India’s gaming industry is expected to nearly triple in size, from .8 billion in 2024 to .2 billion by 2029, according to estimates cited by the company. Globally, the esports market is forecast to grow from .8 billion this year to .7 billion by 2033. Bhimjyani said the joint venture would combine BLAST’s tournament experience […]
India’s gaming industry is expected to nearly triple in size, from .8 billion in 2024 to .2 billion by 2029, according to estimates cited by the company. Globally, the esports market is forecast to grow from .8 billion this year to .7 billion by 2033.
Bhimjyani said the joint venture would combine BLAST’s tournament experience and publisher relationships with Jio’s reach and technical capabilities to develop sustainable, high-quality gaming competitions in India.
Promoting esports competitions in India
The partnership, announced by RISE Worldwide Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Reliance, and BLAST Esports Ltd., a unit of Denmark-based BLAST ApS, aims to tap into India’s rapidly expanding base of more than 600 million gamers.
Reliance’s entry comes at a time of rising interest in esports as both a cultural and commercial force. With this move, the conglomerate—whose interests span energy, retail, telecom and sports—further deepens its engagement in entertainment and youth-driven content.
“India is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing gaming markets in the world,” said Robbie Douek, chief executive of BLAST. “By partnering with Reliance, a market leader with unparalleled expertise and reach, we have a unique opportunity to elevate the local esports scene to new heights.”
Billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries Ltd. said that it would enter the esports business through a joint venture with European tournament organizer BLAST, marking a strategic move into India’s fast-growing gaming sector.
The venture, whose name was not disclosed, will bring several of BLAST’s global tournament formats to India while developing new intellectual properties for domestic audiences. These events are expected to be streamed on JioGames, Reliance’s gaming platform, and will include end-to-end management of competitions, publisher engagement, sponsorship activation, and broadcast production.
A growing market
Though still nascent, India’s esports sector received a boost after the government officially recognized it as part of the “multi-sports event” category, a move that has encouraged broader institutional support and investment.
BLAST, known for organizing large-scale esports events for titles such as Counter-Strike 2, Fortnite, and Rainbow Six, currently works with game publishers, including Epic Games, Valve, Riot Games, KRAFTON, and Ubisoft.
The new entity will develop, host, and promote esports competitions across India, leveraging BLAST’s production capabilities and Reliance’s digital infrastructure.
Its events are forecast to generate over 2 billion views in 2025 and are broadcast in more than 30 languages across 150 countries.
“We are excited to partner with BLAST, which is a leader in conducting world-class esports tournaments globally in partnership with the largest gaming publishers,” said Devang Bhimjyani, head of Reliance Sports. “With this joint venture, India esports will be able to realize its full potential.”
