Gaming
VCSA 2026 Split 1 registrations close 4 March
Open qualifiers 7-11 March, Youtube broadcast starts 16 March with 8 teams in Split 1.
MUMBAI: Valorant Challengers South Asia (VCSA) 2026 is loading up for battle because when South Asian squads gear up, the headshots are about to rain. Nodwin Gaming, in partnership with Riot Games, has kicked off the broadcast phase of VCSA 2026, with Split 1 registrations open until 4 March 2026. The season’s official streams will hit Nodwin Gaming & Valorant Esports South Asia Youtube channels, spotlighting top regional talent chasing the VCT Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) spot.
The refined format features Open Qualifiers (7–11 March), Split 1 Playoffs (8–9 April), two Splits with Promotion & Relegation, and Grand Finals. Split 1 includes 5 teams from qualifiers plus 3 direct invites from VCSA 2025 (top 3), in a single round-robin Bo3 format over 28 matches across 14 days. Top 6 advance to Split 2, bottom 2 face relegation.
Eligibility, Immortal 1 plus rank (V25 Act 6), teams from India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Maldives. Game Changers South Asia runs parallel with open qualifiers and Split 2 winner advancing to Pacific Stage.
Building on 2025’s record 12 million views and 50,000 plus peak concurrent viewers where Velocity Gaming clinched VCT Ascension Pacific via a 3–1 Grand Final over S8ul the 2026 season promises fiercer competition.
Nodwin Gaming co-founder & CEO Gautam Virk said, “As we head into the broadcast phase of VCSA 2026, the excitement across the ecosystem is palpable. This circuit represents the pinnacle of competitive Valorant in South Asia.”
Riot Games head of Esports India and South Asia Sukamal Pegu added, “Competing in VCSA continues to be one of the most defining experiences for teams in South Asia.”
In a region hungry for global glory, VCSA 2026 isn’t just a tournament, it’s the launchpad where local legends ace their way to the big leagues.
Gaming
IICT signs three MoUs to boost AVGC-XR and esports
Partnerships with Zenfluencers, Yologram and Eruditio at Chennai Gaming Show 2026 strengthen education, XR innovation and nationwide talent outreach.
MUMBAI: IICT has just levelled up the game in a big way. The Indian Institute of Creative Technologies signed three strategic Memorandums of Understanding on 17 April 2026 at the CII Summit FX – India Gaming Show in Chennai, forging alliances with The Zenfluencers, Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. and Eruditio Consultants to accelerate India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem.
The tie-ups combine IICT’s strengths in education, skilling and research with specialist expertise across esports, immersive technologies and large-scale outreach.
- With The Zenfluencers, IICT will roll out globally benchmarked esports programmes, including joint certification courses, industry workshops, tournaments and masterclasses, creating clear career pathways across the full esports value chain.
- The partnership with Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. focuses on gaming, immersive storytelling and extended reality (XR), delivering industry-aligned curriculum, faculty mentorship, student showcases and collaborative research in immersive AI and virtual production.
- Collaboration with Eruditio Consultants targets awareness, accessibility and career alignment, with nationwide counsellor training, institutional engagement and structured guidance frameworks to reach students beyond Tier-1 cities.
IICT CEO Vishwas Deoskar said, “As the AVGC-XR sector evolves at a rapid pace, strong collaborations between industry and academia are essential. These partnerships will create meaningful impact across education, innovation and outreach.”
Yologram Style Pvt. Ltd. founder Aditya Mani added, “AI-driven creator worlds are transforming games into engines of culture, commerce and careers. Together we aim to empower a generation to build immersive futures.”
Eruditio Consultants founder Indrajit Ghosh noted, “This is not just about awareness, it is about building a structured ecosystem that connects aspiration with opportunity.”
The Zenfluencers CEO Atharva Gupta said, “This MoU is a big unlock moment for the esports ecosystem in India. We’re building a structured pipeline for talent across the full stack.”
By bringing together academia, industry leaders and ecosystem players, IICT is creating scalable models that blend cutting-edge skills with real-world relevance. In a sector racing toward the future, these three partnerships ensure India’s next generation of creative technologists won’t just keep up, they’ll set the pace.
