RISE Worldwide Limited (RISE), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, and BLAST Esports Limited (BLAST), a subsidiary of BLAST ApS, have announced a strategic joint venture (JV) to expand esports in India. This partnership aims to bring BLAST’s globally renowned esports IPs to India while also creating new tournament IPs tailored for the country’s fast-growing gaming ecosystem.
BLAST, a European-based esports entertainment company, is known for producing high-quality tournaments and partnering with some of the world’s biggest game publishers, including Epic Games, Valve, Riot Games, KRAFTON, and Ubisoft. Through this JV, Reliance and BLAST will work together to introduce leading global esports tournamentsto India, while also building local IPs to cater to Indian fans, players, and brands.
India is among the fastest-growing gaming markets globally, with a gamer base of over 600 million, accounting for 18% of the world’s total gamers. 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 expand from $2.8 billion in 2024 to $16.7 billion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 22%. The Indian esports market is still in its early stages but is anticipated to witness significant growth, especially after the Government of India officially recognized esports as part of the “multi-sports event” category.
The JV will focus on:
✅ Bringing BLAST’s international esports properties to India
✅ Creating market-leading esports IPs for Indian gamers
✅ End-to-end tournament management
✅ Production and broadcasting of esports events
✅ Targeted marketing for publishers and sponsors
With JioGames’ technology expertise and massive distribution reach, combined with BLAST’s proven track record in esports media production, the partnership aims to accelerate esports growth in India. The JV will host world-class esports tournaments, attract top-tier titles, and provide Indian players opportunities to compete on a global stage.
BLAST is a leading tournament organizer, known for high-quality production and fan-first experiences. In 2025, BLAST events are expected to generate 2 billion views, reaching audiences in 150+ territories and broadcasting in 30+ languages. Some of BLAST’s major tournament locations for 2025 include London, Singapore, Austin, and Rio.
The company has already worked with top gaming publishers to produce tournaments for Rocket League, Fortnite, Rainbow Six, PUBG, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike 2. With a combined monthly active player base of 350+ million, these titles have been key drivers of global esports growth.
Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST, expressed excitement about entering the Indian market, calling it one of the fastest-growing gaming regions with a strong esports audience. He highlighted that BLAST’s expertise in organizing world-class tournaments, combined with Reliance’s reach and market leadership, would elevate India’s esports ecosystem.
Devang Bhimjyani, Head of Reliance Sports, welcomed BLAST into the Reliance Group, emphasizing the company’s confidence in unlocking the full potential of Indian esports. He also highlighted Reliance’s commitment to expanding into esports, leveraging RISE’s expertise in sports marketing and Jio’s digital distribution network.
This JV marks a major milestone for Indian esports, creating opportunities for players, brands, and fans. With Reliance and BLAST joining forces, the future of esports in India looks more competitive, innovative, and globally connected than ever before.
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