Akshat Rathee and Nipun Marya's Vision for Gaming and Esports for the next Decade in India

Building the Future of Indian Esports: Inside iQOO & NODWIN Gaming’s Vision for the Next Decade

Nipun Marya, the CEO of iQOO, and Akshat Rathee, the MD and co-founder of NODWIN Gaming, gave a broad overview of the future of Indian esport in a lively conversation. It was an anthem for a top-tier, long-lasting esports ecosystem that goes far beyond fad sponsorships or short-lived fame. What followed was more than just a brand partnership.
The goal of this roundtable was to establish esport as a respectable sport in India with depth, longevity, and cultural significance, not just to bring two businesses together. This is a minute-by-minute breakdown of the remarks, their significance, and how they portend a revolution in Indian gaming.
 

Key Takeaways & Themes

1. The Intimacy of Dialogue Over Hype

Marya and Rathee both recognized the worth of genuine, intimate conversation within a world too often propelled by hype. Rathee pointed out that "less is more" where actual impact is concerned—the magic is not only about size, but being able to reach and affect the right people.

2. Esports Legitimacy is No Longer a Question

Rathee reflected on the early days of building NODWIN, recalling how the biggest hurdle at the time was convincing stakeholders that there was a career in esports. That hurdle, he stated, is firmly in the rearview. With Indian teams playing abroad, esports is no longer niche—it's a legitimate and competitive business.

3. The Role of Purposeful Partnerships

Marya also commended the long-term partnership of iQOO with NODWIN, adding that it's not merely a matter of logo puts and ROI on marketing. Theirs is a values-based partnership: building the community, investing in infrastructure, and building a sustainable ecosystem. iQOO is not seeking visibility; it seeks to improve Indian gaming.

4. A Ground-Up Ecosystem Strategy

iQOO's approach to esports has three pillars: tournaments, product, and community.

Tournaments: From cups in the grassroots up to big LANs, iQOO has got the entire competitive range covered. The philosophy is easy: more match experience equals better players.

Product: The key KPI for the brand is performance. iQOO handsets are game-optimized with high-end hardware, rapid charging, high refresh rate, and innovations such as the Q1 chip.

Community: With regular on-ground activations in tier-2 and tier-3 cities such as Prayagraj, iQOO seeks to make esports pan-Indian in every sense.

5. Shifting Beyond Metro-Centric Thinking

Marya and Rathee both emphasized the need to break esports out of the urban bubble. Future tournaments will reach cities that have seen little national-level gaming attention. This decentralization is critical to driving mass participation and fandom.

6. Creating Cultural Relevance

Rathee sees esports not merely as a game, but as a cornerstone of youth identity—like music, fashion, and popular culture. It's about providing young Indians with not only entertainment, but hope. The hope that passion can be profession. That gaming can be purpose

7. Legitimacy over Hype: A Long-Term Vision for Esports

Akshat stressed the importance of long-term partners such as iQOO who share the philosophy of building, and not merely advertising.

iQOO is placed not as a short-term tactical sponsor but as a strategic investor in the esports identity — an identity that resonates with gaming, youth culture, and innovation.

The mission is to develop a "1983 Cricket World Cup" moment for Indian esports — a nod to India's classic sporting moment of breakthrough.

8. Learning History: Why 1983 Wasn't an Accident

Akshat compares esports today with India's 1983 cricket win, attributing it to government foresight and infrastructure decisions.

He quotes the nationalization of Salora and the proliferation of color TVs as the basis of India's cricket boom — the lesson being that preparation at a systemic level comes before breakout success.

Likewise, esports will triumph on the global stage only when the foundations are established — infrastructure, ecosystem, and accessibility.

9. Franchise Depth and Identity Matter

Seasonal tournaments do not need long seasons and deep participation. That is where EPL and NBA stand as examples.

Indian esports need year-round identity teams, not flash-in-the-pan fame. Teams need location roots, consistent exposure, and a financial model to support operations.

Buying esports teams by traditional sports clubs would be a natural progression.

10. Esports vs. Tennis: Where Should India Invest?

Akshat provocatively inquires: What would you bet on the future of sport in India being — tennis or esports?

His response is esports — due to audience numbers, accessibility, and cultural trajectory.

11. Consistency is King: iQOO's Strategic Advantage

Nipun describes the distinction between sporadic marketing and iQOO's five-year strong commitment to gaming.

Brand performance in partnerships needs to reach at least "7/10" each time. Below that, both brand value and trust in the community are harmed.

iQOO engages pro gamers in product R&D — a strong indication to create substantial, technology-driven, gamer-centric devices.

12. Viewership vs. Sport Integrity: Who Deserves a LAN Spot?

When pressed regarding fan-favorite teams such as Soul, Godlike, and Scout's team being denied LAN qualifications, Akshat held strong: this is a sport, not a PR event.

Teams need to qualify on merit. Wild cards are there for fan interest, but meritocracy is not up for debate.

"Are we creating an event or a sport?" Akshat posed — highlighting their focus on long-term credibility.

13. Wild Cards & KPIs: How Teams Are Selected

NODWIN employs a system that replicates ATP-style rankings and qualification ladders.

Wild cards are there to heighten audience interest but are employed responsibly. The key KPI? Does introducing a team enhance the experience for everyone — fans, players, brands, and publishers?

14. The Challenge of Genre Dominance

92% of India's esports is FPS or shooting games. Smart games like MOBAs or strategy titles fail to find traction.

The esports ecosystem is trying to diversify with games like chess, but it’s a slow journey shaped by audience preference.

15. Rise of Indian Game Developers

The conversation shifted to indie game development. Akshat expressed optimism about the coming wave of Indian-made games.

Projects like Mukti, Ramayana-inspired title, and Tara Games were cited as emerging examples.

Akshat foresees a world-class Indian esports championship. It will happen in five years — and potentially find its way to the Olympics in seven.

16. Non-availability of Infrastructure for Indie Developers

The lack of infrastructure for developers was acknowledged.

Akshat mentioned government programs such as the Indian Institute of Creative Technology and future game incubators linked to state governments.

Akshat stressed that developers should take the initiative to seek help — the platforms are available, but awareness is a problem.

17. Free Fire: A Meticulous Re-Entry

Even with Free Fire's phenomenal popularity, NODWIN is being cautious owing to reputational risk.

Talks are on, but NODWIN desires clarity and long-term commitment before re-entering the title.

Last Thought: Creating a Sport, Not an Industry

This discussion wasn't going to be about hardware specifications or tournament winnings — this was a masterclass in vision crafting. Marya and Rathee established: the power of the Indian esports future lies not on game titles or player names, but on systems, beliefs, and foresight.

Esports, in their opinion, isn't a trend. It's a movement. And those who approach it like so — with dedication, perseverance, and attention — will be the ones to shape the future.