Asia
Collective Artists Network Onboards Global Esports
Collective Artists Network has signed Global Esports to exclusively represent the team across their sponsorship portfolio.
Vijay Subramaniam, Group CEO and Founder of Collective Artists Network said: “Collective Artists Network is committed to providing strategic guidance to companies & organizations whilst connecting them to brands, influencers and popular culture for disruptive growth. Esports is at the forefront of this disruptive growth and Global Esports’ impressive Esports legacy and its aggressive growth journey is truly a force to reckon with and we’re proud to have them on board.”
Global Esports is the only South Asian team selected for the International Valorant franchise league that will kick-off in February 2023 with an opening event at São Paulo, Brazil.
Rushindra Sinha, Founder of Global Esports, said: “Global Esports went from being the oldest Esports org in India to now becoming the youngest at the Valorant world league. We are now among the top 30 Esports orgs in the world to have a spot at the International League and will be representing South Asia as a region. Riot Games has history as a publisher of making the best Esports titles in the world and has already showcased their expertise in running a franchise league with League of Legends for the last 10 years, so it makes them the right publisher to replicate the League model with their newest game title – Valorant which is currently the fastest growing Esports Game in the world. Global Esports has a history of building championship teams, players, producing the highest quality of content and broadcast all from our Studio & Content House in Bandra. With everything we have lined up for the next few years, it only makes sense to work with the best of the best when it comes to Entertainment which is why we’re excited to join hands with Collective Artists Network on our journey to building the world’s biggest gaming company.”
Asia
Esports to make its mark at Khelo India Youth Games 2025 with BGMI, Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball
Featuring titles that span mobile, console, and strategy-based formats like chess, the esports lineup at KIYG 2025 reflects a deliberate effort to cater to diverse gaming audiences. This move also signals a broader national recognition of esports as a legitimate sporting pursuit, on par with traditional disciplines, a direction that India has been moving toward with increased pace.
While BGMI remains the most popular esports title in India, Chess stands out as a particularly noteworthy addition to KIYG 2025. Once considered a purely traditional sport, Chess has increasingly found a home in the esports world, most recently as part of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, which boasts a prize pool of $1.5 million (INR 12.6 crore) for the title. NODWIN Gaming, a leader in South Asia’s esports and gaming ecosystem, has been one of the pioneers of this shift in India. In 2021, the company organised the Chess Super League, featuring national and international stars and also hosted Chess tournaments at DreamHack India 2024 across rapid and blitz formats.
“The inclusion of titles like BGMI, Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball in the Khelo India Youth Games 2025 signals a big step forward for grassroots esports in India,” says Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming. “It’s encouraging to see esports standing shoulder to shoulder with traditional sports, and the addition of Chess – bridging classical and digital strategy shows how in tune this initiative is with global trends. But this isn’t just about tournaments. It’s about creating real opportunities to discover talent from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, places that have been overlooked for too long, thus building the foundation for a future where Indian gamers don’t just participate, they dominate on the world stage.”
Further underscoring the growing stature of Indian Chess in esports, S8UL, a global force in esports and gaming content, has signed Grandmasters Aravindh Chithambaram and Nihal Sarin to compete at the EWC 2025. In addition to Chess, S8UL will also field players in Street Fighter 6, as well as EAFC25, Call of Duty Warzone, Tekken 8, and Apex Legends at the prestigious tournament.
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO of S8UL believes that the inclusion of titles like Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball console in KIYG 2025 reflects a thoughtful push to diversify beyond mobile gaming and build a more well-rounded competitive ecosystem. “It is especially encouraging to see Street Fighter 6 and Chess recognised through a government-led initiative, at a time when S8UL will be representing India in these very titles at the upcoming Esports World Cup. This development is crucial for identifying and nurturing talent across a range of platforms and genres from the grassroots level. Such proactive support from the authorities is a strong indicator of the growing legitimacy of esports in India and a positive sign for the industry’s future,” he adds.
The roots of esports entering the mainstream have already been visible across various states. Before its inclusion in KIYG 2025, the state of Bihar actively embraced the esports movement by organising the Bihar State Esports Open Championship and the Bihar Inter School and College Esports Championship over the past year. States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Nagaland have also taken proactive steps to support and formalise grassroots esports programs.
Mikhail Bhuta, Co-Founder & Tech Lead, Dirtcube Interactive LLP remarked, “Including esports in the Khelo India Youth Games is a practical step toward building a grassroots ecosystem for new-age sports. We believe that through this program, we’ll soon see national esports heroes rise from across the country and bolster India’s representation on the global stage. With this being the inaugural season, we envision having Made-in-India esports-based games be part of KIYG’s future seasons.”
With S8UL participating in Chess and Street Fighter at the EWC 2025, India has already been making waves on the international stage in eFootball, with Pavan Kampelli winning the bronze medal at the 2024 Asian Esports Games in Bangkok.
Esports will be an official medal sport at the 2026 Asian Games, and the first-ever Olympic Esports Games is scheduled to debut in 2027. These developments mark a global shift toward legitimising esports within mainstream sporting culture.
KIYG 2025 featuring esports will help identify, nurture, and empower gaming talent from the ground up. With both state and national bodies supporting the push, the future of Indian esports looks brighter than ever.
The post Esports to make its mark at Khelo India Youth Games 2025 with BGMI, Street Fighter 6, Chess, and eFootball appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
International Game Technology PLC (IGT) announced that the Company will unveil its latest portfolio of solutions for the Asia-Pacific market at G2E Asia 2025 at The Venetian Macao, May 7-9 in stand A801. IGT will display a tailored suite of regionally attuned multi-level progressive link and standalone titles, along with the IGT ADVANTAGE casino management system (CMS). IGT’s innovative G2E Asia 2025 portfolio is designed to deliver enhanced player entertainment, increase customer loyalty, drive performance and meet the needs of the local market.
