LVL Zero Cohort Showcases 10 Game Startups Driving Global Innovation

India's gaming industry has become one of the world's largest player markets, but a new generation of developers is working to ensure the country becomes equally known for creating original gaming intellectual property.

LVL Zero, India's first gaming incubator backed by MIXI Global Investments, Nazara Technologies, and Chimera VC, selected 10 startups for its inaugural cohort from over 240 applications received across the country. The cohort represents a diverse cross-section of Indian game development from narrative-driven PC and console experiences to strategy games, sandbox builders, experimental concepts, and deeply personal indie projects.

Collectively, these studios reflect a broader shift underway in Indian game development, where creators are increasingly building for global audiences while retaining distinct creative identities.

Kyrel Games

Game: PHi: The Broken Strings

Founded by Mani Ghadi and Mayank Singh, Kyrel Games is developing PHi: The Broken Strings, a 3D narrative puzzle platformer for PC and consoles.

The game places players inside a puppet universe where environments, characters, and puzzles embody different emotional and psychological states. Through themes of fear, attachment, control, grief, and acceptance, the studio aims to create an emotionally resonant experience that explores what it means to let go.

Kyrel represents a growing wave of Indian developers focused on premium narrative experiences designed for global audiences.

Trojan Productions

Game: Trox: The Reversal

Founded by Vinil Verghese and Sushant Devadhe, Trojan Productions is building Trox: The Reversal, a narrative psychological horror game set within an altered reality.

The game combines atmospheric storytelling, environmental horror, and emotional tension, drawing inspiration from social systems, isolation, ideology, and post-nuclear survival. Rather than relying solely on traditional horror mechanics, the studio focuses on creating immersive experiences that leave a lasting emotional impact on players.

Trojan Productions emerged from a game jam collaboration and has since evolved into a studio dedicated to creating meaningful horror experiences.

Wrought Studios

Game: Last Day Lockdown

Wrought Studios, founded by Kunal Negi and Srujan Pant, is developing Last Day Lockdown, a 3D narrative escape-room experience set inside a corporate office.

Built around themes of nostalgia, transition, and acceptance, the game transforms a familiar workplace environment into a mystery-driven experience where every clue, conversation, and decision matters.

By drawing inspiration from everyday experiences rather than fantasy worlds, Wrought Studios aims to create stories that resonate universally with players around the world.

Impulse Mechanics

Game: Mech It Happen!

Founded by Siddharth Gupta, Impulse Mechanics is developing Mech It Happen!, a physics-based sandbox simulation game that encourages players to build machines capable of solving traversal, mechanical, and destruction-focused challenges.

The game focuses on player creativity and experimentation, allowing users to design unique solutions rather than follow predefined paths. Through accessible gameplay systems and open-ended mechanics, the studio hopes to attract both genre enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

Impulse Mechanics represents the growing interest among Indian developers in systems-driven gameplay experiences with broad international appeal.

YK Game Studio

Game: Chicklet's Human Products

Founded by Yash Kaushik, YK Game Studio is creating Chicklet's Human Products, an unconventional reverse-farming game where players take on the role of animals farming products from humans.

Blending satire, humor, survival mechanics, and progression systems, the game seeks to challenge traditional genre expectations through a highly distinctive premise and gameplay loop.

The project reflects the increasing willingness among Indian indie developers to experiment with bold concepts and globally recognizable gameplay formats.

Arckon Arts

Game: Stickman Infinite Kingdom

Arckon Arts is a family-founded studio led by brothers Dinesh Kumar, Rajesh Kumar, and Praveen Kumar.

Following the success of Sarkar Infinite, the studio is now developing Stickman Infinite Kingdom, an action-strategy title that combines real-time strategy mechanics, cinematic visuals, and a narrative-driven campaign.

The game introduces dynamic leader-switching mechanics and character-driven combat systems while building upon the studio's strengths in animation and stylized visual storytelling.

Arckon Arts reflects how successful indie teams are evolving from individual projects into long-term studios capable of building scalable intellectual property.

Xigma Games

Game: Metal Haven

Founded by Govardhan Gosavi and Himanshu Manwani, Xigma Games is best known for The Bonfire series, which has achieved more than 10 million downloads globally.

The studio's latest project, Metal Haven, is a sci-fi action strategy game focused on base-building, exploration, alliance-driven gameplay, and large-scale multiplayer competition.

The project marks Xigma's transition into free-to-play game development while maintaining the studio's emphasis on deep strategy systems and long-term player engagement.

As one of the most experienced teams in the cohort, Xigma Games demonstrates how Indian studios are increasingly targeting globally competitive genres and live-service ecosystems.

Prescription Studios

Game: The Misadventures of Spaceman Biff

Prescription Studios is the solo venture of developer Vignesh Sathyamoorthy.

Its debut title, The Misadventures of Spaceman Biff, is a 2D rage platformer that follows a stranded space-trucker attempting to climb back to safety while dealing with a cast of hilariously unhelpful customer support agents.

Combining challenging gameplay with narrative humor, the project reflects the growing confidence of solo developers pursuing ambitious creative visions within India's indie ecosystem.

Rudrac Games

Game: Twin Flames

Founded by solo developer Venkatesh Muskam, Rudrac Games is building Twin Flames, a cooperative puzzle adventure inspired by themes of love, connection, and duality.

Originally conceived during Global Game Jam, the game evolved into a narrative experience influenced by the story of Savitri and Satyavan, reimagined through an original fantasy lens.

Built entirely by a single creator, the project exemplifies the passion-driven development journeys increasingly emerging within India's independent game development scene.

KALP Studio

Game: Raahi

Founded by Rishabh Raj, Mannat Jain, and Akshat Sinha, KALP Studio is developing Raahi, a cozy narrative experience set in 1990s Goa.

Players take on the role of an auto-rickshaw driver navigating everyday life, meeting passengers, and becoming part of their personal stories. The game focuses on slowing players down and encouraging emotional connection through small moments rather than traditional gameplay objectives.

Drawing inspiration from literature, cinema, and art, KALP Studio represents a new generation of developers exploring games as deeply human storytelling experiences.

