Asia
Team Zero Gravity Triumphs in Indus International Tournament Powerplay, Secures Spot in LAN Finale
SuperGaming, India’s leading game developer, has successfully concluded the Powerplay Phase of the Indus International Tournament (IIT), the country’s premier grassroots-to-global esports showcase for its Indo-Futuristic battle royale, Indus.
The Powerplay Phase witnessed intense competition among professional esports teams from over 100 organizations. Teams battled fiercely on the map of Virlok, delivering high-stakes gameplay, demonstrating exceptional skill and strategic prowess. With ₹25 Lakhs up for grabs in this leg alone, the pressure was high — and performances, unforgettable.
Team Zero Gravity emerged as the champions of the Powerplay Phase, walking away with ₹10 Lakhs in winnings. The squad’s standout performer and Captain [ZG]SGOD – Sandeep Pandey earned the coveted MVP title, racking up 37 kills and 21,747 damage – an impressive stat line. He was awarded ₹1 Lakh for his outstanding performance.
Powerplay Phase Winners Announced:
Following weeks of intense competition, the teams emerging victorious from the Powerplay Phase are:
1. Team Zero Gravity – ₹10,00,000
2. Marcos Gaming – ₹4,00,000
3. Likitha Esports – ₹3,00,000
4. Heatbeast Esports – ₹2,50,000
5. Golden Hornet – ₹1,75,000
6. 4Ever Esports – ₹1,25,000
7. Autobotz Esports – ₹1,00,000
8. Blind Esports – ₹50,000
These 8 teams have now secured their spots in the upcoming Indus International Tournament LAN Finale, competing for the Champions Trophy and a ₹2 Crore prize pool. The LAN event is set for 18th May, 2025 at Drome Arena, Pune.
One Final Shot: The Last Chance Qualifier
For those still dreaming of the LAN stage, SuperGaming has opened The Final Portal. This is a last-chance qualifier offering one additional spot at the LAN Finale. Registrations are open until 16 April, 5:00 PM IST, with matches kicking off on 19 April, 2:00 PM IST.
Interested players can now form their squad, gear up, and register HERE.
Rising Stars. Real Careers.
More than just competition, the Indus International Tournament is becoming a launchpad for a new generation of Indian esports athletes. The tournament structure is designed to nurture grassroots talent and elevate India’s presence in global esports. For many, this is more than a trophy — it’s the start of a real career in competitive gaming.
Roby John, CEO and Co-Founder, SuperGaming, says,
“At SuperGaming, we’re building a gaming and esports ecosystem made in India—for India and the world. With Indus, we’re rethinking the traditional esports playbook by focusing on grassroots tournaments, creator-led events, and co-ownership opportunities that turn players and fans into real stakeholders.
Instead of chasing unsustainable models, we’re building a community-first framework that drives engagement, retention, and monetization—from in-game items to merch and transmedia content. Esports isn’t just a competitive format for us—it’s a storytelling engine where real-world players become heroes as part of the game’s evolving universe.
We believe India has a unique opportunity to lead the next wave of global gaming—and we’re laying the foundation to make that happen.”
Tournament Highlights:
- The Indus International Tournament features four progressive phases: Homegrown, Nationals, Powerplay, and International, designed to reflect India’s diverse player base and competitive ecosystem.
- Homegrown Phase: Showcased rising grassroots talent. Team Rogue, DGE, and Moggers qualified for the LAN Finale.
- The National Phase concluded with Team Esports Battleground and Brazil-based organisation Team 4Magic advancing to the LAN Finale.
- Kadiliman Esports from the Philippines is set to represent international talent at the LAN Final.
- The Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the Indus International Tournament LAN finale will be awarded a custom Mahindra Thar*.
SuperGaming is thrilled with the overwhelming response and the level of competition seen throughout the tournament. With top teams, passionate fans, and leading creators heading to Pune, the Indus International Tournament LAN Finale is set to become one of India’s most defining esports events. This isn’t just a finale — it’s where the country’s next esports champions will rise.
The post Team Zero Gravity Triumphs in Indus International Tournament Powerplay, Secures Spot in LAN Finale appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
(In order of appearance from left to right)
India is on the brink of witnessing a gaming revolution that is shaping the global industry. With 590 million gamers and industry projections estimating the market to reach INR 66,000 crores at a growth rate of 14.5%, as compared to the global growth of 8% (CAGR). India is now poised to become a billion dollar gaming powerhouse outpacing growth globally.
