Kashmir to Kanyakumari on One LAN: FAU-G Bharat League 2.0 Just Proved India’s Homegrown Esports Scene Is Real

nCore Games wrapped up FBL 2.0 in Mumbai — India’s first-ever onground LAN for a made-in-India game — with a ₹50 lakh prize pool, Akshay Kumar on stage, and a Titan tier champion from Assam.

₹50L- Prize pool

28- States represented

70+ Cities & towns

What just happened — and why it matters

This past weekend, Smaaash in Mumbai hosted something that has never happened before in Indian gaming: a fully onground LAN tournament for a game made entirely in India. The FAU-G: Bharat League 2.0 Finals brought 100+ finalists — the majority from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities — to compete in FAU-G: Domination, the modern military shooter developed by Dot9 Games and published by Nazara Publishing.

For context on how far esports in India has come — from a niche PC café culture to lakhs of players competing in structured national leagues across mobile — FBL 2.0 marks one of the most significant milestones yet: a grassroots, pan-India tournament where the game itself is the product of Indian developers.

FAU-G Bharat League 2.0 by the numbers

Akshay Kumar’s message to Indian gamers

nCore Group and Dot9 Games mentor Akshay Kumar took to the Smaaash stage and addressed players directly — holding up a phone running FAU-G: Domination. His message went beyond tournament talk.

“This is not just a tournament. This is a beginning. India’s own first multiplayer action game. Made in India. These three companies may have built the game, but you, the players, are the ones who made it run. This is the time when India does not just play games. India BUILDS them.” — Akshay Kumar

Kumar also highlighted FAU-G’s connection to Bharat Ke Veer, the fund supporting families of armed forces personnel — a portion of every download goes directly to the cause. The game’s identity as a national movement, not just entertainment, was central to his address.

Beyond prize money: the upskilling edge

Most esports tournaments end with a cheque. FBL 2.0 went further. In partnership with Leverage, the league offered winners an all-expenses-paid trip to London to visit top game development universities, personalised career counselling, and English language training — turning a competitive win into a genuine career launchpad.

“While esports events are largely known for their prize pools, none of them offer upskilling opportunities,” said Akshay Chaturvedi, Founder and CEO of Leverage. “That’s the distinct advantage of FBL 2.0.”

Interio by Godrej joins the arena

Godrej’s furniture brand Interio by Godrej collaborated with Dot9 Games to showcase its ergonomic gaming chairs at the event — giving finalists a first-hand experience during high-intensity tournament play. It signals growing mainstream brand interest in India’s gaming community beyond the usual peripheral and energy drink sponsors.

What’s next for FAU-G: Domination

For more coverage of Indian esports tournaments and mobile gaming news, head to TechnoSports’ esports and gaming section — one of India’s go-to destinations for gaming updates.

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