MUMBAI: The RIL-owned entertainment network Viacom18 and Nazara-owned gaming and eSports company Nodwin have joined hands to bring the world’s largest gaming festival, DreamHack to India. NESCO in Mumbai will be the hosts for the DreamHack India event from 21-23 December this year.
Viacom18 CEO and MD Sudhanshu Vats said: “Viacom18 has never been one to shy away from experimenting with new concepts, ideas and formats. Given the strong affinity youth audiences have with our content, brands and experiences, we think this is the right time for us to dip our toes in the fast-paced, thrilling world of e-sports. The world is changing fast and lines are blurring between different content genres. Given the abundance of data that has been unleashed by Jio, it is only natural for the fandom around e-sports to grow by leaps and bounds in India. As the country’s youngest full-play media organisation, we want to stay ahead of the curve and tap into tomorrow’s big passion points today. Our association with DreamHack is a step in this direction.”
DreamHack is a digital festival where gamers and digital natives come together for a three-day weekend which features a 24-hour-a-day local area network (LAN) party, e-sports gaming competition. The festival participants will include players/gamers who will be invited for a gaming championship in pro e-sports tournaments, collegiate matches, cosplay championship, panels, and activities, among other things. Till date, DreamHack has organised multiple events in the North America and European regions.
CEO and founder of Nodwin Gaming, Akshat Rathee said: “DreamHack has always been the epitome of the celebration of gaming and e-sports globally and we are delighted to partner with DreamHack on their Indian journey. India, with its dynamic youth and famed hospitality, is a great beachhead into bringing the DreamHack experience to Asia. Nodwin Gaming has been working hard on providing the best for our community of gamers across the country. This places the love for gaming right at the centre of our ecosystem. Partnering with Viacom18 brings the synergy full circle. Their reach to the youth of our country is unparalleled and we look forward to the convergence.”
The festival will see events with popular games such as DOTA, CSGO and KO Fight Nights (a street fighter championship), along with a mobile cricket event. The participants will also get a chance to meet and greet with international teams and gamers. The gaming festival will be a ticketed event starting from Rs 399 and will be streamed live on VOOT.
The event will also host a ‘Retro Zone’ featuring arcade machines with classic games from the yesteryears. Event partners will also organize exclusive expo zones at the event and allow visitors a chance to lay their hands on the latest technology and gadgets. DreamHack India aims to not only develop an emotional connect among attendees, but also leave them with lifelong memories to cherish.
CEO of DreamHack, Marcus Lindmark commented on the festival’s association with Viacom18 and Nodwin.
“We are excited about entering another continent as DreamHack open its doors to the first DreamHack India event. The partnership with NODWIN Gaming helps us redefine professional gaming in India where we can offer something exciting and for millions of gamers across the region. This, we believe, will give the pro gamers the right setup to play at their full potential. Our goal is to build a healthy gaming ecosystem, and we look forward to helping build a successful and competitive event.” Lindmark signed off.