A Snapshot of India's Emerging Game Development Ecosystem

Together, the 10 startups selected for LVL Zero's inaugural cohort showcase the breadth of talent currently emerging from India's game development ecosystem.

From psychological horror and narrative adventures to strategy titles, sandbox simulations, cooperative experiences, and experimental gameplay concepts, these studios are building games across genres, platforms, and audiences. What unites them is a shared ambition: building globally competitive games from India and contributing to the country's growing game development ecosystem.

As the cohort progresses toward its final showcase, these startups represent a broader shift from India being known primarily as a gaming consumption market to becoming an increasingly important source of game creation, innovation, and globally relevant game development.

As part of the program's culmination, LVL Zero plans to host its inaugural Demo Day in Bengaluru during the third week of July 2026, bringing together investors, publishers, platforms, and ecosystem leaders to meet the cohort and experience their projects firsthand. The showcase will mark the conclusion of the incubator's first cohort and reflects LVL Zero's broader mission of strengthening India's gaming ecosystem while supporting the creation of globally competitive gaming companies.

LVL Zero Spotlight: India’s Emerging Game Studios Are Building Some of Its Biggest Creative Ambitions

• Solo founders, three-person teams, and deeply personal stories are shaping a new generation of Indian game development

India's gaming industry is often discussed through the lens of scale - millions of players, growing revenues, and expanding esports ecosystems. But behind this growth, a quieter movement is taking shape. Across the country, a new generation of independent developers is building original games with tiny teams, deeply personal creative visions, and global ambitions.

Among the startups selected for the inaugural cohort of LVL Zero, India's first gaming incubator backed by MIXI Global Investments, Nazara Technologies, and Chimera VC, are three studios that represent this emerging wave of creator-led game development: Prescription Studios, Rudrac Games, and KALP Studio.

Despite operating with lean teams and limited resources, each studio is building games that prioritize emotion, storytelling, and meaningful player experiences which is demonstrating how Indian game development is increasingly moving beyond scale and toward creative identity.

Building Worlds from Personal Passion

For Vignesh Sathyamoorthy, founder of Prescription Studios, game development began with a lifelong fascination for the medium.

Growing up on titles such as Mario, Contra, and later modern classics, games became both inspiration and refuge. That passion ultimately led him to create The Misadventures of Spaceman Biff, a narrative-driven 2D rage platformer that combines demanding gameplay with humour and storytelling. Built largely as a solo effort, the project required Vignesh to expand beyond programming and teach himself pixel art while balancing development alongside a full-time job.

"I've always dreamt of contributing to this medium in some way. Games have been with me through both the good times and the difficult ones, and creating my own felt like the natural path," he said.

His long-term vision extends beyond a single title, with ambitions to build a studio known for narrative-rich experiences across multiple genres.

One Developer, One Vision

For Venkatesh Muskam, founder of Rudrac Games, game development started unexpectedly during his biotechnology degree.

After discovering a game development course and building his first project, he realized he wanted to become what he describes as a "world creator" - someone capable of building entire universes from imagination.

That ambition evolved into Twin Flames, a cooperative puzzle adventure inspired by themes of duality, connection, and emotional storytelling. Drawing inspiration from the story of Savitri and Satyavan, the game reimagines ideas of companionship and partnership through interactive gameplay. Building the project alone required years of persistence, multiple rewrites, freelance work to fund development, and long stretches of uncertainty. The project eventually gained industry recognition by winning Best Indie Game Design at IGDC 2025, providing validation for years of effort.

"The vision is simple but meaningful. I want people to play together and feel more connected to each other by the end of the experience," Muskam explained.

Telling Stories Through Everyday Life

While many games focus on fantasy worlds, action, or high-stakes adventures, KALP Studio is taking a different approach.

Founded by Rishabh Raj, Mannat Jain, and Akshat Sinha, the studio is building Raahi, a narrative-driven experience set in 1990s Goa where players step into the role of an auto-rickshaw driver navigating everyday interactions and human stories. The project is rooted in a belief that games can help people slow down and connect more deeply with places, memories, and emotions.

"Most games are about power, speed, or saving the world. Raahi is about being present. We want players to remember the people they met and the emotions they felt rather than just objectives they completed," said the team.

Drawing inspiration from narrative experiences such as Firewatch, Gris, and What Remains of Edith Finch, KALP represents a growing category of Indian studios focused on emotionally resonant storytelling rather than traditional genre conventions.
A New Phase for Indian Game Development

The journeys of Prescription Studios, Rudrac Games, and KALP Studio highlight a broader shift taking place within India's gaming ecosystem.

Unlike previous generations that largely focused on outsourcing, service work, or mobile-first development, many emerging studios are now building original intellectual property with global audiences in mind. These teams are leveraging modern development tools, digital distribution platforms, and community-driven ecosystems to compete internationally despite operating with small teams.

For many founders, the opportunity today is not simply to make games in India, but to create products that can stand alongside globally recognized independent titles.

NODWIN Gaming Reports INR 658 Cr Revenue in FY26, Delivers EBITDA Profitability and Accelerates IPO Readiness

NODWIN Gaming, a global leader in gaming, esports, and youth entertainment, announced its financial results for FY26, reporting consolidated revenues of INR 658 crore, representing a 25% organic year-on-year growth over FY25. The company also reported an EBITDA profit of INR 21 crore for FY26, compared to an EBITDA loss of INR 14 crore in FY25, marking a significant financial turnaround as it advances toward IPO readiness.

The improvement in profitability was driven by a combination of strategic portfolio restructuring, including the de-consolidation of loss-making subsidiary Freaks4U, alongside strong performance across NODWIN’s live events, content, and IP businesses.

NODWIN has continued to evolve its business model around two interconnected verticals: Live and Content. Its live business spans festivals, esports tournaments, fan conventions, and brand activations, while the content business includes broadcast, scripted, and digital programming. The company’s operating model is built around a flywheel where content drives fandom and community engagement, which in turn fuels monetisation opportunities across live experiences, partnerships, commerce, and new IP creation.

This integrated approach has helped NODWIN deepen engagement with youth audiences across emerging markets while building a diversified and scalable revenue engine.

