Global esports tournament operator BLAST announced Wednesday that it has signed a deal to establish a joint venture with RISE to accelerate the growth of esports competitions in India.
Financial terms of this new venture were not disclosed.
RISE, a division of India-based Reliance Industries Limited, will work with BLAST to bring its esports properties and production techniques to India, as well as helping to co-create new tournament IPs tailored to the Indian market and its audience. For its part, BLAST will support the deal by providing services to publishers and sponsors, end-to-end tournament management, targeted marketing, and production and broadcasting. The company will also work with Reliance subsidiary Jio Platforms Limited, one of India’s largest telecom operators, to the bandwidth needed to facilitate competitions.
Finally, the joint venture will see BLAST establish offices and a production studio in India.
“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,” said Robbie Douek, CEO for BLAST. “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.”
BLAST works creates events for the world’s top esports through partnerships with Epic Games (Fortnite, Rocket League), Riot Games (League of Legends, Valorant, and Teamfight Tactics), Valve (Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2), KRAFTON (PUBG, PUBG Mobile, Battlegrounds Mobile India), and Ubisoft (Rainbow Six Siege).