A large contributor to this sea change is mobile gaming. India has now become the second-largest mobile gaming market by downloads, with figures 3.5 times higher than the US or Brazil. As per a recent Lumikai report, 23 million new gamers from the country joined in FY24, with weekly playtime shooting up by a notable 30%. Backed by $2.8 billion in investments and significant job creation potential, gaming is becoming a key pillar of India’s digital economy.
Nitish Mittersain, CEO & Joint MD at Nazara Technologies, says that the evolution exceeds beyond mere numbers. He underscores, “In a world where gaming is becoming a cultural and economic force, India is no longer just a consumer market, but also becoming a maker. With scale, talent, and strategic capital, Indian companies are rewriting the rules, growing from local leaders to global powerhouses.”
The country’s mobile-first ecosystem, enormous internet penetration, and tech-savvy youth have made it a fertile ground for gaming, while what’s also changing is how games are being made, distributed, and funded.
According to Anuj Tandon, Partner India & UAE at BITKRAFT Ventures, “The Indian gaming industry is experiencing a significant resurgence. A large talent pool and innovative narrative developers are fostering ecosystem expansion, leading to the creation of globally marketable games. Recognizing the emerging prominence of the Indian market, BITKRAFT is looking to make strategic investments to support its development as a vital contributor to the international gaming & entertainment sector.”
With the gaming sector in India empowering the larger community, content, and creators across the country, games are increasingly interactive among larger audiences, and platforms are working to intrigue new-age streamers and influencers from tier 2 & 3 cities in India.
Speaking about the shift in the Indian gaming market, Piyush, Founder & CEO of Rooter, “India has witnessed a significant surge in in-app purchases by gamers over the past three years, driving industry revenue growth at a 40% CAGR. Once a challenging market to monetize, improved micro-transaction behavior and effective pricing strategies are now encouraging gamers to spend more for enhanced experiences. Content creators are leveraging streaming platforms like Rooter to collaborate with publishers and raise awareness about games and their assets. Over the last two years, Rooter has unlocked multiple monetization channels, engaging with over 100 brands, numerous gaming publishers, global platforms, and gift card partners to create scalable revenue opportunities.”
The rise in engagement is paving the way for real business opportunities. Casual games particularly have opened new doors for monetization via in-app purchases, ads, partnerships, and sponsorships especially when game access is embedded seamlessly into daily routine platforms.
Yashash Agarwal, CEO & Co-founder of Gamezop, explains, “The world is waking up to where the real action in gaming lies, and that’s India. A projected revenue CAGR of 14.5% – nearly double the global average, is a clear sign that India is not just part of the global gaming story, we’re writing the next chapter.
Web gaming, in particular, is seeing explosive traction, and India is leading the charge. We’re witnessing a new wave of native users turn to web games for their accessibility, speed, and immersive play – no downloads, no wait time, just instant fun. What’s equally exciting is that India is not just consuming web games at scale; it’s also emerging as a powerhouse for web game development.
From an infrastructure perspective, we find ourselves in a better position than ever before. Devices are becoming smarter and faster, and with 5G technology, smartphones today have more capabilities than ever. As a result, people are spending more time online, leading to a surge of apps and websites across categories. At Gamezop, we’ve seen how seamlessly web games can plug into the everyday digital lives of Indian users across news, entertainment, utility, and fintech platforms. With the right regulatory and infrastructure support, India could very well define the future of web gaming.”
Meanwhile, on the development front, the industry is seeing a shift toward homegrown innovation. Indian studios have evolved from providing services like localizing global titles to creating original games that are performing well on the global stage.
Anurag Choudhary, Founder & CEO of Felicity Games, puts it plainly, “India is not just becoming a billion-player market, it’s emerging as a powerhouse for innovation in mobile gaming. With a young, connected population and a rapidly evolving developer ecosystem, we’re seeing global-quality titles being built and scaled from here. At Felicity Games, we’re proud to be part of this movement by publishing Indian games for global audiences, backed by strong unit economics and technology-led operations.”
With supportive regulation, sustained investment, and a stark rise in talent, India’s gaming sector is reportedly estimated to reach around INR ~500,000 Crores in value by 2034. India with the growth, innovation, and the large user base is set to emerge as a billion-dollar global giant, surpassing the global growth and setting new benchmarks.
The post Gaming in India – The Rise of a New Billion-dollar Economic Powerhouse appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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.
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