How 2025 marked a turning point for Indian esports
In 2025, India’s gaming industry moved firmly into the mainstream, shifting from a niche activity to a major sector with significant economic and cultural impact. Ved Bamb became India’s first esports world champion with his win at the Pokémon GO World Championship. Esports athletes were acknowledged alongside traditional sports professionals for the first time, qualifying them for monetary compensation and national awards.
Government recognition
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA) 2025 introduced formal rules for online gaming and esports, along with state‑backed incentives for players. Esports expanded beyond metropolitan centres, with its inclusion in the Khelo India Youth Games driving participation from smaller towns. States such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan hosted official tournaments, helping to develop local talent. The rise in state‑level competitions created the basis for a national esports structure that is broader and more competitive.
NODWIN Gaming’s industry leadership
NODWIN Gaming marked a major year in 2025 by acquiring StarLadder and Evo, the world’s longest‑running fighting game tournament, demonstrating India’s intent to lead on a global scale. From the BGMI Masters Series (BGMS) returning to television to organising the Valorant Challengers South Asia with a ₹1 crore prize pool, NODWIN set new benchmarks. The company also partnered with the Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) to handle South Asian media rights, strengthening India’s global esports integration.
Akshat Rathee, Co‑founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, described 2025 as a turning point for India’s esports industry. He noted that the year marked the formal recognition of gaming and esports as legitimate sports and careers, supported by clear frameworks for athlete recognition, structured leagues and policy backing.
Rathee stated, “For NODWIN Gaming, we standardised our LAN setups across major IPs such as the BGMS, the NODWIN Africa Pro League, and the PUBG Mobile African Championship across Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, as well as the PMSL MENA tournaments in the Middle East. Our frameworks now extend into Europe too, where we host the StarLadder Budapest Major.”
S8UL’s global presence
S8UL strengthened its position in 2025 with several achievements. The organisation won the Esports Content Group of the Year for the fourth time and was named a Club Partner for the Esports World Cup. It also announced a partnership with Monster Energy, while its BGMI division, iQOO SOUL, won the Chennai Esports Global Championship. Expanding into chess esports, S8UL signed Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Aravindh Chithambaram, signalling its move beyond traditional gaming titles.
Animesh Agarwal, Co‑founder and CEO of S8UL, described 2025 as the year Indian esports firmly entered the mainstream. He said, “The government has formally acknowledged esports, brands are investing with long‑term vision, and new tournaments are building excitement at the grassroots level.”
Rise of game developers
Indian studios advanced in 2025 by producing games with local and global appeal. Developers focused on mobile‑first design, regional storytelling and esports‑ready formats. Titles drawing on Indian culture gained traction, establishing the country as a contributor to the global gaming industry. PC gaming grew significantly in 2025. CyberPowerPC India introduced initiatives such as the Esports Masterclass series to educate players and families, alongside programmes that made high‑end gaming PCs more accessible. This shifted the focus of PC gaming discussions from affordability to performance.
Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer of CyberPowerPC India, described 2025 as a pivotal year for esports in the country. He explained that conversations around purchasing PCs are now focused on real‑world performance, particularly frames per second (FPS), rather than simply listing hardware components.
Parekh noted, “2025 felt like a turning point for esports in India, especially with the arrival of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act. That single step brought a lot of reassurance to parents, to schools, to brands, and most importantly to young players who finally felt that what they were building had real legitimacy.”
Streaming and content creation
Gaming creators in India saw rapid growth in 2025, with streamers attracting large audiences and brand partnerships. Platforms including YouTube, Loco and Twitch India reported high engagement, as content creation expanded beyond gameplay to include storytelling and community‑driven formats. Events such as NH7 Weekender, DreamHack and Comic Con India featured dedicated gaming zones, esports competitions and creator meet‑ups.
Industry projections
PwC India’s Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2025–29 projects the country’s entertainment and media industry to grow from $32.2 billion in 2024 to $47.2 billion by 2029, almost double the global average growth rate. Gaming and esports are expected to increase from $2.79 billion in 2024 to $3.96 billion by 2029.
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