NCoE for AVGC-XR promises to reshape India's esports sector similar to IITs & IIMs

Union Cabinet, under leership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi , has sanctioned creation of National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality (AVGC-XR). Scheduled to be established in Mumbai, Maharashtra , this initiative is in line with 2022-23 budget announcement by Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs regarding formation of an AVGC Task Force.

Since esports received official recognition as a ‘multi-sport event’ from Indian government, gaming industry has seen significant growth in country, with various states actively engaging with sector to support its development. Ministry of Information and Brocasting recently furred this support with announcement of World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES), scheduled to take place in New Delhi in February 2025. This summit will feature esports tournaments for popular titles such as Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), World Cricket Championship (WCC), and eFootball, showcasing country’s commitment to creating a thriving gaming ecosystem.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi , in his recent Independence Day dress, encouraged Indian game developers and talent to make a mark on global stage. NCoE will play a crucial role in this effort by focusing on development of India’s intellectual property (IP) for both domestic and international markets, drawing inspiration from country’s rich historical and cultural heritage. A notable example of this is Indus Battle Royale, developed by SuperGaming, a leing game developer based in Pune, which recently entered open beta and represents India’s growing influence in global gaming landscape.

Commenting on this development, Roby John, CEO and Co-founder of SuperGaming, said, “ NCoE’s role as an incubation hub will be a game-changer for startups, nurturing innovation and supporting early-stage companies that could very well define next generation of gaming experiences. Just as IITs and NITs were established to vance engineering and technology, and IIMs for management, we believe NCoE for AVGC-XR will similarly transform gaming industry in India."

“ focus on creating India's intellectual property, especially content that reflects our cultural richness, aligns perfectly with our ambitions at SuperGaming, where we’re working on Indus, most ambitious Me-In-India battle royale game set in an Indo-futuristic universe. As gaming continues to blur lines between entertainment and technology, we can expect to see a rise in investments, both domestic and foreign, as global industry looks to India as a content hub. focus on cutting-edge technology, coupled with support of government and industry leers, is bound to attract significant FDI in gaming sector, furr boosting India’s position on global gaming map,” he furr ded.

Alongside his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Modi has been a vocal vocate for growth of gaming industry. He has engaged with leing gamers, including Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug, Naman Mathur aka Mortal, and Payal Dhare aka PayalGaming from 8Bit Creatives, India’s leing esports consulting and talent agency, discussing various aspects of industry and even participating in gaming sessions with m.

Animesh Agarwal, CEO and Co-founder of 8Bit Creatives said, “ establishment of NCoE for AVGC-XR is absolutely commendable. This will serve as a platform for young enthusiasts across country by providing m access to latest technology, valuable mentorship and guidance to be able to upskill and enter this industry. NCoE will mark next step in supporting and nurturing development of Me-in-India game titles for global audience by harnessing rich history and cultural tapestry of India. emergence of se new titles will enable Indian content creators to work and grow alongside and make an indelible mark in global gaming ecosystem.”

NCoE will provide specialised training and learning programs designed to equip both beginners and professionals with latest skills in vanced AVGC-XR technologies. To deliver high-quality output, high-performance PCs are essential. CyberPowerPC, which recently entered India and is renowned for its top-tier custom and pre-built gaming PCs, is well-suited to meet this growing demand.

“ National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for AVGC-XR being established is an excellent initiative by government of India and will surely provide an incredible boost to India’s animation, VFX, gaming and comics sectors. NCoE will provide a platform for individuals to harness rapidly vancing technology to upskill ir craft furr. government’s support to this industry is crucial as it has potential to engage youth and anchor India’s name in global AVGC-XR map. Initiatives like se furr strengn our belief that entertainment industry in India is poised for exponential growth and we at CyberPowerPC India are excited to contribute to this growth,” stated Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer of CyberPowerPC India.

NCoE primarily aligns with interests and career aspirations of Gen-Z demographic, expanding career opportunities in AVGC-XR sector. NODWIN Gaming, a leer in youth entertainment, gaming, and esports, has been at forefront of catering to this demographic in India with IPs such as Comic Con, DreamHack India, BGMS Season 3, and NH7 Weekender.

Akshat Rae, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, remarked, " establishment of National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for AVGC-XR marks a milestone for India's entertainment industry. NCoE will act as a beacon for both amateurs and professionals of industry to learn and sharpen ir craft. amalgamation of multiple sectors like animation, VFX, gaming, comics and more will be extremely beneficial for industry as all of se sectors synergise exceptionally well to create amazing experiences for everyone."

He furr ded, “We, at NODWIN Gaming, thrive to provide holistic experiences to youth by combining best of sectors and our IPs including Comic Con India, DreamHack India, BGMS and more furr underscore our vision. NCoE will furr strengn roots of this industry and help in creating skilled professionals by nurturing creativity through cutting edge technologies and expert mentorship. This will provide an impetus to country’s AVGC - XR ecosystem and help solidify India as a powerhouse of this industry, globally.”

In conclusion, NCoE for AVGC-XR represents a transformative leap for India’s gaming and esports industry.