Olympic Esports Games, WAVES Esports Championships to headline Indian Esports 2025

Esports industry poised for explosive growth in 2025

National, December 23, 2024: The Indian esports and gaming industry experienced unprecedented growth in 2024, and this momentum is expected to continue into 2025. Arguably, the biggest highlight of the upcoming year will be the Olympic Esports Games, set to take place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Following India’s impressive performance at the Paris Olympics in 2024, where the nation secured six medals, Indian gamers now have an exciting opportunity to add to the country’s medal tally in the rapidly growing esports arena. This landmark event will not only boost the recognition of esports in India but also position the nation as an emerging powerhouse in global competitive gaming.

#BronzeGodlTomboyPride of India 🇮🇳🫡Bronze 🥉 in Asian Championship best Individual record in Indian Esports pic.twitter.com/wIRaiXrc5T

— Ragnar👑 (@ragnorrr) December 1, 2024

Indian Esports 2025

Recently, chess was announced as one of the titles at the Esports World Cup, boasting a substantial USD 1.5 million prize pool. India has been making waves in chess on the global stage, with grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju making history as the youngest World Champion. Now, the nation’s chess players have the opportunity to make even more history at the Esports World Cup which will be taking place in Saudi Arabia from July 31 to August 3, 2025.

Although chess has yet to be officially recognized as an Olympic sport, there is a strong chance it could be featured as one of the titles at the Olympic Esports Games, as the sport was part of the Olympic Esports Series in 2023. This sets the stage for India to potentially secure its first-ever Olympic medal in chess through esports at the upcoming games.

Parallel to the Olympic Esports Games and Esports World Cup, the WAVES Esports Championships (WESC), officially supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, will be another key event to watch in 2025. The finals for three titles including Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), World Cricket Championship (WCC), and eFootball will take place at the inaugural WAVES Summit in February 2025. This event promises to kick off the year on a high note, setting the tone for an exciting year ahead, as more government-backed tournaments and initiatives are expected to further shape the Indian esports landscape.

While cricket and football continue to merge with esports through virtual titles like WCC and eFootball, 2024 also saw cricket outfits like Mumbai Indians partnering with BGMI, Gujarat Titans organizing an esports tournament, and Kolkata Knight Riders collaborating with India’s leading esports and gaming content organization, S8UL Esports. The connection between cricket and esports is likely to grow even stronger, further expanding the appeal of gaming in India and Indian esports growth.

Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and MD, NODWIN Gaming says, “In 2025, we anticipate a growing overlap between mainstream sports and esports. Cricket will become more involved with the esports industry, whether through cricket esports titles or collaborations with IPL teams and cricketers. Similarly, Bollywood stars and musicians are expected to engage more actively with gaming and esports to connect with younger audiences, creating a fusion of entertainment and competitive gaming.

Gaming will continue to be a strong pillar of youth entertainment with even deeper collaborations between gaming and elements like music, anime, and other youth-focused interests. NODWIN Gaming’s successful hosting of DreamHack India alongside Hyderabad Comic Con this year is a testament to this trend, and this fusion of gaming with pop culture, including music and sports, will continue to thrive.”

What to look forward?

This year, there was a surge in high-profile brand collaborations within the Indian esports and gaming ecosystem, with non-endemic brands taking note of the sector’s growing influence. A standout example was 8Bit Creatives, the nation’s premier esports & gaming talent management agency which secured the largest naming rights sponsorship deal in Indian gaming history with leading smartphone brand iQOO. This partnership, where 8Bit Creatives represented three teams including 8bit Esports, Reckoning Esports, and Revenant Xspark, highlights the increasing interest from mainstream brands in India’s esports scene.

Looking ahead, Animesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO, 8Bit Creatives states, “In 2025, esports will continue expanding into more titles, creating opportunities for a broader range of players and audiences. As new games gain traction, regions like South Asia and MENA are expected to emerge as significant contributors to the global esports ecosystem. Content creators will play a central role in shaping fan engagement, while brands will increasingly view esports and gaming content as primary channels to connect with the ever-growing gaming-centric audience.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for India to become a global leader in video games during his Independence Day address earlier this year has further fueled optimism in the industry. In 2024, several Made-in-India games were launched, with many more in the pipeline. These games are well-positioned to represent India on the global stage, showcasing the country’s growing capabilities as a game development hub. Among these, 88 Games, the newly launched game development division of 88 Pictures, is preparing to launch three major titles, reinforcing India’s increasing influence in the global gaming landscape.

“In 2025, we expect deeper integration of cutting-edge technologies like generative AI and extended reality (XR) into game development. These technologies will reshape how games are developed and consumed, enhancing storytelling and interactivity. For 88 Games, 2025 will be pivotal as we gear up for the launch of our first PC and console game. As gaming continues to gain cultural and economic significance, we’re thrilled to contribute to this journey and help shape its future,” notes Milind D. Shinde, Founder and CEO, 88 Games.

Insights from the ‘Indian Gamer Behaviour and Market Insights’ report by Niko Partners reveal that 77.3% of PC gamers in India spent more on games in Q1 2024 compared to the previous year, surpassing mobile and console gaming growth. Steam also reported a 150% increase in new users in India from 2019 to 2024, underscoring the surge in PC gaming interest. This trend is expected to continue into 2025, with PC gaming expected to grow further in the Indian market and for the Indian Epsorts.

“The focus will increasingly shift toward sustainability and personalization in gaming technology. Cloud gaming and AI-driven performance optimizations will also drive innovation, making gaming accessible to an even broader audience. CyberPowerPC is excited about further expanding its footprint in India, especially in emerging markets. Our goal is to empower gamers and creators with tools that elevate their experiences, from immersive gaming setups to workhorse systems for content creation,” explains Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer, CyberPowerPC India.

With all these exciting developments, 2025 promises to be an even bigger and better year for India’s gaming and esports industry.

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