The rapid growth of video gaming and esports in India has not only highlighted its potential to drive the country’s digital economy but has also attracted significant government attention.
From the Prime Minister meeting gamers last year and advocating for the industry’s growth to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting supporting the inaugural WAVES Esports Championship, the sector has become a key focus for the Modi government.
States like Bihar, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Tamil Nadu are leading grassroots initiatives by integrating esports into schools, sponsoring teams, and hosting state-level tournaments, signaling a shift in how the industry is perceived.
This year also brings immense opportunities for Indian esports on the global stage, with the Olympic Esports Games offering a platform for the nation to achieve Olympic recognition in competitive gaming.
As Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman prepares to present the Union Budget 2025-26 on February 1, we are keen to explore stories, interviews, or authored article opportunities for the below-mentioned video gaming and esports industry stakeholders, who can share valuable insights on what the industry can expect from the upcoming budget:
1. NODWIN Gaming
Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and MD of NODWIN Gaming and an industry evangelist
Akshat Rathee, a serial entrepreneur and ardent gamer, has transformed his lifelong passion into a pioneering venture in esports. As the Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, Akshat has steered the company into a global leadership position since its inception in 2014, shaping it into one of the world’s leading youth entertainment and esports organizations. Under his leadership, NODWIN Gaming has become a key player in new-age youth entertainment, creating immersive and engaging experiences that resonate with younger audiences.
With a vision to redefine the future of gaming and youth entertainment in India and beyond, Akshat has been instrumental in building NODWIN Gaming into a powerhouse in the global esports landscape. Now an independent subsidiary of Nazara Technologies Ltd. (BSE: NAZARA), valued at $349 million as of 2023, NODWIN holds a commanding presence in emerging markets and continues to expand its reach across South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
2. S8UL Esports & 8bit Creatives
Animesh Agarwal, aka 8Bit Thug, Co-Founder of S8UL and 8Bit Creatives
Animesh Agarwal is the Founder and CEO of 8Bit Creatives, as well as the founder of S8UL, the country’s leading Esports and gaming content organization. S8UL serves as the parent organization of IQOO SOUL, a leading Esports organization in India. Animesh dons several hats as an entrepreneur, an ex-pro gamer, a monster energy Esports athlete, and a gaming & luxury lifestyle content creator.
3. 88 Games
Milind D. Shinde, Founder and CEO, 88 Games
88 Games is the newly launched game development division of 88 Pictures, a leading Indian Animation and VFX studio that has contributed to Emmy and Annie Award-winning project Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia. The division is spearheaded by animation industry veteran Milind Shinde who brings with him an illustrious background of being part of Oscar-nominated feature films and playing an instrumental role in establishing the production infrastructure at the India Dreamworks and Oriental DreamWorks in Shanghai, China.
4. CyberPowerPC India
Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer, CyberPowerPC India
Mr Parekh brings a wealth of experience in the gaming and technology sectors, having previously held marketing leadership roles at NODWIN Gaming, Kingston, and HyperX. Parekh’s role will focus on steering CyberPowerPC India’s strategy to align with local market needs while maintaining the brand’s global standards of innovation and quality. This will bolster CyberPowerPC’s mission to deliver state-of-the-art gaming systems across India.