Asia
2025 Esports Innovation and Communication Seminar Held in Mudanjiang, China
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The 2025 Esports Innovation and Communication Seminar, supported by the China Media Group (CMG) National Institute for Esports Development and hosted by CCTV Animation Group Co., Ltd., was held on October 17, 2025, in Mudanjiang, China. The event gathered experts, academics and industry leaders from China’s esports community, as well as participants from Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia and other parts of the world.
Through roundtable discussions and keynote addresses, the seminar explored key topics such as:
• “Breaking Barriers, Thriving Together: How Gen Z is Shaping and Growing Within Esports Culture”
• “Digital Bridges, Global Synergy: Esports as a New Platform for Cross-Cultural Exchange and Collaboration”
• “AI-Driven Innovation, Gear Revolution: Unlocking New Opportunities for the Sports Industry Through Esports”
Discussions at the event connected with concrete developments in China’s esports sector over the past year. China has hosted a growing slate of international tournaments, with three major esports competitions for League of Legends, Honor of Kings and CS2 scheduled to take place in the country in November.
The League of Legends 2025 World Championship traveled through Beijing and Shanghai before concluding in Chengdu on November 9. Global audiences saw a broadcast package featuring iconic sites such as the Great Wall alongside Shanghai’s city lights and Chengdu’s local culture, offering esports fans worldwide a multifaceted look at contemporary China.
Inspired, jungler for the LTA region’s top-seeded team FLY, shared in an interview, “My experience in China has been great, and I’m eager to see which teams we will compete against at Worlds.”
Such enthusiasm from international players is matched by the energy of Chinese fans. After a match at the League of Legends 2025 World Championship, South Korean competitor Chovy noted, “There were many Chinese fans in the arena cheering us on—we are truly thankful.”
This spirit of support, focused on performance rather than outcome, reflects the openness and professionalism of local esports audiences—an expression of cultural confidence. That confidence leaves a strong impression on global participants.
Brazilian player lux remarked in a June media interview, “Whenever I’m asked which city is my favorite, I always say Shanghai. It’s incredible. The fans are amazing, and so are the events.”
China’s capacity for hosting high-caliber esports events has also drawn international recognition. After attending this year’s KPL Grand Finals, German commentator Danny Engels said, “The production level is world-class. The stage screens are unique, and attention to detail is evident throughout.”
As esports continues to grow in global influence, these events convey not only competition, but also culture, image and values.
The post 2025 Esports Innovation and Communication Seminar Held in Mudanjiang, China appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
ALGS 2026 Championship
S8UL Esports secures historic top five finish at ALGS 2026 Championship; bags INR 1 crore in prize money
S8UL Esports, a global powerhouse in esports and gaming content, delivered a landmark performance by finishing among the top five teams globally at the Apex Legends Global Series (ALGS) 2026 Championship, held in Sapporo, Japan from January 15 to 18. This result represents the best ever finish by an Indian organization on the Apex Legends global stage, setting a new benchmark for Indian esports at the highest level of international competition.
The ALGS 2026 Championship, the crowning event of the Apex Legends competitive calendar, brought together 40 of the world’s most consistent and high-performing teams from the year-long global circuit. S8UL’s all-Australian roster featuring Rick Wirth (Sharky), Benjamin Spaseski (Jesko), and Tom Canty (Legacy), led by head coach Harrison Rogers (Rogers), delivered a standout campaign and emerged as the only South Asian team to secure a Top 5 finish at the premier international Apex Legends event. The team earned USD 120,000 (approximately INR 1 crore) from the tournament’s USD 2,000,000 (approximately INR 18.14 crore) total prize pool.
Commenting on the achievement, Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO, S8UL, said, “Over the years, we have built one of India’s strongest gaming creator ecosystems and a solid foundation in content. In the last 18 months, we have deliberately expanded our focus to global esports investments across multiple titles, and performances like this validate that vision. Our ambition is to compete and win at the highest level worldwide. We are investing deeply, assembling world-class international rosters, and representing S8UL on the global stage from India. A top five finish at ALGS is a major milestone, and it marks only the beginning of what we believe will be a very strong future for S8UL in esports.”
S8UL began their campaign in Group B, navigating a demanding round-robin stage where all 40 teams were divided into four groups of 10. The team’s consistent performances saw them finish among the top 20 teams, earning a spot in the Winners Bracket and keeping them firmly in title contention.
