The Tamil Nadu government turned up the heat at the India Game Developer Conference (IGDC) 2025 in Chennai on Thursday, sealing blockbuster Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with gaming powerhouses Nazara Technologies, Lakshya Digital, and Reliance Games. Hosted for the first time in the city at the Chennai Trade Centre from November 5-7, the event drew thousands of creators, investors, and studios, spotlighting the state's ambitious push into game development, design, and immersive media like AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Extended Reality).
In a star-studded ceremony, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin—self-proclaimed "avid gamer"—and IT Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan oversaw the signings, alongside a pivotal skilling and research pact between the Game Developer Association of India (GDAI) and Hindustan University. These deals aim to supercharge long-term investments, create jobs, and build a youth-powered digital economy, with Tamil Nadu unveiling its game-changing AVGC-XR Policy 2025 focused on talent, infrastructure, and innovation.
Udhayanidhi, addressing the buzzing crowd on day two, traced Tamil Nadu's tech legacy back to former CM M Karunanidhi, who pioneered India's first IT department in 1998 and rolled out computer education in schools. Under CM MK Stalin, this foundation has exploded into AVGC-XR dominance, with plans for a Chennai Center of Excellence, regional hubs in Coimbatore, Madurai, and more, plus E-Sports in the TN CM Trophy 2025—positioning the state as India's gaming epicenter.
Also Read: Day 1 of SIR in Tamil Nadu: DMK and AIADMK Trade Charges Over Voter Enumeration Forms
GDAI Chairperson Sridhar Muppidi hailed Tamil Nadu as a "benchmark" for states fostering innovation, praising its industry-led approach over subsidies. The policy's four pillars—skilling, infrastructure, business ease, and incentives—were 99% shaped by stakeholders, promising thousands of jobs and aligning with India's $100B gaming vision by 2035.
Cross-state vibes peaked as Kerala's AVGC-XR network jumped in, signing an MoU with a Kerala studio and Datsi School (Zebu Animation's CSR arm) to co-create original IP—the first student-led game model in India. With global giants like Google Play, Unity, and Microsoft in the mix, IGDC 2025 signals Tamil Nadu's all-in bet on gaming glory.
Also Read: TVK Names Vijay as CM Face for 2026; Party Authorises Him to Decide Alliances