The company remains focused on the Global South as its core execution market while continuing to generate revenue opportunities across international markets. Today, NODWIN operates through offices and partnerships spanning South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

FY26 saw strong momentum across NODWIN’s flagship live entertainment portfolio. NH7 Weekender returned with a sold-out edition in Pune following its relaunch as the “Festival of India,” reinforcing its position as one of the country’s leading music and youth culture IPs. Comic Con India also expanded significantly during the year, growing from eight to eleven cities, with new rollouts across Kochi, Guwahati, Gurugram, and Jaipur, in addition to newer expansions including Chennai and Pune.

Globally, NODWIN continued to deepen its esports and live entertainment footprint through initiatives including the Swahili Esports Champions 2026 in Uganda and the execution of Live Matters Hong Kong 2026. Further strengthening its position within the international esports ecosystem, NODWIN Gaming was also appointed as India’s official National Team Partner for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup 2026, where the company will be responsible for mobilising and managing the Indian contingent representing the country at the tournament.

The company also expanded its portfolio of gaming and entertainment partnerships during the year. Key developments included the launch of MLMS in partnership with MOBA Legends, the delivery of OMEN activations at CES 2026, and execution of the PUBG Mobile Club Open Eastern Europe 2026.

NODWIN’s strategic investments also began yielding larger ecosystem outcomes in FY26. Its investment in StarLadder contributed to the successful execution of the Counter-Strike Major in Budapest.

As part of its IPO preparedness journey, NODWIN has continued strengthening its institutional and leadership capabilities. Over the past year, the company brought in senior leadership and strategic expertise through the appointments of Manish Agarwal, Arnd Benninghoff, and Sidharth Kedia to support long-term growth, capital strategy, governance, and public market readiness.

The company is also currently engaged in discussions with strategic and financial investors as part of its ongoing capital raise initiatives aimed at supporting future expansion.

Alongside growth, NODWIN has continued focusing on balance sheet discipline and capital efficiency by actively divesting or impairing assets that are not expected to contribute meaningfully to long-term value creation.

Operationally, FY26 also marked a year of internal efficiency improvements. The company implemented a disciplined headcount strategy while continuing to scale output across business verticals. NODWIN also expanded its internal AI initiatives during the year, deploying over ten AI-led workflow tools across finance, HR, legal, sales, and production functions to improve execution speed and operational productivity.

Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and MD of NODWIN Gaming and an industry evangelist

Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming, said: “This has been an important milestone year for NODWIN. As we prepare for scaling up globally and our potential IPO, we have focused on building a stronger and more efficient business. We continue to scale our presence across youth culture and live entertainment across our Content and Live business lines that span gaming, esports, music and future tech. We continue to believe the opportunity ahead lies in building a global youth entertainment company rooted in the global south and emerging markets, strong community engagement, diversified monetisation, and scalable cultural IPs.

As we continue strengthening our institutional structure and capital strategy, we remain focused on long-term value creation and will focus on organic and inorganic growth through deep Founder and Company integration across all we do. We pride ourselves on the fact that we retain our founders' post earnouts and the new missions they start help us grow organically globally.”

NODWIN Gaming continues to position itself as a leading youth entertainment infrastructure platform operating at the intersection of gaming, esports, creators, live experiences, and digital culture. With a growing international footprint and expanding portfolio of owned and operated IPs, the company remains focused on increasing its share of youth engagement across high-growth markets globally.

LVL Zero Onboards Leading Global & Indian Mentors to Power India’s Next Wave of Game Developers

LVL Zero, India’s first-of-its-kind gaming incubator backed by MIXI Global Investments, Nazara Technologies, and Chimera VC, today announced its mentor network for the inaugural cohort, bringing together Indian & global experts across game development, publishing, product, and growth to support India’s emerging game studios.

This mentor ecosystem will work closely with the 10 selected startups, embedding hands-on guidance into LVL Zero’s 100-day execution-driven program to help founders move from early-stage builds to market-ready products.
A Cross-Functional Mentor Network Built for Execution

The mentor cohort spans a wide range of disciplines critical to building and scaling successful game studios globally.

Key areas of expertise include:

• Game design & player experience
• PC, console, and mobile publishing
• Live-ops, retention, and analytics
• User acquisition, marketing, and growth
• Go-to-market strategy and positioning
• Game production, art, and audio
• Startup operations, pitching, and investment readiness

Mentors include Ankit Garg (Zombie Art School), Dr. Yaraslau Kot (University of Warsaw), Terry Lee (Fusebox), Claire Roazain (RZAIN), Dong Dong (NCSoft), Sophie Vo (Rise & Play), and Taha Tinwala (Gameramp), among others.

The network also brings in specialists such as Vivek Ramachandaran (Gameramp), Shashank Vandarangi (Gameramp), Mariusz Gasiewski (Google), Balaji Vijayan (formerly FRVR), Jia Ling Hoo (ID@Xbox), and Dilpesh Parmar (Investor & Advisor, multiple startups).

Further strengthening the ecosystem are experts including Charu Desodt (INT./Night), Nilesh Mange (Mother Grace Productions), Pratik Jaiswal (Sri Durga Arts), Per-Arne (Amplifier Game Invest), Federico Chichi (ROLI), Matthew Quek (Iterco), and Esteban Grellier (NAGA Publishing).

The mentor network is further supported by Gorkem (LUDUS Ventures), Kirill Akimkin (Polden Publishing), Sushant Kulkarni (24 Track Legends), Ravi Mantena and Deepak Gurijala (1312 Interactive), Anurag Choudhary (Felicity), Sadiq Ahamed (Lysto), Robert Huynh (Reforged Labs), and Imtiaz Hussain (formerly Yesgnome).

From Advice to Execution: Embedded Mentorship Model

Unlike traditional incubators, LVL Zero integrates mentors directly into the product development lifecycle. Each startup is paired with dedicated mentors aligned to their platform and stage, with access to a broader network for specialized inputs. Mentors actively participate in:

• Bi-weekly sprint reviews. 
• Product and design feedback loops. 
• QA & Playtesting data analysis & feedback. 
• Go-to-market and publishing strategy

This ensures that mentorship is not theoretical, but directly contributes to shipping better products within tight timelines.

