Reliance Industries’ subsidiary RISE Worldwide has formed a joint venture with European esports powerhouse BLAST to grow competitive gaming in India.
The partnership aims to make India a significant player in the global esports scene by combining BLAST’s tournament expertise with Reliance’s technology and distribution networks through JioGames.
So, what’s the plan? The partnership will cover everything from hosting esports tournaments to production, broadcasting, and marketing. BLAST is already a big name in the gaming world, organizing events for heavyweights like Counter-Strike 2, Fortnite, and Dota 2. Plus, it has strong ties with major publishers like Epic Games, Riot Games, and Ubisoft.
On the other hand, Reliance is bringing its digital infrastructure into play—think Jio’s massive userbase (telecom service) and tech capabilities—to host and stream events on the JioGames platform.
BLAST’s CEO, Robbie Douek, called this move a game-changer, saying, “India is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing gaming markets in the world. Partnering with Reliance allows us to elevate the local esports scene and create opportunities for Indian talent to compete globally.”
Devang Bhimjyani, Head of Reliance Sports, expressed similar views on the venture’s potential: “We are very confident that with this partnership, India esports will be able to realise its full potential. With this JV, Reliance will extend its interest in sports into esports and leverage RISE’s ability to market and promote sporting events and teams, along with Jio providing its distribution and technology expertise.”
BLAST isn’t just stopping with India—it’s pushing for a bigger global footprint, planning to host over 15 live esports events annually across 5 major game titles by 2026, including Rainbow Six Siege and Rocket League.
For India, this partnership is a big win. It not only boosts esports infrastructure but also creates more opportunities for homegrown talent. Indian teams are already making waves internationally, with squads like S8UL recently being chosen as a club partner for the Esports World Cup 2025.
According to Lumikai reports, Indian esports is showing a 19% annual growth rate—going from $3.8 billion in 2024 to a whopping $9.2 billion by 2029. The country already boasts over 600 million gamers (about 18% of the global player base), making it a prime hotspot for competitive gaming.
The Indian government is also backing the industry, having recently included esports in the Sports Ministry’s Cash Incentives Program. This means that esports athletes who win medals at international and continental championships are now eligible for cash rewards, similar to athletes in traditional sports.
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