Joint Venture to Accelerate Growth of Indian Esports Industry
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 2 (ANI): RISE Worldwide Limited (“RISE”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited (“Reliance”), and BLAST Esports Limited (“BLAST”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of BLAST ApS, have announced a joint venture (JV) to expand esports business in India, according to a release from RISE.
India, with over 600 million gamers, is the fastest-growing gaming market, accounting for 18% of the global gamer base. The country’s gaming market is projected to grow at a CAGR of ~19%, reaching $9.2 billion by 2029 from $3.8 billion in 2024. Meanwhile, the global esports market is expected to grow from $2.8 billion in 2024 to $16.7 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of ~22%. With esports officially recognized as part of the “multi-sports event” category by the Indian government, the sector is poised for rapid growth.
The Reliance-BLAST partnership aims to accelerate this growth by bringing BLAST’s world-class esports events and production expertise to India. Additionally, the joint venture will co-create new tournament IPs tailored to the Indian market, fostering a competitive gaming ecosystem.
BLAST: A Global Esports Leader
BLAST is a European-based esports entertainment company and one of the world’s largest esports tournament organizers. The company collaborates with top game publishers such as Epic Games, Valve, Riot Games, KRAFTON, and Ubisoft, managing esports for titles like Rocket League, Fortnite, Rainbow Six, PUBG, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike 2—which have a combined active monthly player base of 350+ million.
BLAST is renowned for its high-quality production and fan-centric esports experiences. Its events generate 2 billion views annually, reaching audiences across 150+ territories in 30+ languages. In 2025, BLAST’s global tournaments will have arena stops in cities like London, Singapore, Austin, and Rio.
The Reliance-BLAST JV: A New Era for Indian Esports
The newly formed JV entity will integrate BLAST’s expertise in esports media production, publisher relationships, and tournament IPs with Reliance’s technology, distribution, and market reach via JioGames. The JV will cover the entire esports spectrum, including:
- Services to publishers and sponsors
- End-to-end tournament management
- Targeted marketing
- Production and broadcasting
Leaders’ Statements on the Partnership
Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST, expressed excitement about the Indian market, stating:
“India is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing gaming markets in the world, with a rapidly expanding esports audience and appetite for more competitive gaming experiences. By partnering with Reliance, a market leader with unparalleled expertise and reach in India, we have a unique opportunity to elevate the local esports scene to new heights.”
Devang Bhimjyani, Head of Reliance Sports, welcomed BLAST to the Reliance Group, adding:
“With this JV, Reliance will extend its interest in sports into esports and leverage RISE’s expertise in marketing and promoting sporting events, while Jio will provide its technology and distribution capabilities. This partnership will help India’s esports industry realize its full potential.”
This JV marks a major milestone in India’s esports journey, positioning the country as a global hub for competitive gaming while opening new opportunities for Indian talent to shine on the world stage. (ANI)
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