split 3 isn’t just the final leg, it’s the ultimate proving ground. Ready. Aim. Ascend.
     

  • Nodwin and co make a grand move to put Indian chess on the esports map

    Nodwin and co make a grand move to put Indian chess on the esports map

    MUMBAI: In a bold opening move to reinvent chess for the digital age, Nodwin Gaming has announced a three-way strategic alliance with Chess.com and ChessBase India. This unlikely but high-powered trio of esports, grassroots chess, and global tech is aiming to supercharge India’s presence in the fast-evolving world of chess esports.

    The partnership promises a future-ready ecosystem built on three strengths: Nodwin’s slick production and broadcast chops, ChessBase India’s deep community roots, and Chess.com’s global tech muscle. Together, they’ll co-create original IPs, host high-stakes tournaments, produce creator-driven content, and unlock new avenues for brand partnerships — all while turning chess into a legitimate esport.

    Speaking on the announcement, Nodwin Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee said, “Chess is undergoing a cultural renaissance, from park benches and schoolrooms to sold-out esports arenas and creator streams. Chess has now become the fourth most-watched sport in the country after cricket, kabaddi, and Bgmi tournaments. With this partnership, we’re not just supporting a heritage game, we’re aiding in its natural course of progression. By combining each organization’s unique strengths, we’re building a future-ready ecosystem that can take Indian chess from heritage to hype. It’s time the brilliance of our grandmasters meets the energy of our digital generation.”

    India is fast emerging as a chess superpower — both on and off the board. Chess.com saw over 7.6 billion games played globally in 2024, with India alone clocking 9 million+ monthly active users. Viewership on the platform exploded by 640 per cent year-on-year, capped by 24 million views during Gukesh Dommaraju’s World Championship win, streamed jointly by Nodwin, ChessBase India, and Chess.com.

    Speaking on the alliance, ChessBase India CEO Sagar Shah said, “This partnership is not just a business alliance — it’s a vision to grow the chess community in India from the grassroots to the grand stage. For the last decade, we’ve focused on building a robust chess culture in the country, and now, with Nodwin and Chess.com by our side, we hope to bring forth more opportunities to all those involved in the chess ecosystem.”

    Chess.com India country director Avadh Shah said, “Chess has been one of the most dominant and fastest growing sports in the last 3 years across India and the world. In terms of both participation and viewership, chess is experiencing record-breaking numbers—the highest we’ve ever seen. Given the excitement around the sport, it is only fitting that the leading companies within the ecosystem collaborate to further its development and invite partners to join this journey as well.”

    Mobile is the dominant screen, with over 80.9 per cent of Indian chess viewership happening on smartphones. Cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai rank among the world’s top chess-consuming metros, fuelled by millennial and Gen Z audiences.

    The game’s next big test? Chess at the Esports World Cup 2025 with a cool $1.5 million prize pool. India’s very own S8UL Esports will field grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram, marking the first time an Indian esports org will compete in international chess at this level.

    As chess makes its way from quiet corners to centre stage, this partnership is playing for the long game — building a pipeline of tournaments, influencer content, grassroots engagement, and global ambition.

    Checkmate, but make it mainstream.

  • Game of pawns just got powered up as chess makes its esports move

    Game of pawns just got powered up as chess makes its esports move

     MUMBAI: The queens are charged, the knights are digital, and India’s chessboard is now esports-ready. In a game-changing move for Indian chess, Nodwin Gaming has announced a strategic partnership with Chess.com and Chessbase India, marking a historic convergence of esports, content, and competitive chess. Together, the trio will co-create original IPs, power pro-level broadcasts, and elevate India’s growing chess ecosystem into a global force.

    From school tournaments to creator streams, chess has undergone a stunning revival. Once the preserve of silent halls and grandmasters, it’s now the fourth most-watched sport in India trailing only cricket, kabaddi, and BGMI. This new-age boom has been fuelled by the digital-first youth, and the stats are as sharp as a Sicilian Defence, 7.6 billion games played globally on Chess.com in 2024, 200 million plus registered users, including over 9 million monthly active players from India, 550,000 plus new Indian sign-ups every month, 925 million organic views, with viewership up 640 per cent year-on-year

    The tipping point? The Gukesh vs Ding Liren World Championship final, streamed in India exclusively by this trio, which racked up 24 million views and a peak concurrency of 200,000.

    “Chess has now become more than a game, it’s content, culture, and community,” said Nodwin Gaming co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee. “With this partnership, we’re building a future-ready ecosystem to take Indian chess from heritage to hype.”

