BLAST and Reliance Announce Joint Venture Focussed on Super Charging Indian Esports
BLAST and RISE, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries Limited, India’s largest private sector company, today announced a joint venture to accelerate the growth of esports in India.
India’s gaming industry is experiencing unprecedented growth, boasting a gamer base of 600 million - 18% of the total global audience. The country’s esports market is poised to reach US$ 9.2 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 19% from $2.8 million in 2024. Esports is now officially recognised as part of India’s multi-sports category.
The strategic partnership will help to accelerate this growth by bringing BLAST’s globally recognised esports properties and production techniques to India while co-creating new tournament IPs tailored to the fast-growing gaming market.
Jio Platforms Limited, a subsidiary of Reliance, is India’s largest telecom operator with a reach of over 480 million customers and its comprehensive ecosystem comprising 4G/5G connectivity and cloud services. The JioGames platform will be critical for production of these events and hosting the gamers on the platform.
The strategic partnership will leverage Reliance’s digital and distribution ecosystem including JioGames - to create, produce and distribute top-tier esports experiences for publishers, brands, fans and players. BLAST will look to apply its successful esports formula in working with the world’s biggest publishers in Epic Games, Riot Games, Valve, KRAFTON, and Ubisoft, to help deliver unparalleled experiences for Indian audiences. The JV will cater to the entire esports spectrum:
● Services to publishers and sponsors
● End-to-end tournament management
● Targeted marketing
● Production and broadcasting
Robbie Douek, CEO for BLAST, said
"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. 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. BLAST has a proven track record of delivering world-class tournaments and entertainment for global audiences, and we can't wait to bring that expertise to India. 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.”
Devang Bhimjyani, Head of Sports for RISE, said:
“We are excited to partner with BLAST which is a leader in conducting world-class esports tournaments globally in partnership with largest gaming publishers for marquee gaming titles. I welcome Robbie and his team to Reliance Group. We are very confident that with this partnership India esports will be able to realise its full potential. With this JV, Reliance will extend its interest in sports into esports and leverage RISE ability to market and promote sporting events and teams along with Jio providing its distribution and technology expertise.”
The joint venture will see BLAST establish offices and a state-of-the-art production studio in India, marking a significant expansion of its global operations. With existing offices in London, Copenhagen, and Berlin, India will become a pivotal base for BLAST’s continued growth in Asia.
BLAST’s reputation for high-quality production and fan-first entertainment has made it one of the most influential esports tournament organisers in the world. In 2025 alone, BLAST events will be hosted in big arenas across London, Lyon, Austin, Singapore, and Rio, with millions of fans tuning in globally. By entering the Indian market, BLAST aims to elevate local talent to international prominence and establish a robust competitive gaming ecosystem in the region.
The collaboration will further accelerate BLAST’s expansion into mobile esports, following its successful entry into the space with last year’s BLAST Bash, which featured games from developer Supercell. With mobile gaming now accounting for over 50% of global gaming revenue, the industry continues to experience rapid growth. In India, mobile gaming dominates the sector, with more than 650 million mobile gamers - making it one of the largest gaming audiences in the world.