“Over the past 12 months, IGT has seen clear results in our realigned focus for Asia, and at G2E Asia 2025, we will expand upon this successful strategy with a product portfolio designed to deliver even more depth and entertainment to operators and players. IGT’s global strength, paired with our localized focus, allows us to develop compelling offerings that provide variety across casino floors and will help increase our regional footprint for our electronic gaming machine and systems portfolios,” said Dallas Orchard, IGT Senior Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, Gaming APAC.
“With the recent appointment of new talent and partnerships, IGT remains focused on strengthening our commitment to the region by delivering a compelling product portfolio at G2E Asia. In addition to new multi-level progressive links, like the global sensation Tiger and Dragon and the locally developed Ying Fu Wa Fa Fa Fa, which takes our proven Ying Fu Wa to the next level, plus the revolutionary IGT ADVANTAGE CMS, we are set to write a new chapter in Asia by enabling our customers to diversify their gaming floors and drive performance,” said Charles Seo, IGT Senior Director of Commercial Strategy, Asia.
Some key highlights for G2E Asia attendees to discover in IGT’s stand will include:
• Tiger and Dragon Link: An extension of IGT’s global hit Tiger and Dragon, this regionally attuned link powers up performance and gameplay with Cash on Reels and a lock and respin bonus with a unique betting structure that unlocks larger values and more win opportunities. Available on IGT’s PeakSlant49, PeakCurve49 and CrystalCurve cabinets, Tiger and Dragon Link also offers the chance to multiply wins up to 10x and includes the popular multi-pot collection feature for an entertaining gameplay experience.
• Ying Fu Wa Fa Fa Fa Link: This innovative link takes an IGT proven performer to the next level. Building on classic and player-favorite Ying Fu Wa gameplay, this new evolution includes a revolutionary ‘888 Feature’ and the addition of a new progressive jackpot that accumulates rewards throughout gameplay. Available in two game titles, Blessing Fortune and Overflowing Joy, with free games for variety and entertainment, Ying Fu Wa Fa Fa Fa Link is available on IGT’s PeakSlant49, PeakCurve49, PeakSlant32 and PeakDual27 cabinets.
• Rising Rockets Link: This multi-level progressive link is currently boosting player entertainment and performance on casino floors across Asia. Available in two complementary game titles, Emperor and Empress, Rising Rockets Link offers three different lock and respin bonuses, scalable bonuses, multi-denomination options and multiple jackpot opportunities during the bonus features. It is available on the PeakSlant49, PeakCurve49 and CrystalCurve cabinets.
• Money Gong Link: Packed with entertainment and a variety of gameplay experiences, the new Money Gong Link offers an innovative lock and respin bonus feature that includes three different gameplay modifiers, ‘Multiplier’, ‘Vortex Pays’ and ‘Prize Boost,’ for more chances to win. With a unique Money Gong bonus play-off for the chance to win the Money Gong jackpot, this new link is available on IGT’s PeakSlant49 and PeakCurve49 cabinets.
In addition to IGT’s demonstration of the exciting gaming portfolio covering more than 60 individual game titles, the IGT Systems team will demonstrate the differentiating features of IGT ADVANTAGE, including exciting bonusing options for Asia and IGT’s award-winning Cardless Connect and Resort Wallet solutions. Offering a modular design that supports convenience-driving apps, IGT ADVANTAGE drives the player experience forward while helping optimise casino operations. Through IGT’s HTML-based M5 technology, operators can deliver personalised real-time promotions, bonuses and more to the player via the cabinet’s service window.
The post IGT Unveils Advanced Product and Solutions Portfolio at G2E Asia 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Construction has officially begun on Japan’s first integrated resort with a casino, as MGM Osaka held its groundbreaking ceremony last week. The event, hosted by Osaka IR KK, the project’s promoter, was attended by Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura and representatives of MGM Resorts International and Japan’s Orix Corporation, the lead partners behind the ¥1.27 trillion ($8.8 billion) development.
Located on the man-made island of Yumeshima in Osaka Bay, MGM Osaka is scheduled to open in the autumn of 2030. The project marks a key milestone in Japan’s long-debated foray into legalised casino gaming. Once operational, it is expected to generate around $5.9 billion annually in gross gaming revenue.
MGM Osaka will feature a casino, three hotels with approximately 2500 rooms, and extensive convention and entertainment facilities, including a 3500-seat theater, 330,000 square feet of exhibition space and 400,000 square feet of conference areas. Dining and retail outlets are also part of the expansive master plan.
“In collaboration with Osaka Prefecture and Osaka City, this project… is expected to contribute to the development of Japan’s tourism industry and the growth of the Kansai region,” a press statement reads.
The complex’s timeline coincides with the tail end of Expo 2025, also hosted on Yumeshima Island. To minimise disruption during the event, construction will be scaled down on peak days and the use of heavy machinery delayed until after the Expo concludes in October.
The resort will benefit from enhanced transportation access. A new Osaka Metro station opened in January to serve Expo 2025 and eventually MGM Osaka, while the Kintetsu Nara Line is being extended to further improve connectivity before the resort opens.
Financially, the project is backed by a ¥530 billion ($3.68 billion) debt financing package led by Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., with investments from regional businesses in Osaka.
The post Construction of Japan’s First Integrated Resort with a Casino Begins appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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