    And it’s not just the numbers. The chess revolution is reshaping Indian cities and screens alike, Cities like Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai rank among the world’s top chess-viewing zones. 80.9 per cent of Indian chess viewership is on smartphones. Core audience? Ages 18–34, a Gen Z and millennial-driven wave of tactical fandom

    Chessbase India CEO Sagar Shah sees this as more than a business arrangement, “This is a vision to take Indian chess from grassroots to global. With NODWIN and Chess.com, we now have the firepower to truly scale it.”

    Chess.com India, country director Avadh Shah added, “The excitement around chess is at an all-time high, and this collaboration ensures India plays a defining role in shaping its future.”

    That future arrives fast. At the Esports World Cup 2025, chess will debut with a 1.5 million dollars prize pool. Representing India will be S8ul’s Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram the country’s first-ever esports team to compete in global chess.

    From mobile-first blitz battles to stadium-sized finals, chess is no longer just about black-and-white strategy, it’s a full-spectrum spectacle. And with Nodwin Gaming, Chess.com, and ChessBase India now playing as one, India might just checkmate the world.

  • Heena Chaudhari steps up as associate director for strategic activations at Sony group Corp

    Heena Chaudhari steps up as associate director for strategic activations at Sony group Corp

    MUMBAI: Heena Chaudhari has gone up a level once again. The seasoned strategist and investment ace has been promoted to associate director – strategic markets’ activations at Sony group Corp , where she’ll be steering high-impact business initiatives across India and the Middle East.

    With a power-packed portfolio that includes investment management at Sony Innovation Fund and a board observer role at Nodwin Gaming, Chaudhari is no stranger to spotting what’s hot in media, entertainment, and gaming before the world catches on. Now, in her new gig, she’s charged with turning strategic visions into high-octane action.

    Her Sony journey began in 2023 as strategic markets’ activations manager, and in just under two years, she’s earned her stripes by crafting clever market entry plays and forging high-value collaborations in two of Sony’s most promising growth zones.

    Before Sony, Chaudhari held leadership roles at Embold Technologies GmbH and Yoozoo Games, juggling strategy, HR, sales ops, and product development like a pro. She’s been in the trenches with startups, scaled up global projects, and even donned the CEO’s right-hand cap more than once.

    Armed with over a decade of experience and a resume that reads like a masterclass in cross-functional execution, Chaudhari isn’t just moving markets—she’s redesigning how legacy giants like Sony grow in emerging ones.

    Her superpowers? Investment foresight, operational precision, and boardroom charisma. With the gaming and streaming boom in full swing and the Middle East–India corridor heating up, Heena Chaudhari’s next play could very well be Sony’s best move yet.

  • Level up: Banijay Asia and Nodwin Gaming partner to power up India’s youthverse

    Level up: Banijay Asia and Nodwin Gaming partner to power up India’s youthverse

    MUMBAI: In a match made in gamer heaven, Banijay Asia and Nodwin Gaming have teamed up to turbocharge India’s youth entertainment and gaming landscape. The two powerhouses have inked a strategic partnership that will see Banijay Asia take the reins of Playground — Nodwin’s flagship gaming reality show — and co-create a slew of fresh, disruptive content across gaming, esports, and influencer-led formats.

    With gaming now a full-blown lifestyle, this collaboration aims to tap into India’s ever-evolving Gen Z mindspace by fusing Banijay’s storytelling muscle with Nodwin’s pulse on the gaming community. And they’re not stopping at one franchise — the duo plans to unleash an entire ecosystem of new scripted and reality IPs.

    “This collaboration with Nodwin Gaming is an exciting extension of our vision to create content that resonates with evolving youth audiences. Gaming is not just a sport; it’s a culture, a lifestyle, and a massive content opportunity. With Playground and our upcoming IPs, we aim to redefine engagement and storytelling in this space. I look forward to the creative collaboration with Akshat Rathee, and Joost Roset who we previously worked with, in bringing iconic global IPs to India. This is an invaluable opportunity to create clutter-breaking formats in the youth and gaming space,” said Banijay Asia & Endemol Shine India founder & group CEO Deepak Dhar. 

    Nodwin Gaming co-founder & managing director Akshat Rathee added, “”Youth entertainment is evolving rapidly, and our partnership with Banijay Asia positions us perfectly to lead that change. With Playground, we’ve just begun to explore what’s possible. Backed by Banijay’s global expertise, we’re now set to scale the IP across multiple languages and markets, with the ambition of building an international format. At the heart of our approach is our philosophy of ‘timeshare of mindshare.’ We’re not just creating content, we’re creating cultural moments. This is just the beginning of a bold new chapter in gaming and youth content.”

    The Rusk Media creative team — original minds behind Playground — will stay involved as the format evolves from a single show into an annual line-up of five to 10 marquee IPs. Expect more drama, more battles, and more screen time as the series expands.

