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In a long-anticipated move, the Union Cabinet approved the National Sports Policy (NSP) 2025, replacing the outdated 2001 framework with an ambitious vision aimed at transforming India into a global sporting powerhouse. The revamped policy lays the foundation for India's aspirations at the 2036 Olympic Games, strengthening its focus on athletic excellence, infrastructure, and grassroots development.

But amid the celebrations, a growing and vocal industry is crying foul: esports has once again been left out.

Despite recent gains—such as esports titles being included in the Khelo India Youth Games and growing state-level engagement—the omission of esports from the NSP 2025 has struck a nerve with stakeholders who say the government is missing a golden opportunity to harness India’s immense gaming potential.

Droupadi Murmu, the President of India, amended the rules and ordered India’s Department of Sports, which falls under the ambit of India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, to act as the nodal agency for esports in the country.

The broader gaming industry and matters related to it is governed by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, as per the new amendment. The change clearly establishes esports as a separate entity from Real Money Gaming. 

Manoj Kasyap, founder of Hyderabad-based Velocity Gaming, didn’t mince words. “There’s a social stigma around esports,” he said, “and a lack of understanding between skill-based games and betting apps. That ignorance is holding us back. Its sad to see that esports is being sidelined , it could also be the negative publicity that mobile games usually get in the conventional media."

He added that the lack of major achievements by Indian esports organizations on the global stage might also be a reason for the government's reluctance. “But how do we win globally if we’re not supported at home?”

Rohit Jagasia, CEO of Revenant Esports, emphasized that esports should be given “the same importance and structured support” as traditional sports. “The scale and passion are undeniable,” he said. “India has one of the world’s largest esports audiences. With proper investment, this could become a multi-billion dollar industry and a legitimate career path for thousands.”

On the other hand, Saudi Arabia is heavily investing in esports infrastructure. According to Niko Partners, which produces video game market intelligence, more than half of self-described gamers in Saudi Arabia engage in esports, whether by watching or competing.

The Saudi video game market is growing faster than other countries in the region, with Niko projecting a five-year compound annual growth rate of more than 2 percent to hit $1.7 billion in 2029. The kingdom is investing in video games across the board, linked to its Vision 2030 diversification goals. 

It was recently revealed that rapper Post Malone will headline the opening ceremony. Cristiano Ronaldo has been named the tournament’s global ambassador for 2025. This year’s Esports World Cup features an unprecedented $70 million prize pool, which is the largest in the history of esports (last year’s pool came up to $62.5 million). The 2025 edition will feature 25 tournaments across 24 titles, spanning genres like shooters, strategy, sports, fighting, and mobile games.

Shiva Nandy, CEO of Skyesports, points to structural gaps: “India still doesn’t have a nationally recognized sports federation for esports. That makes it nearly impossible for the central government to formulate long-term policies.”

Despite that, he notes progress: esports has been included in government cash incentive programs for international medalists, and states like Tamil Nadu, Bihar, and Maharashtra have included esports in their official sports calendars. Events like the Chennai Esports Global Championship have also helped put India on the map.

Still, the lack of a unified national push means most players are left training without infrastructure, recognition, or institutional support.

Nandy argues that esports demands just as much rigor and discipline as any other sport. “Our athletes practice for 8–10 hours a day, leave home for months to train, and dream of representing India. Why should they be treated any differently?”

The NSP 2025 is the outcome of extensive consultations involving Central Ministries, NITI Aayog, State Governments, National Sports Federations (NSFs), athletes, domain experts, and public stakeholders. The policy is anchored on five key pillars viz. Excellence on the Global Stage, Sports for Economic Development, Sports for Social Development, Sports as a People’s Movement and Integration with Education (NEP 2020).

Akhil Kavuturu, co-founder of Marcos Gaming, agrees. “Esports players focus on strategy, mental health, fitness, and nutrition—just like Olympians. The U.S., China, and South Korea already issue sports visas for esports athletes. India should be next.”

For Rushindra Sinha, CEO of Global Esports, government support doesn’t mean subsidies. “We don’t need interference,” he said, “we need facilitation—especially with things like visas for international tournaments.”

Kuldeep Kumar, CEO of Villager Esports, added that taxation reform is the most urgent issue. “Esports professionals are taxed like businesses—over 30% of their earnings. That’s unfair. Recognizing esports under sports would not only offer financial relief but also encourage more grassroots events.”