Global Expertise, Local Execution

The mentor network includes operators and experts with experience across global gaming ecosystems, including platforms such as Xbox and leading international publishers.

By bringing this expertise to Indian founders, LVL Zero aims to bridge long-standing gaps in:

• Access to global publishing pathways
• Understanding of live-service and retention systems. 
• Go-to-market and distribution strategy
• Investor and capital readiness. 
• Aligned to a 100-Day Build–Test–Ship Framework

Mentors play a critical role across all phases of the program:

• Ignition (Days 1–15): Defining milestones, product vision, and execution roadmap
• Core Build (Days 16–70): Supporting rapid iteration, playtesting, and validation. 
• Market Readiness (Days 71–100): Preparing for launch, publishing, and investor engagement

By the end of the program, startups are expected to deliver playable builds, validated product loops, and investor/publisher-ready pitches, shaped through continuous mentor intervention.

Sagar Nair, Head of Incubation, LVL Zero said, “Access to capital is important, but what early-stage game studios in India have lacked most is access to real, hands-on expertise. With this mentor network, we are bringing in operators who have built, shipped, and scaled games globally, and embedding them directly into the founders’ journey. This isn’t advisory in isolation, it’s execution support at every step. Over the next 100 days, our focus is simply to help these teams build better products, faster, and prepare them to compete on a global stage.”

Building India’s Execution Layer for Gaming

With its mentor-led model, LVL Zero is positioning itself as more than just an incubator, acting as an execution layer for India’s gaming ecosystem.

As Indian studios increasingly aim to build globally competitive IP across PC, console, and mobile platforms, access to experienced operators across design, publishing, and growth is expected to be a key differentiator.

The mentor network reinforces LVL Zero’s core belief that the next generation of Indian game studios will not just be defined by ideas, but by their ability to execute, iterate, and s

MS Dhoni & Top Cricketers Back LightFury’s $11M Raise for AAA eCricket Game from India

• Cricket Stars MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya along with Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Tilak Varma and Sai Sudharsan come on board as Investors; the funding round drew investments from Blume, V3 Ventures, MIXI and Times Internet.

LightFury Games (LFG), a AAA-focused game-tech studio, today announced it has raised US$11 million in its Pre-Series A. The 100-member studio spans deep creative talent and advanced technical capability to build premium, globally competitive games. Its backers include Blume, V3 Ventures, MIXI, Times Internet and strategic investments from top members of the Indian cricket team.

In a defining endorsement for the company and its debut title ‘eCricket’, some of the biggest names in the world of cricket - MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, along with Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Tilak Varma and Sai Sudharsan have joined the round as investors.

At a time when cricket remains one of the world’s most-followed sports, the backing of iconic and leading cricketers gives LightFury Games a rare athlete-backed momentum as it builds ‘eCricket’, a AAA title from India with global ambitions, slated for release in 2026 on mobile.

The fresh capital will be primarily deployed to complete game development and strengthen its live operations (live ops) capabilities. This includes the post-launch infrastructure content pipelines and systems designed to deliver a high-quality, continuously evolving player experience at scale. With cricket commanding a global audience estimated to be over 2.5 billion, LightFury aims to address a significant gap in the sports gaming category by delivering a technically advanced, competitive, and live-service-driven Cricket e-game Franchise from India. The 100-strong studio combines creative vision with technical innovation to create high-quality, globally competitive games.

“We’ve backed LightFury from inception, in their mission to pioneer a new generation of Indian gaming studios, building IPs with global ambition. Building a AAA game is neither easy nor quick - it takes sustained creative excellence, deep technical expertise, and long-term discipline. In LightFury, we’ve seen a team come together from different parts of the world, with a shared passion and incredible attention to detail, depth and creativity. Supercharged by natively built AI tools, we are excited for the world to experience eCricket very soon. We would like it to be the Dhurandhar of Indian gaming history,” said Karthik Reddy, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Blume Ventures.

Arjun Vaidya, Managing Partner of V3 Ventures, added, “I'm a die-hard cricket fan, and today it is one of the biggest sports in the world. Yet it still does not have a definitive game in the way football, basketball or American football do. That is the gap. What gives us confidence is not just the size of the market, but the quality of gameplay, overall experience and player associations that LightFury has been building behind the scenes with real intent. Cricket is a uniquely complex sport, and its place at the intersection of culture, community and technology for nearly a quarter of the world’s population makes the opportunity around eCricket even more exciting. We’re excited to back LightFury as they work to build an impactful, category-defining global title and give our favourite sport the game it deserves.”

The global gaming market is projected to surpass US $400 billion in the coming years, and India’s gaming ecosystem is expected to reach US $9.89 billion by 2031 (growing at a CAGR of 14.55% between 2026 and 2031). LightFury Games is positioning itself at the forefront of India’s rise as a global game development hub. The company has invested over the past two years in core development capabilities, infrastructure, and analytics systems to enable continuous content, deep player engagement and long-term operational excellence.

“India has long been one of the world’s biggest gaming markets. Yet it has not been able to build a truly world-class AAA sports title. With eCricket, we want to change that. We are building from India for the world, with a very high bar on quality, deep competitive gameplay, and true-to-sport authenticity. This partnership ensures that we deliver on that vision and bring eCricket to fans soon in 2026. For us, this is much bigger than a game launch. It is about proving that India can build premium gaming IPs for the world, and not just play it.” says Karan Shroff, Co-Founder & CEO, LightFury Games

On what stood out to him about this collaboration, MS Dhoni said, “I’ve seen a lot of cricket games over the years, and there’s always been something missing. When LightFury showed me what they were working on, I felt they were trying to close that gap. It’s a big undertaking, building something like this out of India for a global audience. I’m here to contribute what I can from my time in the game, and make sure the details hold up. The rest is up to them, and from what I’ve seen, they’ll do a good job.”

Speaking about the challenge of capturing the depth of cricket in a game, Jasprit Bumrah who is exclusively managed by RISE Worldwide, added, “Cricket is a game of fine margins, and that’s what stood out to me about eCricket. The focus on detail and authenticity is impressive. I’m happy to back a team that is thinking deeply about the sport and building something meaningful from India.”