    Backed by its success with Comic Con India, BGMI Masters Series, and NH7 Weekender, Nodwin Gaming is already a big player in the youth space. Now with Banijay — whose global playbook includes brands like MasterChef, Peaky Blinders, and Black Mirror — the stage is set for a full-blown format revolution in Indian gaming content.

    From stream to scream, it’s into the playground for the two. At least for now!

    (Deepak Dhar – left – and Akshat Rathee -right- pictured above. source: Banijay Asia)

  • Shefali Johnson named CEO as Comic Con India enters bold new phase

    Shefali Johnson named CEO as Comic Con India enters bold new phase

    MUMBAI: Comic Con India, the country’s iconic pop culture celebration, is set for a dynamic new chapter as Shefali Johnson is appointed CEO, following a landmark year of expansion under Nodwin Gaming’s ownership.

    Johnson steps into the role as founder Jatin Varma, along with co-founder Karan Kalra and event director Sonal Varma, transition into advisory positions. The trio, who have nurtured the Comic Con legacy since its inception in 2011, will continue to provide creative direction and support the brand’s long-term vision.

    With Comic Con India now present in eight cities including recent additions Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Pune and having delivered its biggest season to date, the focus now shifts to scaling innovation, inclusivity, and immersive fan experiences.

    “Johnson brings the perfect blend of vision, experience, and drive to take our labour of love to greater scale,” said Jatin, reflecting on his journey. “We look forward to supporting her and the team in an advisory capacity as they shape the future of fandom in India across cities.”

    As a senior leader at Nodwin Gaming, Johnson has been instrumental in spearheading flagship IPs like Dreamhack India, BGMS, and the Cosplay Championships. Her appointment as CEO marks a strategic move to deepen fan engagement and expand Comic Con’s cultural footprint.

    “Stepping into this role is both a privilege and a responsibility,” said Johnson. “We plan to grow this platform into newer cities, introduce newer formats, and create experiences that are more inclusive, dynamic, and reflective of India’s evolving pop culture identity.”

    Nodwin Gaming co-founder & managing director Akshat Rathee said, “With Johnson at the helm, we’re looking forward to building on everything we’ve created so far expanding our reach, deepening fan engagement, and continuing to celebrate the communities that make Comic Con what it is.”

    Since its debut in 2011, Comic Con India has grown into the country’s definitive pop culture festival uniting fans of comics, cosplay, gaming, anime, and beyond. 

  • Mumbai Comic Con 2025 levels up, plays host to epic Indie Game Utsav

    Mumbai Comic Con 2025 levels up, plays host to epic Indie Game Utsav

    MUMBAI: Hold onto your joysticks, folks—Mumbai Comic Con 2025 is gearing up to be a high-score event! Forget Batman and anime cosplay; this year, indie games are the real superheroes. With the inaugural edition of Indie Game Utsav, the spotlight’s firmly set on made-in-India PC and console games. It’s time for homegrown games to finally drop the mic—or controller—in style.

    Set for 12-13 April 2025, at Jio World Convention Centre, Indie Game Utsav brings together over 40 stellar indie games from India, ready to dazzle audiences at Mumbai Comic Con. Backed by big-hitters like Xbox, Xsolla, Specter, and Nodwin Gaming, the festival also boasts IGDA India as its community partner, making it a gamer’s paradise on steroids.

    Given India’s surging gamer base—132 million on PC platform Steam alone and PC gaming contributing 22 per cent to India’s video game revenues—Indie Game Utsav is perfectly timed. It’s not just about showing off some shiny new pixels; it’s about nurturing India’s thriving PC and console gaming culture.

    The brains behind this gaming extravaganza is Avichal Singh, makers of the smash hit Raji: An Ancient Epic. Singh explained, “Indie Game Utsav wants to pave the way for upcoming quality indie games from India to find success just like Raji, we are aiming to resolve long existing B2B and B2C problems for indies. I’m grateful for Nodwin’s support to help us celebrate India’s best and brightest indie developers at Mumbai Comic Con.”

    Nodwin Gaming co-founder & MD Akshat Rathee echoed, “Nodwin started with two guys who just loved PC gaming, so supporting indie developers feels like coming full circle. We’ve always believed in the incredible talent of Indian indie game creators and that their work should be easily accessible to gamers. Indie Game Utsav at Comic Con is just the beginning—one of many steps towards making gaming more open and exciting for everyone.”

    To help Indian games level up internationally, Indie Game Utsav is also connecting local developers with top-tier global publishers like Krafton, Garena, Epic Games, and more. On top of that, special digital meetups will see publishers such as Devolver Digital, Rawfury, and Plugindigital ready to scout the next big gaming sensation.

    And that’s not all—various pre-event initiatives are lined up to sharpen the skills of indie devs, from intimate sessions with Rawfury and Epic Games veterans to casual mixers and global showcases through MGN Indie Game Events in China.