Reliance and BLAST Join Forces to Revolutionize Indian Esports

The Indian esports industry is set for a major transformation as Reliance Industries' subsidiary, RISE Worldwide Limited, and BLAST Esports Limited have announced a strategic joint venture to elevate the country's competitive gaming landscape. This move comes at a time when India's gaming market is projected to grow at a 19% CAGR, reaching $9.2 billion by 2029, up from $3.8 billion in 2024.

A Landmark Partnership for India's Growing Esports Market

With over 600 million gamers, India is one of the fastest-growing gaming markets in the world, accounting for 18% of the global gaming population. The Indian government's official recognition of esports as a "multi-sport event" category has further validated the industry's potential.

By teaming up with BLAST, one of the world’s most renowned tournament organizers, Reliance aims to bring global esports expertise, high-quality productions, and new tournament IPs tailored for India. BLAST currently collaborates with top gaming publishers such as Epic Games, Valve, Riot Games, KRAFTON, and Ubisoft, managing esports for major titles like Rocket League, Fortnite, Rainbow Six, PUBG, Dota 2, and Counter-Strike 2—games with a combined monthly player base of over 350 million.

What the Partnership Means for India

The joint venture (JV) between RISE and BLAST will combine:

• BLAST's media production expertise and publisher relationships

• Reliance Jio’s technology, distribution reach, and local market knowledge

• End-to-end tournament management, marketing, production, and broadcasting

These efforts will be centered on the JioGames platform, ensuring a sustainable and scalable esports ecosystem in India.

Key Voices on the Partnership

Robbie Douek, CEO of BLAST, expressed excitement about the partnership:

"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. BLAST has a proven track record of delivering world-class tournaments and entertainment for global audiences, and we can't wait to bring that expertise to India. This joint venture will not only help grow the Indian esports ecosystem but also create new pathways for local talent to shine on the global stage."

Meanwhile, Devang Bhimjyani, Head of Reliance Sports, highlighted the massive potential of esports in India:

"We are excited to partner with BLAST, which is a leader in conducting world-class esports tournaments globally in partnership with the largest gaming publishers for marquee gaming titles. I welcome Robbie and his team to the Reliance Group. We are very confident that with this partnership, India esports will be able to realize 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."

The Future of Indian Esports

BLAST events are projected to generate 2 billion views in 2025, with global reach across 150+ territories and broadcasts in 30+ languages. With arena stops in major cities like London, Singapore, Austin, and Rio, India could soon find itself on the global esports map.

This partnership signals a new era for Indian esports, paving the way for bigger tournaments, greater investment, and a thriving competitive scene that could propel Indian players onto the international stage.