Gaming
India’s top five gaming stars gather for DreamHack India 2024 in Hyderabad
Mumbai: DreamHack India, the country’s largest gaming festival, is set to electrify Hyderabad from 15-17 November 2024, celebrating its fifth anniversary. This year, DreamHack will share the stage with Hyderabad Comic Con, India’s top pop culture festival, combining gaming, esports, technology, and cosplay with the best of pop culture for an epic three-day event.
Since its inception, DreamHack India has become a staple in the gaming and esports landscape. This year’s festival will feature exclusive meet-and-greet sessions, tournaments, and interactive activities with the nation’s biggest gaming stars, brought together through a partnership between NODWIN Gaming and 8Bit Creatives.
Meet India’s Five Gaming Titans at DreamHack India 2024:
1. Naman Mathur (Mortal): The co-founder of S8UL and a prominent name in Indian esports, Mortal, has redefined gaming success with six global Esports Awards nominations. Known for major achievements like BMPS Season one and PUBG Mobile India Series, Mortal is a true icon, even representing the gaming industry in a meeting with prime minister Modi.
2. Payal Dhare (Payal Gaming): Breaking gender barriers, Payal Gaming rose from casual play to become one of India’s top gaming creators. With millions of followers and a story that encourages women across the country, Payal has inspired countless fans and is poised to bring her infectious energy to DreamHack India.
3. Raj Varma (Snax Gaming): Hailing from Hyderabad, Snax is a local favourite and an influential figure in the gaming community. His career spans representation at the PUBG Mobile World League 2020: East and the promotion of healthy gaming with his “Fit Gamers” initiative, countering stereotypes of gaming lifestyles.
4. Kaashvi Hiranandani (KaashPlays): Known for her empowering role in female gaming, KaashPlays left her finance job during the COVID-19 lockdown to chase her passion. With millions of followers, she advocates for women in esports and inspires others to pursue gaming careers.
5. Salman Ahmad (8Bit Mamba): Beginning with PC games and transitioning to mobile gaming, Mamba found success streaming BGMI and GTA V. His journey reflects determination, with family support growing after seeing his accomplishments. Mamba’s love for football adds depth to his gaming persona.
Attendees can enjoy DreamHack x Hyderabad Comic Con with a single ticket, available on Insider.in and Paytm, as well as through the official websites of DreamHack India and Comic Con India.
Gaming
Konami concludes successful eFootball India campaign
Campaign featuring Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy and other stars boosts engagement ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.
MUMBAI: When cricket meets football in the virtual world, even the biggest fans can’t help but score and Konami’s latest eFootball campaign in India has clearly hit the back of the net. Konami Digital Entertainment has successfully wrapped up its India campaign for eFootball, which brought together cricketers Rinku Singh and Varun Chakravarthy, actors Naslen Gafoor and Chandu Salim Kumar, and footballers Sahal Abdul Samad and Shubhasish Bose. The multi-star campaign generated strong excitement across gaming, football, and creator communities through social content, fan participation, and in-game engagement.
Building on the initial launch that featured a limited-time Lionel Messi card, the campaign united fan communities, lifestyle creators, football creators, and competitive eFootball influencers. It significantly expanded the game’s visibility and deepened engagement with fans across the country.
The campaign also saw thousands of entries submitted as part of its social media engagement challenge, reflecting high levels of community enthusiasm and active creator involvement.
Looking ahead, Konami plans to build on this momentum with more eFootball experiences for Indian fans as the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches. With global attention on the tournament set to rise, India will remain a key market for deepening community engagement and bringing fans closer to the action.
In a country that lives and breathes sport, Konami has shown that mixing real-world stars with virtual thrills is a winning formula leaving fans eagerly waiting for the next goal.