Sharing his perspective on cricket’s scale and fan energy, Hardik Pandya said, “Cricket is pressure, skill, and entertainment all at once. Fans want to feel that energy. What excites me about eCricket is that it is not trying to make cricket smaller for gaming. It is trying to make gaming rise to the scale of cricket. That is a bold idea, and I was very excited when the LightFury team approached me to be a part of the game.”

eCricket, built on Unreal Engine 5 and designed for mobile-first play, delivers a progression-driven experience with evolving player journeys shaped by real-time decisions. Its physics-led gameplay, combined with strategic batting and bowling systems, authentically captures real-world styles and match dynamics, while dynamic AI commentary and broadcast-style presentation ensure no two matches feel the same. Earlier this year, LightFury Games had also announced securing the global player roster license of over 600 professional cricketers featuring stars like Chris Gayle, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Kane Williamson, Pat Cummins, Jos Buttler, Travis Head and Andre Russell, marking one of the largest rosters in cricket gaming. eCricket reflects LightFury’s vision to build a definitive, globally competitive cricket gaming franchise, positioning India at the forefront of premium sports game development.

About LightFury Games:

Founded in 2024 by industry veterans Karan Shroff, Anurag Banerjee, and Tina Balachandran, LightFury Games is India’s premier AAA-focused game-tech studio dedicated to building high-quality, cutting-edge gaming experiences. Together, the leadership team has worked on more than 40 AAA titles.

With the Pre-Series A, LightFury Games has raised two successful rounds. Its backers include Blume, V3 Ventures, MIXI, Times Internet and strategic investments from top members of the Indian cricket team. The 100-strong studio combines creative vision with technical innovation to create high-quality, globally competitive games. Since its inception, LightFury Games has put world-class tech and talent at the centre of its planning and growth and strives to revolutionise India’s role as a hub for world-class game development.

To know more, please visit https://www.lightfurygames.com/

LVL Zero Unveils First Cohort of 10 Gaming Startups

• Cohort spans PC, console, and mobile titles across genres, highlighting rising indie ambition, narrative storytelling, and global-first product thinking

LVL Zero, India’s first-of-its-kind gaming incubator backed by MIXI Global Investments, Nazara Technologies, and ChimeraVC, announced the selection of 10 startups for its inaugural cohort. Chosen from over 240 applications, the cohort represents a new generation of Indian game developers building for global audiences across PC, console, and mobile platforms.

Selected Startups

• Arckon Arts
• Impulse Mechanics
• Kalp Studio
• Kyrel Games
• Prescription Studios
• Rudrac Games
• Trojan Productions
• Wrought Studio
• Xigma Games
• YK Game Studio

Collectively, these startups reflect the evolving shape of India’s gaming ecosystem, with teams ranging from solo developers to studios of up to 5 team members, and projects across strategy, narrative, puzzle, simulation, and horror genres.

A New Generation of Indian Game Developers

LVL Zero's First Cohort Winners

The cohort highlights a clear shift in Indian game development from mobile-first, services-led work to original IP creation with global ambition. Eight out of the ten selected startups are building for PC and console platforms, signalling a growing push toward premium, high-production-value experiences.

Examples include Metal Haven by Xigma Games, a mid-core 4X strategy title, and Raahi by Kalp Studio, a culturally rooted slice-of-life experience set in a 1990s Goa-inspired town.

Narrative-driven titles such as PHi: The Broken Strings by Kyrel Games and Last Day Lockdown by Wrought Studio reflect a rising focus on emotionally resonant storytelling, while experimental concepts like Chiklet’s Human Products by YK Game Studio highlight unconventional survival mechanics.

(L-R) - Tomoharu Urabe, Managing Director of Investments at MIXI Global Investments, Inc., Deepak MV, Head of Strategy, Nazara 

Diverse Stages, Unified Ambition

• One live product already in the market
• Two titles in beta or soft-launch
• Five in alpha with playable builds or demos
• Early-stage and prototype products under active development

This diversity underscores LVL Zero’s focus on supporting startups across stages while addressing a critical industry gap, helping teams transition from early prototypes to market-ready products.

India’s Cultural Identity Meets Global Design

Several startups in the cohort are incorporating Indian themes, cultural elements, and storytelling into their games, not as a niche, but as a global differentiator. Titles like Raahi and Twin Flames draw from Indian settings, mythology, and philosophy to create experiences designed for international audiences.

Inside the 100-Day Incubation Program

Each selected startup will receive an equity-free grant of USD 10,000, along with access to LVL Zero’s structured 100-day incubation program.

• Ignition (Days 1–15): Define milestones, align with mentors, set execution goals
• Core Build (Days 16–70): Sprint-based development cycles focused on iteration, testing, validation
• Market Readiness (Days 71–100): Go-to-market planning, publisher outreach, investor readiness

Beyond Capital: Building for Scale

In addition to funding, LVL Zero provides:

• Dedicated mentorship from 28+ global industry experts
• Publisher access across PC, console, and mobile ecosystems
• QA and Global Playtesting support
• Investor readiness and fundraising guidance
• Ecosystem access across Nazara Technologies, MIXI Global Investments, and ChimeraVC networks

Industry Voices

Krish Anurag, Managing Partner at Chimera VC: “LVL Zero was built to address a structural gap in the ecosystem where access to capital, distribution, knowledge, and talent existed, but lacked integration. What we’re seeing with this inaugural cohort is a strong validation of that thesis.”

Deepak MV, Head of Strategy, Nazara Technologies: “What’s exciting about this cohort is the clear shift toward original IP and global product thinking. Indian developers are increasingly moving beyond building for just the domestic market.”

Tomoharu Urabe, Managing Director of Investments at MIXI Global Investments: “This cohort represents a new generation of Indian founders who are ready to think and build beyond geographical boundaries. The diversity of ideas and emphasis on design and storytelling is encouraging.”

Strengthening India’s Position in Global Game Development

With its inaugural cohort, LVL Zero aims to play a catalytic role in shaping India’s next generation of game studios, building original IP and competing in global markets from day one.

About LVL Zero

LVL Zero is a first-of-its-kind gaming incubator created by ChimeraVC in partnership with MIXI Global Investments and Nazara Technologies. Headquartered in Bangalore, LVL Zero supports early-stage gaming startups through equity-free grants, mentorship, and access to publishing, distribution, and investor networks.

