New Delhi: India’s biggest collegiate esports talent hunt is back, and this time it’s going bigger than ever. College Rivals Season 3, organised by Ampverse DMI, has officially launched and will travel to more than 70 colleges across 20-plus cities. The new season adds fresh twists to its format, including a BGMI squad option that allows students to form their own four-player teams. Registrations opened on August 6, and the nationwide tour begins in Delhi NCR on August 11.

The expansion marks the tournament’s first entry into East India, a move organisers say will help bring in untapped talent from regions that have been left out of earlier editions. The tour will include a mix of online and on-ground events, with nearly 20 livestreams planned to showcase the competition.

While the solo BGMI format remains a mainstay, the new squad option is expected to add more strategy and team play to the competition. Popular titles like EA Sports FC25 and Valorant are returning, and for the first time, chess will make an appearance as a demonstrative esports title. Organisers say this addition is aimed at diversifying the skills on display and tapping into chess’s growing online popularity in India.

The total prize pool this year is ₹30 lakh, with participants battling it out for top honours in multiple game categories. The competition will run across several months, culminating in a national-level showdown.

Ampverse DMI has partnered with top gaming influencers LolzZz, Shreeman Legend, Mizo, and Zgod for Season 3. These creators will be involved in content drops, livestreams, and even campus appearances to build excitement among students. The organisers believe that this influencer push will create a strong connection with the student audience, making the tournament as much a community event as a competitive one.

Sumedha Mahajan, Head of Marketing, Operations and Client Growth at Ampverse DMI, said the aim is to meet the evolving expectations of India’s gaming community while growing the competitive scene. She emphasised that the focus is not just on bigger numbers but also on building an ecosystem that supports young players in turning their passion into a career.

Ampverse and DMI Finance formed their joint venture in 2023 to focus on building India’s esports and gaming ecosystem. College Rivals was their first co-developed IP, and in just two years it has become the largest collegiate esports platform in the country. Last year’s season reached 22 cities, 58 colleges, and generated over 20,000 live streams with 60-plus hours of broadcast content.