As India charts its sporting future, leaving esports on the sidelines risks alienating a generation that lives and breathes digital competition. Recognizing esports as more than a game—but as a legitimate pursuit of excellence—might just be the game-changer Indian sports policy needs.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/gaming-news/eliminating-the-middlemen-esports-orgs-are-now-the-new-age-marketing-agencies-62761.htm">Read More: Eliminating the middlemen: Esports orgs are now the new-age marketing agencies</a>

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India unveils National Sports Policy 2025, but Esports gets benched again

Microsoft will cut about 9,000 jobs, its second major round of layoffs this year, as the technology giant moves to streamline operations and rein in costs while investing heavily in artificial intelligence. The reductions, which represent less than 4 percent of Microsoft’s global workforce, will affect employees across teams, regions and levels of seniority, according to reports. 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/intel-layoffs-2025-chipmaker-to-shut-automotive-division-lay-off-most-employees-in-the-unit-72093.htm">Intel layoffs 2025: Chipmaker to shut automotive division, lay off most employees in the unit</a>

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Microsoft said the reductions would affect teams across its global operations, including its sales organization and Xbox gaming division.

“We continue to implement organizational changes necessary to best position the company and teams for success in a dynamic marketplace,” the company said.

The layoffs, which follow the elimination of about 6,000 positions in May, come as Microsoft, like many of its peers, confronts the ballooning costs of competing in the AI arms race. The company has spent tens of billions of dollars on data centers and infrastructure to support its ambitions in artificial intelligence, even as it has pledged that it would remain disciplined on expenses.

As previously reported, the latest layoffs would target sales teams and divisions including Xbox. Microsoft had 228,000 employees at the end of June 2024, including 45,000 in sales and marketing roles. 

Amidst these layoffs, the company’s top sales executive, Judson Althoff, is set to begin a two-month sabbatical in July. Microsoft has said the leave was previously planned and that Althoff is expected to return in September.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/microsoft-to-lay-off-hundreds-in-xbox-division-amid-restructuring-push-71865.htm">Read more: Microsoft to lay off hundreds in Xbox division amid restructuring push</a>

Big Tech Layoffs: Microsoft to lay off 9,000 people in bid to rein in costs amid AI push

Speaking at Storyboard18’s Digital Entertainment Summit 2025, Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary, Directorate General of Information & PR, Maharashtra, spotlighted the state’s leading role in tackling cybercrime and illegal online betting. As digital threats grow more complex and borderless, Singh underscored the urgent need for harmonized regulation, stronger infrastructure, and public-private collaboration to stay ahead in the fight against digital crime.

“First of all, I think as it has been discussed in the earlier sessions also, there needs to be one uniform policy across all states. Nagaland may come up with something, Haryana may come up with something, Maharashtra may come up with something. There has to be a harmonization,” he said.

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WATCH: Maharashtra's DGIPR Brijesh Singh on need of uniform policy across states

At the Digital Entertainment Summit 2025 hosted by Storyboard18, Dr. M.C. Sarangan, Member of the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority (TNOGA), emphasized the need to shift India’s online gaming narrative from regulation to responsibility. Stressing that the core issue lies not in gaming itself but in compulsive overuse, Sarangan called for a nationwide push toward public awareness, early intervention, and collaborative governance to foster a safer digital gaming ecosystem.

“The problem isn’t gaming. It’s excessive and compulsive gaming. We promote responsible gaming, and every action we take is based on research,” Sarangan said, outlining TNOGA’s core philosophy.

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WATCH: TNOGA's Dr. M.C. Sarangan on gaming addiction as a collective fight

At Storyboard18’s Digital Entertainment Summit (DES) 2025, Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana, made a strong case against blanket bans on online gaming and instead called for a more nuanced, long-term regulatory approach.

“The gaming sector offers economic potential, but also raises concerns like addiction, underage participation, and fraud. Blanket bans don’t work. While Telangana has had its own bans, I don’t believe that’s the long-term solution,” said Ranjan.

He also highlighted the limitations of the current national regulatory structure and emphasized the need for a more effective model:

“The current national approach of self-regulatory bodies (SRBs) hasn’t worked well either due to elite capture and fragmentation. We are now exploring a third model that balances innovation and consumer protection. It’s not an easy solution, but necessary.”

Telangana’s AVGC Push

In the broader context of India’s growing AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) sector, Ranjan outlined how Telangana has emerged as a national frontrunner by combining early policy innovation, large-scale infrastructure, and industry-integrated skilling.

“Telangana recognized the potential of this sector much earlier than others. After becoming a separate state in 2014, we identified the AVGC sector as a flagship component of our digital economy. We were possibly the first state to come out with a progressive AVGC policy, and we’re now working on version 2.0. This policy was built bottom-up, addressing real challenges faced by the industry,” said Ranjan.