About MIXI Global Investments, Inc.

MIXI Global Investments (MGI) is the corporate venture capital arm of MIXI, Inc., based in Tokyo and known for its popular mobile game IPs and community-focused live operations.

About Nazara Technologies

Nazara Technologies is India’s only publicly listed gaming company, with businesses across Blue Tile, Curve Games, Kiddopia, Animal Jam, Fusebox Games, World Cricket Championship, Sportskeeda, and more. Website: www.nazara.com

About Chimera VC

ChimeraVC is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on India’s gaming and interactive entertainment ecosystem, backing founders in gaming, tools, and infrastructure.

India’s First Gaming Incubator LVL Zero Receives 240+ Startup Applications

LVL Zero, India’s first-of-its-kind gaming incubator backed by MIXI Global Investments, Nazara Technologies, and Chimera VC, today announced that it has received more than 240 applications for its inaugural cohort, offering a unique snapshot of India’s emerging early-stage gaming startup ecosystem.

The applications span a diverse range of game studios and gaming ecosystem startups, reflecting a new wave of micro-studio formation, growing platform ambition, and a shift toward globally competitive product thinking among Indian founders. The cohort, which opened applications on January 26, attracted teams building across mobile, PC, console, and gaming infrastructure products.

A significant trend emerging from the applicant pool is the formation of small, early-stage studios, with nearly 46.9% of applicants founded in 2025 and 66.8% established in 2024 or later, highlighting a recent surge of new teams entering the industry. The majority of applicants are micro-teams with a median team size of three to four members, signalling a new generation of founders leveraging modern development tools, engines, and AI to build products with smaller teams.

From a development stage perspective, nearly half of the applicants (46.9%) are currently at the prototype stage, while 19.5% are in alpha, 11.2% in beta, and 11.6% already have live products in the market. This reflects a strong early-stage pipeline where founders are experimenting with ideas and beginning to translate prototypes into scalable products.

PC and Console Ambition on the Rise

The application data also highlights a clear trend toward premium platform ambitions among Indian studios. Around 58.5% of applicants are building for PC, while 36.1% are targeting console platforms, indicating a growing push toward higher-production-value titles alongside mobile gaming.

However, the data also reveals a practical reality: mobile-first studios continue to demonstrate higher shipping velocity, with approximately 25% of mobile-only teams already having live products, compared to significantly lower live rates among PC and console-focused teams. This reflects the faster iteration cycles and monetisation pathways available on mobile platforms.

Live-Service and Data-Driven Design Becoming Core

Even among early-stage teams, the applications show that founders are increasingly designing games with retention, analytics, and live-operations frameworks in mind. Over 30% of applicants referenced live-ops systems, retention metrics, or user acquisition strategies, signalling a shift in how Indian founders approach product architecture from the earliest stages.

Rather than building a game first and optimising later, many startups are embedding monetisation, engagement loops, and player analytics into the product design process itself.

AI Integration Becoming Standard Practice

The applicant pool also demonstrates early and widespread adoption of AI technologies within game development pipelines. Approximately 22.8% of applicants referenced AI, machine learning, or generative systems within their products or infrastructure stacks.

Among gaming infrastructure startups specifically, roughly half referenced AI-driven solutions, focusing on areas such as player analytics, personalisation, growth automation, and retention modelling. This suggests that many early-stage Indian founders view AI as a competitive advantage in building scalable gaming products.

Cultural IP Emerging as a Global Opportunity

Another notable trend is the rise of games inspired by Indian mythology, folklore, and cultural narratives. About 36% of applications referenced Indian themes or cultural storytelling, with the majority of these projects targeting PC and console platforms rather than mobile.

This indicates a growing ambition among developers to create premium narrative-driven experiences rooted in Indian culture, aimed at global audiences rather than purely local markets.

Emerging Gaming Startup Hubs Across India

The applications also highlight the geographic spread of India’s gaming startup ecosystem. The top applicant cities include Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, and Delhi NCR, together accounting for nearly half of the applicant pool.

Among live products, the highest concentration of teams comes from Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, reflecting the presence of established gaming talent pools and industry infrastructure in these regions.

Commenting on the application trends, Sagar Nair, Head of Incubation at LVL Zero, said: “What the applicant pool shows clearly is that India’s gaming ecosystem is entering a new formation phase. We are seeing a surge of small, ambitious studios building across multiple platforms, experimenting with new technologies, and thinking about global audiences from day one. The challenge now is not creativity or ambition, it is execution. The next generation of Indian studios will be defined by how effectively they convert strong prototypes into scalable products, and that is exactly the gap LVL Zero is designed to address.”

LVL Zero’s inaugural cohort will select 10 startups, each receiving an equity-free grant of USD 10,000, along with access to a 100-day execution-first sprint designed to accelerate product development, validation, and market readiness. Through structured milestones, mentorship, and ecosystem support, the program aims to help founders move from early-stage prototypes to playable, market-ready products while preparing them for publisher partnerships, global distribution, and investor engagement.

Over the next five years, LVL Zero aims to support more than 100 gaming and interactive startups, strengthening India’s position as one of the most promising emerging hubs for global game development.

About LVL Zero:

LVL Zero is a first-of-its-kind gaming incubator created by ChimeraVC in partnership with MIXI Global Investments and Nazara Technologies. Announced in 2025 and headquartered in Bangalore, LVL Zero supports early-stage gaming startups across games, platforms, and game tech through an equity-free grant pool of USD 100,000, hands-on mentorship, and access to publishing, distribution, and investor networks. Each cohort selects 10 startups, each receiving USD 10,000 to accelerate product development over a 100-day execution-first sprint. Focused exclusively on the gaming ecosystem, LVL Zero aims to empower over 100 startups in the next five years and build a pipeline of Indian gaming founders ready to launch globally competitive products.

About MIXI Global Investments, Inc.:

MIXI Global Investments (MGI) is the corporate venture capital arm of MIXI, Inc., based in Tokyo and known for its popular mobile game IPs and community-focused live operations. It brings global expertise and networks to help Indian startups engage with international markets and partners.

