BENGALURU: The Karnataka government has unveiled ambitious plans to position the state as a global creative technology hub, announcing upcoming Esports Summit and Game Developers Conference events following the conclusion of the highly successful Bengaluru GAFX 2025.
The three-day conference, held at The Lalit Ashok and organised by the Department of Electronics, IT & Biotechnology and the Association of Bangalore Animation Industry (ABAI), attracted over 5,000 daily visitors and featured 100+ sessions with 200 speakers from ten countries.
"Karnataka is not just the IT, biotech, and skill capital of India—we are on our way to becoming the global creative capital," declared information technology minister Priyank Kharge at the valedictory function. "With the right policies, incentives, and vision, we will transform India into a hub for creative technology."
The minister outlined plans for significant investment in incubators, Centres of Excellence, and original intellectual property creation, inspired by the success of global entertainment giants like Disney and Marvel.
Karnataka's AVGC-XR Finishing School has already trained over 842 students, while the state hosts 27 Digital Art Centres and represents 20 per cent of India's Media & Entertainment market.
Several major announcements marked the event, including the animated debut of beloved comic character Suppandi, unveiled by actor Rana Daggubati. The character will stream on PowerKids TV, with Tinkle's young female superhero WingStar also set for animation. The prestigious Uncle Pai Promising New Creator Award was launched, with Mahati Santhanakrishnan named inaugural recipient for her comic Hunting Monsters.
A significant partnership between Green Gold Animation (India) and TG Entertainment (UK) was announced to expand The Brilliant World of Tom Gates franchise across South Asia, focusing on licensing, merchandising, and animation production.
The conference proved particularly fruitful for business development, with the B2B Forum facilitating 395 letters of intent between companies. Fifteen top buyers engaged with 39 participating companies, with 40 intellectual properties showcased. The Investor Connect Program saw 29 investors from 22 companies meeting with 34 startups, offering crucial funding and mentorship opportunities.
The Skyesports Souvenir 2025 National Esports Championship featured four elite teams competing for a Rs 5 lakh prize pool, with Gods Reign crowned champions and Aakash "PH1NNN" Bose earning MVP honours. The competition showcased Counterstrike 2, confirmed as a title in the upcoming Olympic Esports Games 2026.
The AnimationXpress GEM Awards recognised industry excellence across gaming, esports, and metaverse categories. Notable winners included Bloom - A Puzzle Adventure (Best Casual Game), Indus Battle Royale (Best Mobile Game), and 1971: Indian Naval Front (Best Hardcore Game). SuperGaming claimed Game Studio of the Year, with Lucid Labs named Best Indie Studio.
Several strategic agreements were formalised, including an MoU between Uzbekistan and ABAI that will see delegations exchanged between the countries. The ABAI AVGC Centre of Excellence and Media & Entertainment Skills Council also partnered to advance skilling, incubation, and policy development.
A Digital Detox Center by the All India Gaming Federation was launched, while a special session on Bringing Moana 2 to Life offered behind-the-scenes insights into Disney's advanced animation technologies, including Tonic for hair grooming and enhanced crowd simulation.
"There are tangible outcomes that will be an accelerator for India's creative technology industries," said Bengaluru GAFX chairman and ABAI president Biren Ghose. "GAFX 2025 has succeeded in highlighting the disruption that will enable studios, startups, and talent to make a lasting impact on the global stage."
