Dream Sports, the parent company of fantasy gaming leader Dream11, on Tuesday announced a strategic gaming collaboration with Microsoft. The two company signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) at a recent event in Mumbai.
The partnership will explore opportunities to publish Microsoft’s iconic gaming titles in India, while co-developing AI-powered gaming experiences tailored specifically for Indian gamers.“We are eager to build innovative and future-ready experiences by leveraging Microsoft’s deep technical and AI expertise along with our base of 250 million Indian users. We look forward to working together to redefine the future of online gaming in India,” said Harsh Jain, co-founder & CEO of Dream Sports.
“We are excited to explore a collaboration with Dream Sports, leveraging their vast ecosystem of 250 million users. Together, Microsoft and Dream Sports aim to elevate the Indian gaming landscape by tailoring it to local needs and delivering transformative AI-driven experiences,” said Puneet Chandok, president of Microsoft India and South Asia.
The announcement comes at a time when India’s gaming industry has evolved into a vibrant ecosystem of approximately 600 million gamers, valued at $3.8 billion in FY24, according to a report by Lumikai.
The collaboration’s focus on AI-powered experiences aligns with broader industry trends. A recent Technavio report projects the global AI-in-games market to grow by $27.47 billion between 2025 and 2029, at a CAGR of 42.3%, driven by increased adoption of augmented and virtual reality gaming.
Industry experts suggest that Dream11 could leverage Microsoft’s advanced gaming technologies that adapt to player behaviours, content generation creating endless unique gameplay scenarios, and personalised experiences adjusting difficulty based on player skill. The collaboration could also potentially enhance the company’s flagship fantasy sports platform Dream11’s, predictions, and performance analytics capabilities.
Additionally, Microsoft’s advanced AI security capabilities could strengthen Dream Sports’ existing fair play measures by implementing more sophisticated bot detection systems that identify suspicious patterns and automated behaviour. Dream Sports, valued at $8 billion following its $840 million funding round in November 2021, operates several brands including FanCode, DreamSetGo, Dream Game Studios, and Dream Sports Foundation, alongside its flagship fantasy sports platform, Dream11. In FY23, the company reported a revenue surge of over 60%, rising to Rs 6,384.8 crore from Rs 4,065 crore in FY22. Net profit also grew substantially, from Rs 142.9 crore to Rs 443.6 crore.
This latest announcement follows Dream Sports’ ongoing expansion strategy, including its reported acquisition of a 15% stake in Times Internet-owned cricket media platform Cricbuzz for $50 million. The investment is expected to enhance Dream11’s brand presence and integrate new user acquisition pathways within Cricbuzz’s cricket-focused content ecosystem, particularly during marquee tournaments.