About Nazara Technologies:

Nazara Technologies is India’s only publicly listed gaming company. Its key businesses include Blue Tile, Curve Games, Kiddopia, Animal Jam, Fusebox Games (Love Island, Big Brother, Bigg Boss), World Cricket Championship and Sportskeeda, along with offline gaming businesses such as Funky Monkeys and Smaaash Entertainment. Nazara also operates Datawrkz, a digital ad tech business. With presence in India, North America, Europe and other global markets, Nazara is building a global gaming platform with strong IP, publishing, and operating capabilities. Website: https://www.nazara.com/

About Chimera VC:

ChimeraVC is an early-stage venture capital firm focused on India’s gaming and interactive entertainment ecosystem. As a first-check investor, Chimera backs founders building in gaming, tools, and infrastructure, while providing strategic support through its deep industry network and ecosystem-led initiatives.

Gaming Startup Exiles Interactives Raises $355K in Pre-Seed Round Led by Chimera VC

Exiles Interactives, a Bengaluru-based gaming startup, has raised $355K in pre-seed round led by Chimera VC. The round also included participation from Warmup Ventures, IndigoEdge, and angel investor Dhruv Vohra, along with existing shareholder Sourav Gupta.

The funds will be used towards developing Centarius, the company’s next-generation social gameplay platform, as well as for strengthening marketing initiatives.

Exiles Interactives’ gameplay platform Centarius runs entirely in the browser, enabling seamless social play and connections across all devices. It offers a curated collection of mid-core titles, enhanced by social and competitive play and meaningful rewards that keep players engaged.

Unlike traditional gaming platforms on the web, Centarius is a product-focused platform that carefully curates unique, high-quality games that emphasise player retention and foster deeply engaging social experiences for gamers. The titles on the platform span various genres and cater to a wide variety of users, and alongside community features and competitive play aim to retain users long term. Beyond the player experience, Centarius serves as a discovery platform for indie developers from not only a browser background but also PC/console and mobile markets, offering them a wider reach beyond the distribution limits and policies of traditional native platforms.

Krish Anurag, Managing Partner at Chimera VC, said, “ Exiles Interactive has shown strong early traction, and it’s clear they are addressing a large unmet need in the browser-based gaming market. The team is deeply passionate about gaming and highly strategic in their approach towards the business. They are well-positioned for growth, and we believe Centarius has the potential to become a leading platform in this space. We are excited to support them on this journey."

Commenting on the fundraise, Anubhav Bhattacharya, Lead Developer at Exiles Interactives, said, “This funding round is a strong validation of our vision, product, and the growing opportunity in browser-based gameplay. With Centarius, we’re building high-quality, socially engaging games that anyone can access—enhanced by community and competitive features, and free from the limitations of aggregation or native platforms. This investment will accelerate our product development and expand our marketing efforts ahead of launch.”

Krish Gangaraju, Product Lead, Exiles Interactives, said, “We're building an open, developer-friendly browser gaming platform with native social features that keep players engaged. By connecting indie developers and players across devices—without the restrictions of native platforms—we’re creating a space where creativity and community make social gameplay thrive.”

Over the next several months, Exiles Interactives plans to collaborate with gaming content creators across TikTok, Twitch, and YouTube to drive significant user growth and establish Centarius as a leading name in the browser gaming space. Following the launch, the company plans to ramp up marketing efforts by building brand awareness through closely engaging with gaming communities and establishing a presence at global game development events to solidify Centarius's position in the gaming industry.

About Exiles Interactives

Exiles Interactives is building Centarius, a next-generation gameplay platform that runs entirely in the browser, enabling seamless social play and connections across all devices. The platform offers a curated collection of mid-core titles, enhanced by social and competitive features and meaningful rewards designed to keep players engaged and returning.

Gaming Commerce Startup PlaySuper Secures $1M Seed to Scale Rewards-as-a-Service in India & SEA

PlaySuper, a gaming commerce platform that embeds real-world rewards directly into games, has raised $1 million in seed funding to expand its rewards-as-a-service model across India and Southeast Asia. The round was led by Singapore-based gaming VC Chimera, with participation from Audacity VC, IAN Capital Fund, and Dhruv Vohra, Meta’s Managing Director for APAC Emerging Markets.

PlaySuper Founders (Left to Right) – Upamanyu Chatterjee (COO), Abhir Das (CBO), and Shouradeep Chakraborty (CEO)

PlaySuper, led by CEO Shouradeep Chakraborty, addresses one of gaming’s toughest challenges: sustainable monetization and retention. Traditional in-game ads are underperforming, while cash incentives face regulatory and scalability limits. PlaySuper offers a third path by enabling free-to-play and skill-based gaming platforms to integrate branded, non-monetary rewards - from gift cards to consumer products - directly into gameplay.
The platform has already crossed $350,000 in monthly GMV, with early partners reporting significant improvements in user retention and monetization.

“Gaming in India and Southeast Asia is at an inflection point. Ads and cash incentives are no longer enough. With PlaySuper, every gaming session becomes a chance to win something aspirational and real, which keeps users engaged while driving commerce at scale,” said Abhir Das, Co-founder & CBO, PlaySuper.

Speaking on the investment, Krish Anurag, General Partner at Chimera, said:“We see gaming commerce as the next big monetization unlock for emerging markets. PlaySuper has built a category-defining solution that sits at the intersection of gaming, brands, and consumer behavior. Their early traction proves the model, and we believe they are well-positioned to become the backbone of monetization for free-to-play and skill-based games across India and SEA.”

PlaySuper is building the commerce backbone for the next generation of gaming, positioning itself as the monetization engine for both free-to-play and skill-based games in fast-growing emerging markets.

About PlaySuper

PlaySuper is a gaming commerce platform that embeds real-world rewards directly inside mobile games, helping free-to-play and skill-based titles unlock sustainable monetization without disrupting gameplay. Instead of relying on intrusive ads or volatile cash incentives, PlaySuper enables players to earn branded rewards - from gift cards to consumer products- while they play, driving higher retention and engagement for studios. Founded by Shouradeep Chakraborty (CEO), Upamanyu Chatterjee (COO), and Abhir Das (CBO). The trio is building what they call the “commerce layer for gaming”—a plug-and-play SDK that connects millions of gamers with leading brands, transforming gameplay sessions into meaningful shopping moments. With rapidly growing partnerships across India and Southeast Asia, PlaySuper is redefining how games monetize and how brands reach digital-first audiences.

