NODWIN Gaming; a pioneer in e-sports and a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies Ltd. (Nazara) and Viacom18 – India’s fastest growing media and entertainment network have come together to bring the world’s largest gaming festival – DreamHack – to India. The DreamHack India event will take place from 21-23 December 2018, NESCO, Mumbai.

Speaking about the network’s endeavours into e-sports, Sudhanshu Vats, Group CEO and Managing Director Designate, Viacom18 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 organization, 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 competitions; Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC).

The festival will be jam-packed with players/gamers who will be invited for a gaming championship in pro-e-sports tournaments, collegiate matches, world famous LAN party, cosplay championship, panels, activities, expos, music concert, art and more. Till date, DreamHack has organized multiple events in the North America and European regions.

On bringing DreamHack to India, Akshat Rathee, Founder and CEO, NODWIN Gaming says, “DreamHack has always been the epitome of the celebration of gaming and esports 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 scope will see events with leading 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 and enjoy an engaging experience in streamer zones. The gaming festival will be a ticketed event starting from INR 399/- and will be streamed live on VOOT.

Elaborating on this partnership, Sidharth Kedia, Head – Corporate Strategy, M&A, Data Sciences & Dy. Chief Commercial Officer, Viacom18 said, “There is an avid gaming community in India and with Viacom18’s presence across live, digital and broadcast media alongwith a strong connect with the Indian youth, we are uniquely poised to leverage properties such as DreamHack in India and take e-sports to a larger audience base. We look forward to introducing this exciting property to Indian audiences.”

On India getting its biggest festival, Gautam Virk, Chief Operating Officer, NODWIN Gaming said, “DreamHack brings in the zest of a digital festival which also happens to be the biggest LAN event the country has ever seen. NODWIN Gaming is pleased to have partnered with DreamHack for their Indian counterpart. We are constantly working for the excellent gaming community and we are most excited to provide them with something of this magnitude. We will make sure that no stones are left unturned in our efforts on this milestone event”

The event will also host a ‘Retro Zone’ featuring arcade machines with classic games from the yesteryear. 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 will not only develop an emotional connect among attendees, but also leave them with lifelong memories to cherish. The festival will offer something for everyone who is a part of the gaming universe/gaming enthusiasts.

“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,” said DreamHack CEO, Marcus Lindmark. “Our goal is to build a healthy gaming ecosystem, and we look forward to helping build a successful and competitive event”, he further adds.