In a move to tap into the booming esports industry in India, Vodafone Idea (Vi), India’s popular telecom operators, has joined forces with Team Vitality, an international esports organization based in Paris. According to the State of India Gaming Report 2022, the Indian esports industry is projected to reach a substantial $140 million by 2027, marking a significant opportunity for companies to enter the industry.
A Gateway for Vi and Team Vitality’s Partnership
Over the past decade, esports has emerged as a mainstream sport, gaining recognition on the global stage with official inclusion as a medal sport in various international competitions. Capitalizing on this momentum, Vi and Team Vitality have announced a long-term partnership aimed at enhancing the esports ecosystem in India.
The collaboration encompasses a diverse range of initiatives, including brand sponsorship, content partnerships, gaming events, and unique experiences at a never-seen-before scale. This will enable Vi customers to participate in esports and allow exclusive access to some of the popular Team Vitality tournaments and teams. Additionally, this partnership will create opportunities for budding esports talent from across the country to have access to professional players, master classes, meet & greets with esports talent and many other opportunities.
Vi’s History in Gaming
Vi, renowned for its strong presence in the mobile gaming segment, has been offering a wide range of hyper-casual mobile games through Vi Games on the Vi App. Building on this foundation, the telecom giant is now all set to deepen its focus on esports in India through its association with Team Vitality. Furthermore, Vi Games in the recent past forayed into the esports segment by hosting popular free-to-play tournaments across games like Call of Duty: Mobile, Free Fire Max, Asphalt 9, Clash Royale, etc.
Avneesh Khosla, Chief Marketing Officer at Vi, expressed excitement about the partnership, stating, “Gaming has always been our strategic focus area, and we have continuously strived to strengthen our gaming portfolio with the right partnerships and relevant offerings. We are excited to partner with one of the leading esports organizations of the world – Team Vitality. Together, we aim to drive and democratize access to the esports ecosystem in India.”
Additionally, speaking on the occasion Randall Fernandez, Managing Director, Team Vitality India said, “We are exhilarated to announce our partnership with Vi. We are at a juncture where technology will catapult gaming to the next level and eagerly look forward to our journey together. Additionally, we will unlock new horizons searching for aspiring gaming talent across the length and breadth of the country, set new precedents and create indelible marks within the esports industry.”
Team Vitality’s Achievements in the Esports Industry
Locally, Team Vitality’s all Indian Call of Duty: Mobile (CODM) qualified and competed in the CODM World Championship 2023 in Atlanta, US between 15th and 17th December. The organization previously roped in popular gaming content creators Nischay ‘Live Insaan’ Malhan, Rachit ‘Rachitroo’ Yadav, Nitin ‘Classified YT’ Chougale, Shagufta ‘Xyaa’ Iqbal and Pratik ‘Aurum’ Mehra who have a cumulative YouTube base of 20 million subscribers.
To further capitalize on the growing esports industry and strengthen their connection with consumers, Vi and Team Vitality have outlined plans to launch various gaming contests and events in the coming months.
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