Vodafone Idea has joined forces with Team Vitality, an esports organization based in Paris, aiming to cultivate the esports scene in India. Through their collaboration, Vi and Team Vitality aim to create avenues and exposure for esports fans and gaming aficionados, as stated by the telecom company. Citing insights from the 'State of India Gaming Report 2022', Vi emphasized that the Indian esports sector is forecasted to reach $140 million by 2027, highlighting the considerable potential for expansion.
The collaboration encompasses various aspects like brand sponsorships, content alliances, gaming events, and immersive large-scale experiences. Additionally, this partnership will enable Vi users to participate in esports activities exclusively, gaining access to tournaments and teams associated with the Paris-based organization. Vi stated, "This alliance opens doors for aspiring esports talents nationwide, offering them opportunities to engage with professional players, attend master classes, meet esports personalities, and more".
Vi has already made strides in the mobile gaming realm by offering a diverse array of hyper-casual mobile games via Vi Games on the Vi App. By teaming up with Team Vitality, Vi aims to strengthen its focus on esports within India. Recently, Vi Games ventured into esports by organizing popular free-to-play tournaments featuring games like Call of Duty: Mobile, Free Fire Max, Asphalt 9, Clash Royale, and others.
Avneesh Khosla, Vi's CMO, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "We're thrilled to collaborate with Team Vitality, a prominent esports organization globally. Together, our aim is to expand and democratize access to India's esports landscape. In the upcoming months, we plan to introduce engaging esports and youth-centric content for our consumers to enjoy". Randall Fernandez, Managing Director of Team Vitality India, shared his excitement, saying, "We're thrilled to announce our partnership with Vi. We stand at a pivotal moment where technology will propel gaming to new heights, and we eagerly anticipate our joint journey ahead".