Reliance enters E-sports arena with BLAST JV

April 7, 2025 | 0 Comment

Reliance’s Rise Worldwide has partnered with Denmark’s BLAST to enter India’s booming e-sports market, currently valued at US$ 3.8 billion and expected to reach US$ 9.2 billion by 2029. The joint venture will host tournaments on JioGames, combining BLAST’s global e-sports expertise with Jio’s tech and distribution strength. With 600 million gamers, India is seen as a key growth driver for the global e-sports industry, which is projected to hit US$ 16.7 billion by 2033.

Sports industry_TPCI

Reliance-backed Rise Worldwide has partnered with a subsidiary of Denmark-based BLAST to launch a joint venture aimed at tapping into India’s rapidly growing e-sports market. The move marks Reliance’s formal entry into e-sports, expanding its sports portfolio and leveraging its existing strengths in media, technology, and distribution through Jio.

India’s e-sports market, currently valued at US$ 3.8 billion, is projected to grow at 19% annually and reach US$ 9.2 billion by 2029. The country is already home to about 600 million gamers—18% of the global gamer base—which is expected to double in the coming years.

The joint venture will combine BLAST’s expertise in e-sports media production, relationships with leading game publishers (including Epic Games, Valve, Krafton, and Ubisoft), and ownership of popular intellectual properties with Jio’s robust technology infrastructure and deep local distribution network. The JV will host events through the JioGames platform, aiming to scale up the local e-sports ecosystem.

Devang Bhimjyani, head of Reliance Sports, said the partnership will allow Reliance to build on its success in traditional sports and apply Rise’s capabilities in marketing and event promotion to the e-sports space. He highlighted the role of Jio in providing the necessary tech and distribution backbone. BLAST CEO Robbie Douek called India one of the most exciting gaming markets globally, emphasizing the country’s growing e-sports audience and enthusiasm for competitive gaming.

Globally, the e-sports market is expected to grow from $2.8 billion in 2024 to US$ 16.7 billion by 2033, at a compound annual growth rate of 22%. By then, India is projected to contribute about 60% of the global market. The Indian government has also officially recognized e-sports as part of the “multi-sports event” category.

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