IGlobal esports tournament operator BLAST has announced a significant partnership with RISE Worldwide, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, to establish a joint venture aimed at accelerating the esports industry in India.
The collaboration will combine BLAST’s world-class tournament production and event management expertise with Reliance’s massive market presence. The joint venture will also involve Jio Platforms Limited, one of India’s leading telecom operators, to provide the necessary bandwidth infrastructure for esports competitions.
What Could This Mean For Indian Esports?
As part of this initiative, BLAST will set up offices and a full-fledged production studio in India, further solidifying its long-term commitment to the region. The partnership aims to co-create new tournament IPs tailored to Indian gamers, while also offering services to publishers and sponsors including end-to-end event execution, marketing, and broadcasting.
“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,” said CEO of BLAST, Robbie Douek. “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.”
He added, “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.”
BLAST already works with top publishers such as Riot Games, Epic Games, KRAFTON, Valve, and Ubisoft, producing major events across titles like Valorant, Counter-Strike 2, Fortnite, and PUBG Mobile. Now, India joins that global map, with the potential to become one of BLAST’s key markets.