He added that Telangana’s approach has gone beyond policy announcements.

“Beyond policy, we’ve taken five concrete steps—most notably, the construction of the IMAGE Tower in Hyderabad. This is a 1.6 million sq. ft. Grade A facility with ₹1,200 crore of state investment. It’s expected to generate 30,000 jobs and attract over 150 VFX companies.”

Ranjan also highlighted the city’s growing cinematic dominance and its strong pipeline of industry leaders.

“In the last 15 years, 12 of the highest-grossing Indian films came from the South—9 of them from the Telugu industry. Even films from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka often have their post-production and VFX work done in Hyderabad.”

“We also have a significant leadership presence in this sector—about 15–16% of India’s top AVGC company CEOs are from Telangana.”

Telangana, unlike many other states, didn’t wait for AVGC momentum to build organically. It built a cohesive foundation proactively.

“Unlike many states, we didn’t wait for an organic ecosystem to emerge and then react. We preemptively built a cohesive one—combining policy, infrastructure, talent development, and incentives,” said Ranjan.

Read More:<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/india-can-lead-in-avgc-but-industry-must-focus-on-finishing-skills-jayesh-ranjan-govt-of-telangana-at-storyboard18-des-2025-72123.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">India can lead in AVGC, but industry must focus on 'finishing skills': Jayesh Ranjan, Govt of Telangana at Storyboard18 DES 2025</a>

Read More:<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/dr-mc-sarangan-of-tnoga-pushes-for-safe-gaming-ecosystem-at-storyboard18-des-2025-72197.htm" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Dr. MC Sarangan of TNOGA pushes for safe gaming ecosystem at Storyboard18 DES 2025</a>

Banning games is not the solution: Jayesh Ranjan, Govt of Telangana at Storyboard18 DES 2025

India is fast emerging as a global creative force, no longer just a consumer of international content, said Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting; and Parliamentary Affairs, Dr. L Murugan at Storyboard18’s Digital Entertainment Summit 2025. 

Highlighting the scale of the digital economy—powered by 971 million internet users and 562 million smartphones—Murugan identified streaming, gaming, AVGC-XR, and live events as key drivers of the ₹2.5 trillion media and entertainment industry. He also underscored the role of government-led initiatives like WAVES 2025 and the Indian Institute of Creative Technology in building talent and cultural influence worldwide.

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WATCH: MoS I&B Dr. L Murugan on India emerging as a global creative powerhouse

India’s media and entertainment industry is undergoing a digital revolution, driven by the country’s mobile-first youth, widespread smartphone usage, and affordable internet access. 

Speaking at Storyboard18’s Digital Entertainment Summit 2025, Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, revealed that over 55% of all advertising spends are now directed towards digital platforms. With emerging technologies like AI, XR, and VR entering the mainstream, the future of storytelling, production, and content consumption in India is being fundamentally reshaped.

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WATCH: I&B Ministry's Sanjay Jaju says on gaming, creators and India's digital entertainment economy at Storyboard18's DES 2025

At a time when India is seeking a larger role in the global entertainment economy, policymakers and industry leaders gathered in New Delhi last week to chart a path forward. The Storyboard18 Digital Entertainment Summit, held on June 27 at The Leela Palace, convened government officials and business executives to outline India’s ambitions in digital entertainment, emphasizing the convergence of talent, technology, and governance as the drivers of growth. The event, reflecting the ambitions set at the government’s World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), drew a roster of industry luminaries who shared insights on the opportunities and challenges shaping India’s digital future.


<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/06/RAVI5803-2025-06-c2fd79b7c62d997d83492f7bc41327a5-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72430" />


- L Murugan, Minister of State for I&B and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India discussed on 'Empowering Bharat Through Digital Entertainment'.


<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/07/RAVI5829-2025-07-b48fdb7b55c7a4213f6905243f543d86-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72483" />


- (From left to right) Ananay Jain, Partner, Grant Thornton; Piyush Kumar, Founder & CEO, Rooter; and Shivani Jha, Founder, EPWA spoke on 'Responsible Digital Entertainment'


<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/07/RAVI5851-1-2025-07-84b178c75886ec5b15f07e72a6b28776-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72484" />


- Brijesh Singh, Principal Secretary, Directorate General of Information & PR, Maharashtra discusses on 'Role of States in promoting gaming industry'


<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/07/RAVI5823-1-2025-07-ef9e0654bef0b8aa96020c0f2190c680-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72482" />


- Minister Murugan captured having a light hearted moment with MC Sarangan, Member, Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority


<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/07/RAVI5879-2025-07-18b93dc328533b7cd927b990641e2a02-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72487" />


