Publisher Riot Games and local joint-venture operator JioBLAST have announced the VALORANT Campus Cup, a nationwide collegiate esports program designed to expand grassroots competitive gaming across higher education institutions in India.

The initiative will feature four primary competitive phases, beginning with activations across 10 higher education campuses pan-India and gaming café showdowns in five cities. These initial stages will lead into national online qualifiers, culminating in a one-day National LAN Final that will bring together the top men’s and women’s collegiate teams for a broadcasted live championship event.

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Notably, the program introduces a dedicated women’s tournament stream. Separate online qualifiers will establish an inclusive, direct competitive pathway for female collegiate players seeking to earn a spot at the National Final.

“India is home to one of the world’s most passionate and rapidly growing gaming communities,” said Charlie Cowdrey, CEO of JioBLAST. “With the VALORANT Campus Cup, we’re creating more than a tournament; we’re building a platform where students can represent their campuses, compete at a national level and become part of India’s growing esports ecosystem. Together with Riot Games, we’re excited to create experiences that inspire the next generation of competitive players while strengthening collegiate esports across the country.”

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The tournament expands on BLAST‘s global esports framework and follows the formation of JioBLAST, a joint enterprise established between tournament organiser BLAST and Reliance Industries entity RISE Worldwide Limited to deliver esports IP within the Indian market.

Anushka Bhatnagar, Publishing Lead for India and South Asia at Riot Games, added: “At VALORANT, we believe in meeting players where they are and for many of them, that journey begins in colleges and gaming cafes. VALORANT Campus Cup is our commitment to creating meaningful opportunities through structured competition, giving students a clear pathway to represent their campuses, compete against the best teams from across India, and experience organised play.”

Participating educational institutions, hosting cities, registration dates, and location details regarding the National LAN Final are set to be disclosed by Riot Games and JioBLAST in the coming weeks.

For a broader analysis on how publisher investments, regulatory shifts, and grassroots programs are reshaping the regional market, read The Esports Radar‘s breakdown on esports developments in India.

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