Gaming
Infinix Presses Play on India’s Esports Scene
MUMBAI: In what appears to be a strategic masterstroke in the Indian esports game, Infinix has pressed play on its latest endeavour, aiming to capture the hearts and thumbs of competitive players. The new-age smartphone brand isn’t just launching a new device; it’s making a bold statement, seeking to redefine its presence within India’s burgeoning gaming ecosystem.
To truly resonate with the gaming demographic, Infinix has forged alliances with some heavyweight figures. Comedian and digital creator Tanmay Bhat, alongside top-tier gaming influencers Total Gaming, Mizo, and Shreeman Legend, are now part of the Infinix team. This collaborative move highlights a significant cultural shift: gaming is no longer just a pastime, but a passion-driven space where skill, community, and competitive spirit converge for today’s youth. Modern gamers aren’t merely in the market for a phone; they demand performance that keeps pace with their rigorous “grind,” bold designs that unmistakably scream “gaming,” and cutting-edge technology that facilitates their seamless entry into the thrilling world of Esports.
Enter the Infinix GT 30 Pro, a device meticulously crafted with “gaming-first” features to address the escalating demand for high-octane mobile competition. Designed with flagship-grade precision, this smartphone boasts the world’s first Mediatek Dimensity 8350 Ultimate processor, ensuring unparalleled processing power. For battle royale enthusiasts, it offers Krafton-certified 120FPS BGMI support, promising buttery-smooth gameplay. Further enhancing the tactile experience are the integrated GT Shoulder Triggers, while its bold Cyber Mecha Design, complete with customizable RGB lighting, ensures it looks every bit the part. To elevate the overall gaming experience, a suite of AI-powered features has been integrated, including Esports Mode, Xboost, AI audio enhancement, and haptics, all painstakingly optimised to deliver more immersive and responsive gameplay.
Ultimately, through these calculated collaborations, Infinix is not simply unveiling a product. It’s actively championing a mindset shift within India’s dynamic gaming culture, reinforcing its long-term commitment to cultivating talent by empowering grassroots Esports athletes, a dedication exemplified by its existing partnership with the professional team True Rippers.
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.