From there, S8UL qualified for the Grand Finals, where the remaining 20 teams competed under the high-pressure Match Point Format. Under this system, a team must reach 50 points and then secure a match win to claim the championship, with the remaining teams ranked by total points. Across nine final matches, S8UL accumulated 64 points to finish fifth overall, just one point behind fourth-placed GROW Gaming, underlining how closely contested the championship was.
“The margins at this level are extremely fine, and the team showed tremendous composure throughout the tournament. From the group stage through to the finals, the players displayed adaptability, trust, and resilience. Finishing in the top five globally is a major milestone, and it reinforces our confidence in this roster’s ability to contend for championships in the future,” commented Harrison Rogers, coach of S8UL’s Apex Legends team.
S8UL’s performance at the ALGS 2026 Championship builds on the organisation’s growing presence in international Apex Legends competition. In 2025, S8UL competed at the ALGS Midseason Playoffs as part of the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, where the organisation also became the first Indian team to be selected as a Club Partner for the tournament. With consecutive appearances at Apex Legends’ premier global events, S8UL continues to establish itself as a consistent contender on the world stage and a flagbearer for Indian esports internationally.
The post S8UL Esports secures historic top five finish at ALGS 2026 Championship; bags INR 1 crore in prize money appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
“We wanted our users to experience the emotions, dynamics, and uniqueness of the Aviator game not only on the platform, but also in real life. This idea became the foundation of the teaser campaign, which resulted in a successful launch and strong interest from players,” said Victorya Harutyunyan, Head of Product Marketing at Totogaming.
“Launching Aviator on Totogaming is an important milestone for SPRIBE in the Armenian market. This partnership allows us to bring our flagship crash game to a highly engaged local audience, while ensuring the premium level of experience that players worldwide expect from Aviator. We value Totogaming’s commitment to innovation and are delighted to see such a strong reception from players from day one,” said Taras Kozovit, Head of Business Development at SPRIBE.
The post Totogaming.am Adds SPRIBE’s Aviator in Long-Awaited Release appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
The Indian esports landscape is transitioning from a period of rapid “spectacle” growth to a phase defined by lasting institutional structure. Following the implementation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), 2026 is set to be the year where regulatory clarity, international competition, and domestic grassroots development converge.
The Impact of PROGA: Policy into Practice
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), signed into law in August 2025, has officially moved from policy to practice. Its primary contribution to 2026 is the explicit separation of esports from money-based gaming.
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Legitimacy: By categorizing esports as a legitimate competitive pursuit, PROGA has unlocked state-level adoption and cleared the way for schools and colleges to integrate gaming into their sports frameworks.
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Commercial Confidence: With a clear regulatory environment, brands in sectors like FMCG, automotive, and BFSI are now viewing esports as a stable, long-term youth engagement platform rather than a risky experiment.
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Athlete Pathways: PROGA facilitates the creation of standardized national registries for athletes, ensuring that competitive integrity is maintained across grassroots and professional tiers.
The Asian Games 2026: A Global Stage
The Asian Games 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, serves as the most critical milestone for the ecosystem this year.
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Medal Status: Esports will feature as a full medal event with 11 confirmed titles, including League of Legends, PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version), and Pokémon UNITE.
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Indian Prospects: India’s best historical result (quarter-finals in League of Legends at Hangzhou) has set a high bar. For 2026, the focus has shifted toward high-performance training camps and long-term athlete mentorship to secure a podium finish.
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Multi-Sport Integration: Participation alongside traditional athletes reinforces the narrative that esports is a viable professional career, further encouraging government investment through schemes like Khelo India.
Market Evolution and Key Trends
The Indian gaming market is projected to reach approximately $5.02 billion in 2026, driven by a massive player base exceeding 500 million gamers.
| Trend | Impact in 2026 |
| Mobile Dominance | Over 95% of the market remains mobile-first, fueled by 5G expansion and affordable hardware. |
| Beyond BGMI | 2026 is seeing a push to diversify the market into fighting games, sports simulations, and PC titles to avoid “one-title dependency.” |
| Monetization Shift | Revenue is shifting from pure advertising toward battle passes, subscription models, and in-game progression. |
| Tier II & III Growth | Most new user acquisition is coming from smaller cities, demanding more vernacular and localized content. |
The post Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
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