- (From left to right) Harnit Khatri, gaming influencer; Tanmay Singh, Esports athlete and influencer; and Mehek Sayed (Miz), gaming influencer touched upon 'Gaming and the creator economy' with CNN-News18's news anchor Toya Singh


<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/07/RAVI5895-2025-07-2d2e92e046595ec85cd0d9a284553059-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72489" />


- Rohit Gupta, CEO & Founder, Dream Game Studios


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- (From left to right) Gopal Jain, senior counsel; Dhruv Garg, gaming and tech lawyer; Nandan Kamath, Principal Lawyer, LawNK; and Rakesh Maheshwari, former senior director, Meity conversed on 'Effective regulatory structure for online gaming in India' with independent legal advisor Gowree Gokhale


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/in-photos-at-des-2025-india-charts-ambitious-course-for-digital-entertainment-leadership-72333.htm">In Photos: At DES 2025, India charts ambitious course for digital entertainment leadership</a>

In Photos: Policymakers, stakeholders map a digital entertainment future at DES 2025

At the Leela Palace in New Delhi last week, the Storyboard18 Digital Entertainment Summit unfolded as India sharpened its ambitions to lead the global digital entertainment economy. The gathering, held on June 27, reflected the ambitions set at the government’s high-profile World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit earlier this year, highlighting the sector’s growing weight in the country’s economic strategy.

Senior policymakers laid out how India plans to harness talent, technology, and governance to drive growth in the fast-evolving digital entertainment landscape. The event drew a roster of industry leaders and government officials who shared insights on charting a future-ready path for one of the country's most dynamic sectors.

Here are some of the voices who offered a closer look at how India aims to shape the next chapter of its entertainment economy.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72336" src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/06/RAVI5572-1-2025-06-d7701cedd0c1b205ef456305c7fa6bef-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" />

- Jayesh Ranjan, Special Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana engaged in a fireside dialogue

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72341" src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/06/RAVI5605-2025-06-d2faea6885b4754d405d01af0e4ed848-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" />

- Sanjay Jaju, Secretary, Ministry of Information &amp; Broadcasting, Government of India

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72342" src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/06/RAVI5618-2025-06-225cd01e65331506a47b3deebcebdd79-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" />

- Rohit Gupta, CEO &amp; Founder, Dream Game Studios, discussed on 'Game On: How Dream Cricket 25 Is Leveling Up India’s Digital Entertainment Landscape'

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72344" src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/06/RAVI5650-2025-06-aca1a80482c6f5cf9540393919976929-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" />

- Jaju spoke on 'India's Growth as a Global Entertainment Leader'.

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- Dilsher Singh Malhi, Founder &amp; CEO, Zupee

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72347" src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/06/RAVI5676-1-2025-06-184454e04cb8fa8cf0027dbd982b9b73-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" />

- (From left to right) Industry experts Manvendra Shukul, Founder, Lakshya Digital; Sridhar Muppidi, Chairperson, Game Developer Association of India; Akshat Rathee, Co-founder &amp; MD, Nodwin Gaming, engaged in a discussion on 'Gaming as a global cultural soft power for India'.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72352" src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/06/RAVI5718-2025-06-8be609cb54f7d2fc3819314253e89eb8-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" />

- (From left to right) Deepak M V, CEO, Open Play Technology; Roby John, Founder, SuperGaming; Anurag Choudhary, Founder, Felicity Games; and Abhishek Ravi, CIO, Dream Sports.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72346" src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/06/RAVI5648-2025-06-6ed29de92a5df485ec47c9768b1d5909-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" />

- (From left to right) Nodwin Gaming's Rathee, Lakshya Digital's Shukul, Game Developer Association of India's Muppidi, and Zupee's Malhi caught in one frame.

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72354" src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/06/RAVI5759-1-2025-06-54875bd9e5dd4df13854a96318b50a1d-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" />

- MC Sarangan, Member, Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-72357" src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/2025/06/RAVI5778-2025-06-cfac5d67e12fecedb3f67fc512fc7a34-scaled.jpg" alt="" width="2560" height="1707" />

- (From left to right) Roland Landers, CEO, All India Gaming Federation (AIGF); Salone Sehgal, Founder &amp; Managing Partner, Lumikai; and Meghan Bal, Director, ESYA Centre, speak on 'Online Gaming - A key Contributor to India's Trillion Dollar Economy'.



Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/in-photos-policymakers-stakeholders-map-a-digital-entertainment-future-at-des-2025-72406.htm">In Photos: Policymakers, stakeholders map a digital entertainment future at DES 2025</a>

In Photos: At DES 2025, India charts ambitious course for digital entertainment leadership

Dream Game Studios' founder and CEO, Rohit Gupta, has envisaged taking mobile cricket games globally. Speaking at Storyboard18’s Digital Entertainment Summit (DES) 2025, Gupta said, "Cricket is like a religion in India, but if you look at it from a fan's perspective, a big gap exists in the market. Cricket fans are not getting the experience they deserve compared to football, baseball, or basketball fans when it comes to entertainment". Therefore, a global recognition for the mobile cricket game is required. 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/india-is-no-longer-just-a-consumer-we-are-global-storytellers-mos-l-murugan-at-storyboard18-des-2025-72114.htm">Read more: India is no longer just a consumer, we are global storytellers: MoS I&B Dr L Murugan at Storyboard18 DES 2025</a>

Further, Gupta shared his two key priorities: Solving the problems of the gaming industry and putting India on the global map in the booming sector.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/digital-adex-now-accounts-for-over-55-of-indias-me-spend-mib-secretary-sanjay-jaju-at-storyboard18-des-2025-72144.htm">Digital adex now accounts for over 55% of India’s M&E spend: MIB's Sanjay Jaju at Storyboard18 DES 2025</a>

Dream Game Studios is part of Dream Sports' portfolio brands that also includes Dream11. The studio developed Dream Cricket, a AAA mobile cricket game.

Recounting a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the WAVES Summit 2025, Gupta said the PM's curiosity and support for gaming were a motivation for the company to take their Dream Cricket global. "We have a mandate from the PM to go global. PM Modi told us since cricket is going to be in the Olympics, we should expand the reach of the mobile game worldwide," Gupta said.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/gaming-now-drives-indias-entertainment-economy-mib-secretary-sanjay-jaju-at-storyboard18-des-2025-72142.htm">Gaming now drives India’s entertainment economy: MIB Secretary Sanjay Jaju at Storyboard18 DES 2025</a>

Further, he said the government has often encouraged the mobile gaming industry and is reckoning on the sector. 

"The sports animation business is a high cost venture, but if the government had not supported startups like ours, it wouldn't have been possible".

Gupta underscored that the initiatives taken to upskill the youth in the gaming sector are crucial for both the central and state governments. 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/special-coverage/india-is-no-longer-just-a-consumer-we-are-global-storytellers-mos-l-murugan-at-storyboard18-des-2025-72114.htm">India is no longer just a consumer, we are global storytellers: MoS I&B Dr L Murugan at Storyboard18 DES 2025</a>

Although Gupta is a computer science graduate, he learned about gaming in the US. During the DES Summit, he said, "When I wanted to build a game, I didn't have any pointers. I couldn't find a place to educate myself on gaming, so I had to go to the US, learn it, come back to India, and then start a gaming company".

However, over the past 15 years, there has been a significant improvement in the gaming industry, including the entry of the generative Artificial Intelligence. GenAI will revolutionize the gaming industry by reducing the development time, creating high-quality AAA games, and simplifying the complexities. 

He stressed that a lot of work is still required to put India on the global map so that more gaming owners, studios, and stakeholders continue to pin their hopes on the sector and achieve success. 

"The gaming industry is gradually picking up in the country. While there's no dearth of skill development, the lack of exposure is the real issue that needs to be resolved," Gupta added.

Currently, Dream Studio has millions of users. Gupta calls the figure a 'tip of the iceberg' as India has 400 million cricket viewers. While there's a huge opportunity for growth, a lot of work needs to be done from a product perspective, he said.

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"Once we achieve the product market in India, only then we can go global," Gupta stated.

He said India's gaming market is the opposite of its global counterparts-more user-centric and less focused on monetization. Though someday there will be a convergence between the two markets, Gupta said the company will ramp up efforts to achieve a strong product-market fit domestically.

For Dream Cricket, the average age of the user is 29. The gaming platform ranked second after Esports FIFA on the top-grossing charts on iOS. 

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"We ranked 2nd with 50% of the products, so if we had built it entirely, maybe, we would have been on top," he asserted.

Sports gaming is one of the most complex software to create, but the huge market size boosts aspirations. Besides, the sports games genre also has sustainable growth, according to Gupta.

Citing a comparison between Mario and FIFA, he said former's IP has almost disappeared, while the latter's remained formidable even after 35 years after its launch.

India is the second-largest gaming market in the world, with 23 million users added in fiscal year 2024 alone. The sector's compounded annual growth stands at 14.9%. Currently, the centre employs about 1 lakh people, which could go up to anywhere between 200,000 to 250,000 by 2029, and it has already seen $2.8 credit in funding over the last five years.

GAMING