ITV

Tag: Olympic Esports Games

  • 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.

  • Olympic Esports Games to take place in 2025

    Olympic Esports Games to take place in 2025

    Mumbai: In a historic move, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that the inaugural Olympic Esports Games will take place in Saudi Arabia in 2025. This decision follows the recent proposal by the IOC’s executive board and will be presented at the IOC session ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

    The IOC has entered a 12-year partnership with the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Saudi Arabia to host the Olympic Esports Games. As per the official announcement, minister of sport and Saudi Arabian Olympic and paralympic committee president HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal remarked, “The world is invited to join us in 2025 and celebrate this moment together.”

    Indian esports, already on the rise, stands to gain significantly from this development. Following a bronze medal win in DOTA 2 at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and competing in five titles at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, the nation’s esports landscape is on track for further growth.

    Expressing his enthusiasm for the groundbreaking development, NODWIN Gaming co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee said, “NODWIN Gaming is thrilled that esports has earned its place in the Olympics with its own standalone event, akin to the Summer, Winter, and Paralympics. This recognition allows countries to develop independent esports programs. Together with our partners in the GEF and the EWC, NODWIN Gaming is eager to build esports in our core growth markets, seizing this opportunity for hope and glory.”

    The IOC launched its first esports pilot, the Olympic Virtual Series, in 2021 followed by the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore in June 2023. This event brought together over 130 players from around the world, competing in 10 mixed-gender categories, attracting over 500,000 unique participants and six million views, with 75 per cent of the audience aged 13 to 34.

    “The IOC’s embrace of the Olympic Esports Games honors the dedication and skill of millions of gamers worldwide. It goes beyond just competition; it elevates esports to a global platform, encouraging international collaboration and potentially ushering in a new generation of athletes. This initiative truly is a landmark moment for esports, bringing it the global recognition it has long earned. The inclusion of esports in the Olympic movement demonstrates its growing influence and cements its place in the future of sports,” commented SuperGaming CEO and co-founder Roby John.

    The introduction of the Olympic Esports Games is set to further enhance the credibility of esports in India, establishing it as a viable sport and career option.

    “This recognition will further legitimise esports as a career option, more parents will now support their children in pursuing careers in this field, elevating the professional landscape of competitive gaming. We are proud to support the growth of esports in India, giving our players the chance to shine on this prestigious international platform,” further added Roby John.

    With the official announcement of the Olympic Esports Games, work will now begin on selecting the host city and venue, determining the event’s timing, selecting titles, and establishing the qualification process for players. The IOC has emphasised collaboration with International Federations already engaged in e-sports and National Olympic Committees that include esports in their activities.

    While the titles for the Olympic Esports Games have not been officially announced, the potential inclusion of games across diverse platforms is expected to stimulate growth in India’s gaming industry. This could lead to a rise in PC and console gaming, diversifying India’s predominantly mobile gaming market as players aim to represent their nation at the largest international multi-sport event.

    “We are absolutely elated by the announcement of the Olympic Esports Games which is being hosted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This marks a monumental step for the industry and all its stakeholders. The Indian esports sector is on an upward trajectory and this will further empower it. Esports being integrated under the banner of the pinnacle of sports events in the world will bring further legitimacy to this form of sport and encourage a new generation of esports talent to rise from the country. We’re excited and look forward to extending our support to the esports community of India so they make a mark at the global event!” said CyberPowerPC India COO Vishal Parekh.

    Additionally, the IOC will establish a dedicated structure for the Olympic Esports Games, distinct from the traditional Olympic Games model, to address the unique aspects of esports financing and organization.