Gaming
Sarc Global teams up with Nodwin Gaming
MUMBAI: Level up and play big! India’s esports industry just got a power boost. Sarc Global, a strategic advisory and consulting firm, has joined forces with Nodwin Gaming, south Asia’s leading esports company, to turbocharge the country’s competitive gaming scene. The alliance is designed to push esports into the mainstream, with plans ranging from promoting tournaments and unlocking sponsorships to driving esports-friendly policies with government support.
The move dovetails with prime minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat vision, giving esports a policy tailwind as states like Maharashtra, Bihar and Rajasthan draft pro-gaming frameworks. “This partnership is an important step towards unlocking the true potential of esports in India,” said Nodwin Gaming CEO Gautam Singh Virk. “We’re bridging the world of competitive gaming with the business and policy frameworks that will allow it to thrive.”
Sarc Global will bring its expertise in investment facilitation and cross-border partnerships, while Nodwin leverages its deep roots in esports, youth culture and intellectual properties. Together, the duo aims to create a future-ready ecosystem that blends entertainment, regulation and opportunity.
The timing couldn’t be sharper. The Online gaming act, 2025, now offers regulatory clarity, incentives for infrastructure and clear safeguards for young audiences. A recent FICCI-EY report notes that brand participation in esports will rise from 68 in 2024 to 75 in 2025, fuelled by bigger tournaments and growing youth engagement.
As sponsorships, prize pools and large-scale youth campaigns gather momentum, the Sarc Global–Nodwin partnership is set to redefine India’s role in global esports. From boardrooms to battle arenas, the game has only just begun.
Gaming
Esports Nations Cup 2026 unveils first eight titles
Chess, CS2 and mobile hits headline global, flag-based debut
RIYADH: Riyadh is gearing up for a new kind of esports showdown, one where players will not just represent teams or brands, but entire nations. The Esports World Cup Foundation has revealed the first eight titles for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026, set to run from 2 to 29 November in the Saudi capital.
The event introduces a national team format to the global esports calendar, giving players the chance to compete under their country’s flag while fans rally behind familiar colours rather than corporate logos.
The first wave of games offers a broad spread across genres and platforms. The confirmed titles are Chess, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, EA Sports FC, Fatal Fury, Honor of Kings, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Trackmania. Together, they span classic strategy, tactical shooters, fighting games, sports simulations, mobile arenas and high-speed racing.
Even with just these eight titles, the scale is significant. Thousands of players worldwide will enter qualification routes over the coming months, all chasing a place in Riyadh.
Chess will host 128 players, making it one of the largest international events in the game’s history. Counter-Strike 2 is set for a record-breaking open qualification programme, expected to involve more than 15,000 players across 3,000 teams. Dota 2 will feature 32 national sides battling through rankings, regional qualifiers and wildcard slots.
EA Sports FC will also see 128 competitors qualify through in-game pathways, regional contests and world rankings. The new Fatal Fury title will bring 32 national representatives into a fresh format aimed at spotlighting rising talent in the fighting game scene.
Mobile titles will carry serious weight too. Honor of Kings will feature 24 elite national teams, while Mobile Legends: Bang Bang will host 32 sides competing for a gold medal. Trackmania rounds out the list with a 32-player national field racing in the game’s signature four-way Cup Mode.
Eight more titles are still to be announced, completing the 16-game programme for the debut edition.
With national pride now entering the digital arena, the Esports Nations Cup aims to turn keyboards, controllers and touchscreens into a new kind of flag-bearing sport.
