Gaming
PM Modi urges India’s gaming talent to shift from consumer to producer economy
Mumbai: In a landmark moment for the Indian gaming and esports industry, prime minister Narendra Modi highlighted the potential of India’s gaming sector during his Independence Day address at Red Fort.
By speaking about the emergence of gaming as a significant market, he noted that the industry is still heavily influenced by foreign producers and revenue sources.
A recently released report by Sandsoft reveals that 81 per cent of experienced mobile game developers are currently working on at least one new title. The report, based on research conducted among game developers in the United States, France, and Spain, states that 83 per cent have raised capital to develop or market these games. This surge in activity indicates that global gaming developers are ready to take the next leap forward.
For India to make a substantial impact on the global market, it needs to transition from being a consumer to becoming a leading producer. The Prime Minister also emphasised that India, with its rich heritage, has the potential to bring its talent into the gaming world. He expressed his desire for India’s gaming products and animators to establish a strong international presence and called for collective efforts to achieve this vision.
One game that is poised to assert India’s dominance on the global stage is Indus Battle Royale, being developed by Pune-based SuperGaming. Inspired by the nation’s rich cultural history, the game will help India carve its niche in the global market to develop culturally rich games.
SuperGaming co-founder and CEO Roby John expressed his enthusiasm for the Prime Minister’s message by stating, “With his inclusion of providing opportunities to Indian game developers in this exponentially growing market, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided a major boost to the Indian gaming industry in his Independence Day address. Gaming is an expression of your art and culture, and Modiji is the first Prime Minister to recognize, encourage, and inspire an entire industry by stressing on the fact that we should not just be an economy of consumers but also of producers. At SuperGaming, we have been building games with Indian art and culture, such as Battle Stars, MaskGun, and our newest game, Indus Battle Royale, which showcases it in the best possible manner. Thank you, Modiji, for inspiring this nation on this very special day!”
India’s gaming industry has seen exponential growth in the last few years which is driven primarily by the mobile gaming sector. With nearly 500 million gamers, the country is on the path to becoming the largest mobile gaming market in the world.
“We are deeply encouraged by Prime Minister Modi’s consistent support for the video gaming industry. We believe that gaming will be a cornerstone of India’s $1 trillion digital economy, driving innovation and opportunities. However, beyond the numbers, it is essential to recognize and support the people behind the screens. By providing them with the right resources and a supportive community, we can turn gaming into a credible and sustainable career path. ‘Make in India’ is more than just a slogan; it’s a movement, and we are proud to be a part of it,” said NODWIN Gaming co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee.
Beyond the Prime Minister’s acknowledgment, the Indian government has been proactively promoting esports, with states collaborating with esports organisations and hosting official tournaments. Similar efforts to support game developers through appropriate policies, funding, and infrastructure can help build a sustainable ecosystem and enable the nation to thrive on the international stage.
“Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi talking about gaming is a big motivation for young people who want to build their career in the industry. Game development (in India) is on the rise, and we are hoping to see game titles that are played not just in the country but make their mark globally. More titles mean more players and more spectators, and that is how the industry is going to grow. We at CyberPowerPC look forward to this growth story and play our role in bringing the best possible hardware to the country,” commented CyberPowerPC India chief operating officer Vishal Parekh.
With the right support, India has the potential to lead the global gaming industry. As the nation continues to innovate and create, the dream of seeing Indian games make a mark on the world stage is not far from becoming a reality.
Gaming
Dream Sports sees 100 plus exits after gaming ban forces overhaul
Company splits into eight units as real money gaming law hits revenue.
MUMBAI: For a company built on fantasy leagues, reality has suddenly rewritten the rulebook. More than 100 employees have exited Dream Sports, the parent of Dream11, after the company reorganised its operations following India’s ban on real money online gaming. The shake up came after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 came into force in August 2025, prohibiting games where users deposit money expecting winnings. The regulation struck at the heart of the fantasy gaming industry and dramatically affected Dream Sports’ core business, wiping out about 95 percent of its revenue and all of its profits.
In response, the Mumbai based company shifted into what chief executive officer Harsh Jain described as “startup mode”, splitting its operations into eight independent business units in December.
Around 700 employees were reassigned across these newly formed ventures based on their experience and interests. However, roughly 15 percent opted to leave the company.
A spokesperson for Dream Sports said many of those who exited were experienced professionals accustomed to running scaled businesses rather than early stage ventures.
“Since some of these employees were experienced with running high scale businesses and not startups, around 15 percent chose to leave and join other scaled companies or start ventures of their own,” the spokesperson said.
Despite the departures, the company noted that the attrition rate is only slightly higher than its earlier level of around 10 percent before the ban. Dream Sports now has close to 950 employees and is not currently hiring, choosing instead to focus on stabilising its existing workforce.
The restructuring has transformed Dream Sports from a fantasy gaming company into a broader sports entertainment platform. The eight units now operate independently, each focusing on different segments of the sports and technology ecosystem.
These include Dream11, sports streaming platform Fancode, sports travel service DreamSetGo, mobile game Dream Cricket and artificial intelligence initiative Dream Sports AI, which includes sports analytics platform Dream Play.
Other ventures include fintech product Dream Money, open source initiative Dream Horizon and the philanthropic arm Dream Sports Foundation.
As part of cost saving efforts, Dream Sports also relocated its headquarters from Bandra Kurla Complex to Worli earlier this year. The new office, called Dream Sports Stadium, brings teams from its various brands together under one roof to improve collaboration and operational efficiency.
Jain had earlier said the company removed bonus lock in timelines for employees hired in recent years, allowing those who wished to leave to exit with pro rata payouts.
“We want people who are fully into the startup mode and willing to work for it, and we will share that reward if it comes,” he said.
Founded in 2008 by Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth, Dream Sports was last valued at 8 billion dollars after raising 840 million dollars in 2021 from investors including Falcon Edge Capital, DST Global, D1 Capital Partners, RedBird Capital Partners, Tiger Global Management, TPG and Footpath Ventures.
The new gaming law has forced several companies in the fantasy gaming sector to either shut down or pivot their business models, signalling a significant reset for one of India’s fastest growing digital entertainment industries.
