Gaming
Communications for esports and online gaming in India
Mumbai: India’s Esports and online gaming sector is experiencing explosive growth. With hundreds of millions embracing online gaming and the esports sector experiencing explosive growth, the potential for Esports brands and online gaming companies is undeniable. However, reaching this massive and diverse audience effectively presents a unique challenge. Gone are the days of generic marketing messages. Navigating the vast digital ecosystem, navigating evolving regulations, catering to regional preferences, and fostering genuine connections are all crucial for brands to resonate with India’s increasing gaming community. In this article, we’ll look at the different aspects of establishing communication strategies for India’s rapidly expanding e-sports and online gaming scene.
Building bridges with mainstream media
A persistent challenge for esports and online gaming PR is the disconnect between the industry’s thriving reality and its portrayal in mainstream media. Despite Esports’ explosive growth and dedicated communities, outdated stereotypes paint gaming as a solitary, even harmful, activity. These misrepresentations, often perpetuated by mainstream media outlets, hinder efforts to attract broader audiences and secure positive attention. Bridging this gap requires strategic PR campaigns that showcase the true depth of the gaming experience. Highlighting the social aspects – teamwork, communication, and collaboration within vibrant online communities – can dismantle the “loner gamer” stereotype.
Educating audiences on iGaming
The last year has seen an explosion in iGaming companies. However, audiences need more education on playing for real money and the rules associated with the same.
Furthermore, engaging in industry events and panel discussions allows brands to showcase their commitment to these positive developments. These open dialogues with stakeholders, media representatives, and gamers provide a platform to address concerns directly and promote a more positive narrative for the industry as a whole.
Additionally, catering to regional preferences adds another layer of complexity to brand communication strategies. India has a varied gaming population with a broad spectrum of different regional preferences. Catering to these preferences is essential for success. Creating content and marketing materials in regional tongues like Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi demonstrates a genuine commitment to the Indian market. Promoting local pro-gamers and using local references in communication tactics helps to establish a stronger bond with the target audiences. This shows the gaming companies understand and value the specific interests of Indian gamers.
In conclusion, navigating the Indian Esports and online gaming landscape requires a multifaceted approach. By embracing digital innovation, staying informed about regulations, tailoring content for diverse audiences, and fostering genuine connections with gamers, brands can unlock the immense potential of this burgeoning market. Moreover, strategic PR efforts that bridge the gap with mainstream media by highlighting the social, competitive, and cultural aspects of gaming are crucial for achieving mainstream acceptance and shaping a positive narrative for the industry as a whole. As India’s Esports scene continues its meteoric rise, innovative communication strategies will be the key to fostering a thriving ecosystem that benefits both gamers and brands alike.
The author of this article is Pepper Communications Group senior manager – PR Karishma Maindan.
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.
