Olympic Esports Games 2025 and Esports World Cup: Major Highlights for Indian Esports Fans

The Indian esports and video gaming industry is poised for a transformative year in 2025, with several exciting developments shaping the landscape. Events like the WAVES Esports Championships, the rise of Made-in-India games, increased government-backed initiatives, and the growing popularity of PC gaming are set to play pivotal roles in this evolution.

Following an extraordinary year in 2024, marked by unprecedented growth, India’s esports momentum shows no signs of slowing down. Among the standout events in 2025, the Olympic Esports Games, hosted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is anticipated to be the biggest highlight.

After India’s stellar performance at the Paris Olympics 2024, where the nation secured six medals, Indian esports athletes now have a remarkable chance to add to the medal tally in this rapidly growing domain. This milestone event is expected to elevate esports’ stature in India while solidifying the country’s position as a global contender in competitive gaming.

Another key event on the horizon is the Esports World Cup, which recently announced chess as one of its featured titles, complete with a substantial USD 1.5 million prize pool.

With Indian chess prodigies like grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju making history on the global stage, the Esports World Cup offers a fresh platform for Indian players to shine. Scheduled in Saudi Arabia from July 31 to August 3, 2025, the tournament represents an opportunity for India to further its achievements in esports.

Chess, though not officially recognized as an Olympic sport, has a strong chance of being featured at the Olympic Esports Games, given its inclusion in the Olympic Esports Series 2023. This paves the way for India to potentially secure its first-ever Olympic medal in chess through esports.

Parallel to these global tournaments, the WAVES Esports Championships (WESC) promises to be another flagship event, officially supported by India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The grand finals of three key titles—Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), World Cricket Championship (WCC), and eFootball—will headline the inaugural WAVES Summit in February 2025. This event, coupled with other government-endorsed tournaments, is set to further bolster India’s esports ecosystem.

The convergence of traditional sports and esports continues to deepen. Cricket, for instance, has increasingly intersected with gaming through partnerships and tournaments.

In 2024, notable collaborations included Mumbai Indians with BGMI, Gujarat Titans hosting an esports tournament, and Kolkata Knight Riders teaming up with S8UL Esports. Such partnerships are expected to grow, broadening gaming’s appeal across the nation.

According to Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and MD of NODWIN Gaming, 2025 will see further integration of esports with mainstream sports and entertainment.

Cricket is predicted to strengthen its ties with esports, while Bollywood stars and musicians are likely to collaborate with gaming to engage younger audiences. The fusion of esports with music, anime, and pop culture will reinforce gaming as a cornerstone of youth entertainment.

This trend was exemplified by NODWIN Gaming’s successful hosting of DreamHack India alongside Hyderabad Comic Con, blending gaming with pop culture. High-profile brand collaborations have also surged, with non-endemic companies increasingly recognizing the potential of India’s esports market.

A standout moment was 8Bit Creatives securing the largest naming rights sponsorship in Indian gaming history with smartphone giant iQOO, showcasing the growing interest in esports from mainstream brands.

As India’s esports industry continues to thrive, 2025 promises to be a landmark year, driving innovation, collaboration, and global recognition for Indian gaming and esports talent.

Looking ahead, Animesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO, 8Bit Creatives states, “In 2025, esports will continue expanding into more titles, creating opportunities for a broader range of players and audiences. As new games gain traction, regions like South Asia and MENA are expected to emerge as significant contributors to the global esports ecosystem. Content creators will play a central role in shaping fan engagement, while brands will increasingly view esports and gaming content as primary channels to connect with the ever-growing gaming-centric audience.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent Independence Day address, where he emphasized India’s potential to become a global leader in video games, has ignited optimism within the industry.

In 2024, several Made-in-India games debuted, with many more in development. These games are poised to highlight India’s growing prowess as a hub for game development on the international stage. Notably, 88 Games, the newly established game development arm of 88 Pictures, is set to launch three major titles, further cementing India’s rising influence in the global gaming arena.

“In 2025, we expect deeper integration of cutting-edge technologies like generative AI and extended reality (XR) into game development. These technologies will reshape how games are developed and consumed, enhancing storytelling and interactivity. For 88 Games, 2025 will be pivotal as we gear up for the launch of our first PC and console game. As gaming continues to gain cultural and economic significance, we’re thrilled to contribute to this journey and help shape its future,” notes Milind D. Shinde, Founder and CEO, 88 Games.

According to the ‘Indian Gamer Behaviour and Market Insights’ report by Niko Partners, 77.3% of PC gamers in India increased their spending on games in Q1 2024 compared to the previous year, outpacing the growth in mobile and console gaming.

Additionally, Steam recorded a remarkable 150% rise in new users from India between 2019 and 2024, highlighting the growing popularity of PC gaming. This upward trend is projected to continue in 2025, solidifying PC gaming’s expansion in the Indian market.

“The focus will increasingly shift toward sustainability and personalization in gaming technology. Cloud gaming and AI-driven performance optimizations will also drive innovation, making gaming accessible to an even broader audience. CyberPowerPC is excited about further expanding its footprint in India, especially in emerging markets. Our goal is to empower gamers and creators with tools that elevate their experiences, from immersive gaming setups to workhorse systems for content creation,” explains Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer, CyberPowerPC India.

With these thrilling advancements, 2025 is set to be an even more remarkable year for India’s gaming and esports industry.