Asia
Skyesports Unveils 2025 CS2 Esports Roadmap With INR 14.68 Crore Prize Pool: Four Events Set To Take Place In India.
Skyesports, a premier global IP builder for gaming and esports, has unveiled its 2025 esports roadmap for the game, Counter-Strike 2 (CS2). As a part of this, the Chennai-based esports company has announced 4 international CS2 events, all set to take place in India with teams from around the world and a cumulative prize pool of INR 14.68 Crore ($1.75 million). This prize pool and roadmap marks one of the most significant investments by Skyesports to date and aligns with the company’s vision of building globally recognized esports IPs from India.
Commenting on the announcement, Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO, Skyesports, said, “Our vision since inception in 2018 was to create indigenous IPs and bring international players and teams to India. The 2025 CS2 esports roadmap is a testament to that as we will be hosting all four events in India, with global teams participating. These tournaments will not only strengthen Skyesports’ position as a global esports brand but also showcase India as a crucial market for world-class international esports events.”
The schedule, tournament names, and individual prize pool for these four CS2 tournaments are as follows:
- Skyesports Souvenir 2025: Feb. 17 to 23, 2025 ($250,000 – INR 2.09 Crore)
- Skyesports Masters 2025: May 26 to June 1, 2025 ($500,000 – INR 4.12 Crore)
- Skyesports Championship 2025: Sept. 15 to 21, 2025 ($500,000 – INR 4.12 Crore)
- Skyesports World Tour 2025: Nov. 10 to 16, 2025 ($500,000 – INR 4.12 Crore)
Additionally, the Skyesports Masters 2025, the Skyesports Championship 2025, and the Skyesports World Tour 2025 qualify as Tier 1 events for their substantial prize pool and caliber of participating teams, per the tournament guidelines by Valve, the developer of CS2. These events will mark the first time India will play host to Tier 1 events for the game with global and world-class esports organizations participating. All of the events will see 8 teams traveling to India to compete for the title and the lion’s share of the prize pool.
The three Tier 1 events will also feature Open Qualifiers to touch grassroots esports athletes across India, Europe, North and South America, and the Rest of Asia. With India having a separate Open Qualifier, Skyesports will be able to ensure Indian participation in these events, giving a chance to emerging esports athletes from the country to compete against the best of the world.
Sudarshan S, Head of PC Esports at Skyesports, added, “Being an India-based esports company, we are able to ensure that local esports players are given a platform to showcase their skills and compete in the biggest CS2 events of the world. Additionally, we believe in the power of grassroots and that’s why we will be hosting open qualifiers across different regions globally.”
The global esports market is on a rapid rise, expected to be valued at $7.5 Billion by 2030, growing from $2.1 Billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 21.5 percent, per Verified Market Research. As such, Skyesports’ roadmap comes at a crucial juncture to position India as a global player in esports. Additionally, India had 453.9 million gamers in 2023, a number projected to rise to 730.7 million by 2028, per Niko Partners, making the country one of the fastest-growing gaming markets globally.
Asia
Nazara Technologies partners with Government of Telangana to Launch Nazara AI Center of Excellence (CoE)
Nazara Technologies, India’s leading and only listed diversified gaming and esports company, has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Telangana. Through this strategic partnership Nazara aims to establish a pioneering AI Center of Excellence (AI CoE) focusing on gaming and digital entertainment, positioning Nazara as a leader in AI-driven gaming and digital entertainment space and Telangana as a global hub for AI innovation.
The Nazara AI CoE will drive research, development, and innovation in areas such as gaming, interactive media, gamified learning, and other digital content, leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI, VR/AR, blockchain, and Web 3.0. By fostering policy development, supporting startups, enhancing skills, and engaging global expertise, the Nazara AI Center of Excellence aims to empower a dynamic and inclusive community
Nitish Mittersain, Jt. MD & CEO, Nazara Technologies, said: “Telangana’s proactive approach in fostering industry growth through public-private partnerships and policy development has created the ideal ecosystem for this initiative. This collaboration will enable Nazara to further our mission of integrating AI and emerging technologies across our diverse portfolio, positioning us as a leader in AI-driven innovations in gaming and digital entertainment.”
Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology and Industries, Mr. D. Sridhar Babu, said: “This partnership with Nazara Technologies, a leader in Indian gaming, marks a significant step in positioning Telangana as a global leader in AI-driven digital innovation. The Nazara AI CoE will empower startups, enhance skills, and attract cutting-edge technology investments, creating a diverse and dynamic ecosystem. By joining forces with Nazara, we are committed to driving economic growth and setting new standards in responsible AI applications in gaming and beyond.”
Asia
PAGCOR brings swift aid to 5,500 families in flood-hit communities
Braving heavy rains and floods, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) provided timely relief goods to several communities affected by the combined effects of Tropical Storm Enteng and the southwest monsoon this week.
Over 5,500 families received food and non-food packs during PAGCOR’s relief operations on September 2 and 3. The food packs contained rice, canned goods and grocery items while the non-food packs included mosquito nets and toiletries.
On Monday, September 2, PAGCOR delivered relief items to the local governments of San Pedro, Laguna and Bacoor, Cavite. Both cities experienced severe flooding due to continuous heavy rains.
The following day, the agency extended assistance to affected residents in San Mateo, Rizal.
PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said part of the agency’s nation-building commitment is the provision of timely relief goods to victims of natural disasters.
“The typhoon season is here again. Unfortunately, many families who live in disaster-prone communities are in a very vulnerable situation,” he said.
“Part of our social responsibility commitment is to help ease their plight by providing them with immediate aid like food and other essentials.”
The PAGCOR chief added that the agency’s relief efforts for areas affected by Tropical Storm Enteng will continue as more communities in Luzon and Metro Manila seek out the state gaming firm’s help. #
Asia
Esports World Cup Foundation Signs MoU with China Media Group and VSPO
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF), on August 25, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Media Group’s National Institute for Esports Development (NIED) and VSPO, the largest esports company in Asia, at the New Global Sport Conference (NGSC24).
The three-way agreement, signed during the New Global Sport Conference at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, is a significant step forward for the industry and aims to leverage the resource advantages of each organisation. It fosters collaboration within the sports culture industry, with a particular focus on esports and gaming.
The signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Faisal Bin Homran, Chief Product Officer of Esports World Cup Foundation; Mr. Xu Qiang, Director of the Youth Sports Programme Centre of China Media Group and Executive Vice President of NIED; and Dino Ying, Founder, Chairman and CEO of VSPO.
Under the terms of the MoU, all three organisations will collaborate on a wide range of initiatives within China. Key areas of cooperation include esports event broadcasting on CCTV, the application of cutting-edge technologies, market expansion and the promotion of event content.
Faisal Bin Homran said: “I welcome this collaboration between the Esports World Cup Foundation, China Media Group’s National Institute for Esports Development and VSPO. Together, with our combined platforms, expertise and resources, we are confident we can elevate the industry to new heights and continue to engage and inspire fans and audiences throughout China.”
Ying said: “It’s a huge honor to be a strategic partner with the Chinese Media Group and the Esports World Cup Foundation with the establishment of the CMG National Institute for Esports Development, which marks another key sign of Beijing’s support for esports development.”
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