Entertainment

India’s gaming and esports market is on track for explosive growth, with multiple forecasts pointing toward ₹25,000 crore by 2030. From massive player bases and rising BGMI prize pools to official government recognition, here’s what’s driving the next decade of Indian competitive gaming.

Get the latest MLBB Current Meta tier list for October 2026. Rank the strongest S-tier heroes (Aulus, Masha, Hirara, Rafaela), lane-by-lane breakdowns, ban priorities, and tips to climb Mythic in Season 42 Patch 2.2.16.

Krafton issues lifetime bans to Vietnamese players Himass and TanVuu after confirming stream sniping and external information use during PUBG Asia Stars 2026.

1312 Interactive has secured USD 1 million in seed funding led by T-Accelerate Capital and ChimeraVC to expand indie game publishing across emerging markets. The Hyderabad-based publisher, India’s first dedicated PC and console game house, will use the capital to strengthen production, marketing, QA, localisation, and distribution support while launching its community-led 1312 Playground initiative.

Nodwin Gaming and TVS Raider concluded the TVS Raider Wicked Battles 2026 with Santa Esports taking the title. The top four teams, Santa Esports, White Walkers, HexVora, and Aura X Esports, earned direct qualification to BGMS Season 5 after an intense three-day Grand Finals featuring 16 squads and 18 matches.

Riot Games has confirmed that VCT 2027 Open Qualifiers will begin in November 2026, opening a clear route for any team to reach Kickoff, the new regional Cups, Masters, and Champions. Each Americas, EMEA, and Pacific Kickoff will feature four open teams alongside eight partners, with fixed qualification payments of up to $400,000 for non-partner squads that advance.

KRAFTON Chairman Byung Gyu Chang met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi and announced an additional $250 million investment in India over the next 3–4 years. This takes the company’s total planned direct investment to around $500 million, supporting gaming, homegrown IP, startups, AI, robotics and deep tech while boosting opportunities for Indian developers and creators.

Global Esports made history on September 6 by winning VCT Pacific Stage 2 after an incredible reverse sweep against Nongshim RedForce in Busan. Down 0-2, the Indian organization fought back to claim their first-ever Pacific title, $100,000, and the top seed for VALORANT Champions Shanghai. Relive the dramatic comeback and what it means for the team and fans.