Gaming
Reckoning and GodLike Esports to take India to Pokémon Unite Asia 2026
Two top Indian teams clinch spots in Japan’s Asia Champions League showdown
MUMBAI: India’s Pokémon Unite scene is set to shine on the global stage as Reckoning Esports and GodLike Esports secure their places at the Pokémon Unite Asia Champions League 2026 in Japan.
Reckoning Esports booked India’s primary slot by winning the India League, a $20,000 online tournament featuring ten of the nation’s top esports outfits. The league spanned five action-packed matchdays before culminating in a nail-biting King of the Hill Playoff. In the grand final, Reckoning edged past GodLike Esports 3–2, denying the fan favourites the title.
Reflecting on the victory, Reckoning Esports captain Jeet “Swifty” Kundra said, “Winning after such a long season means a lot. The format tested our consistency and mental strength, and the grand final showed just how close the competition is. Representing India in Japan is an honour, and we can’t wait for the challenge.”
GodLike Esports bounced back in style via the Pokémon Unite Winter Tournament 2026, an open-qualifier event giving teams from across India a shot at glory. They stormed through the single-elimination bracket and clinched a 3–0 win in the grand final, securing India’s second slot at the Asia Champions League.
Commenting on the comeback, GodLike Esports captain Om “Scepter” Gore said, “Losing the India League final was tough, but it drove us to come back stronger. The Winter Tournament let us focus on clean, confident play, and qualifying for the PUACL feels incredible. We’re determined to make India proud on the world stage.”
GodLike Esports founder & CEO Chetan “Kronten” Chandgude added, “This is a huge moment for Indian esports. Our team’s dedication has earned them the right to represent India, and we’re excited to showcase our talent to the world.”
The Pokémon Unite Asia Champions League 2026 takes place at Yokohama Buntai, Japan, on 28–29 March. Reckoning and GodLike will be among 16 teams vying for the championship and a share of the $200,000 prize pool.
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.