ED Cracks Down on Gurugram Startup Probo in ₹284.5 Crore Betting Probe

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated a sweeping crackdown on Probo Media Technologies Pvt. Ltd., a Gurugram-based startup behind the popular opinion trading app “Probo,” amid mounting allegations of illegal betting and money laundering.

Raids & Frozen Assets

On July 8–9, ED officials conducted raids at four key locations in Gurugram and Jind, Haryana. The operation led to the freezing of assets worth ₹284.5 crore, which included fixed deposits, shares, and contents of three bank lockers. Investigators also flagged foreign funding amounting to ₹134.84 crore, allegedly routed through entities based in Mauritius and the Cayman Islands.

Controversial ‘Opinion Trading’ Model

Probo operates as a platform where users speculate on real-world outcomes—such as political events or sporting results—by answering simple binary questions (yes or no). Although marketed as a skill-based opinion exchange, the ED asserts the model mirrors conventional gambling, lacking safeguards or clarity in outcomes.

Regulatory Red Flags

According to ED findings, the platform:

• Permitted signups without age verification, raising concerns about minors accessing betting content
• Skirted proper KYC (Know Your Customer) protocols. 
• Ran misleading advertisements that allegedly promoted addictive behavior. 
• Potentially violated foreign exchange laws under FEMA provisions

Probo Responds

In response to the probe, the company stated it is fully cooperating with authorities and maintains that it has complied with all applicable legal frameworks. It emphasized the “skill-based” nature of its service, distancing itself from traditional gambling operations.

In a mail to Indianweb2.com, Probo Media Technologies' official statement reads:

As India's leading opinion trading platform serving 4.2 crore users, we want to reassure all stakeholders that we are cooperating fully with authorities and remain committed to operating with complete transparency and compliance.

NDTV broke the story on July 9 at 10:54 PM IST, reporting the raids and financial freezes. Subsequent coverage by Business Standard, Livemint, and Economic Times provided deeper analysis on fintech implications and regulatory trends.

What’s at Stake

With the rise of prediction markets and decentralized gaming platforms, this case could have far-reaching implications for how India classifies and regulates tech-driven “betting-like” models. It also shines a spotlight on foreign investments in emerging tech startups and the need for clearer compliance protocols.

MIB, IEIC, and WinZO Launch the Tech Triumph Season 3 to Showcase India’s Gaming Innovation at Global Platforms

Select Indian Gaming Startups and Students to Showcase Talent at GDC & WAVES

The Tech Triumph Program (TTP), has been launched by the Interactive Entertainment and Innovation Council (IEIC) in partnership with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) & WinZO Games as part of the Create in India Challenge Season - 1. In the run-up to the World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES), this Challenge will identify, recognize, and showcase India’s gaming talent for the first time at the international platform of WAVES.

The TTP empowers India’s gaming startups through investment, mentorship, and global exposure. Selected participants will receive an opportunity to showcase their games to a global audience and network with the best global gaming talent and investors through fully sponsored event access, exhibition space, airfare, and a platform to present their work internationally. This season, the competition is open to gaming studios, developers, and esports organizations working across PC, mobile, and console platforms, as well as startups in payments, security, engagement, monetization, and other gaming support solutions. The challenge is open to domestic as well as international participants and the application dates have been extended to February 20, 2025. Selected students from diverse backgrounds will also gain access to mentorship and funding to turn innovative ideas into impactful projects.

The selection process involves three key stages. The participants are invited to submit their entries for initial evaluation. Shortlisted candidates will proceed to a final evaluation round, where they will present their concepts to a panel of experts. The winners will then receive guidance from a team of mentors to prepare for their international showcases, ensuring their concepts are well-represented on the global stage.

Sanjay Jaju, Secretary of MIB, said, “The Tech Triumph Programme (TTP) is a part of India’s movement to propel the country’s gaming and tech innovations onto the world stage. WAVES and TTP share a common mission: to foster innovation, collaboration, and growth within India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem. The TTP, part of Create in India Challenges Season 1, is expected to provide emerging startups with vital resources and a global stage to accelerate their growth. Through such programs, we intend to elevate India’s gaming industry to new heights and provide opportunities to the creative potential of our youth.”

Abhishek Malhotra, Advisor of IEIC, said, “The program exemplifies India’s growing strength in the gaming ecosystem, and it has become a powerful platform to nurture talent and elevate it to global standards. This program is not only about showcasing India’s capabilities but also about preparing our innovators with the insights, connections, and opportunities they need to compete internationally. Season 3 is set to be our most impactful edition of TTP yet, as we’ve expanded resources for participants, including funding, enhanced mentorship and tools, to empower them to innovate and bring real value to the global gaming ecosystem.”

Paavan Nanda, Co-founder of WinZO, said, “The TTP stands at the intersection of innovation and ambition. Our vision at WinZO is to see Indian gaming startups compete and win on a global scale, and this program embodies that goal. We are committed to nurturing local talent by providing them with opportunities to access funding, cutting-edge resources, and global platforms, allowing them to transform their ideas into successful ventures. As India progresses toward becoming a leader in digital gaming, this program reflects the ‘Create in India for the World’ philosophy, setting the foundation for an industry that’s both resilient and globally impactful. We are proud to collaborate with IEIC and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to make this vision a reality and take India’s digital ecosystem to new heights through initiatives such as WAVES."

In past editions TTP the winners have showcased their games at prestigious events like GDC 2024, Gamescom in Germany and Brazil, and the Brazil Gaming Show, with guidance from distinguished leaders across industry and government. Past editions have seen distinguished industry and government leaders, including former Secretary to the Government of India Rohit Kumar Singh, Ambassador to Brazil Suresh K Reddy, Info Edge co-founder Sanjeev Bhikchandani, and Kalaari Capital Managing Director Rajesh Raju, serve as judges and mentors, offering invaluable expertise to participants. With the third season of the TTP, India’s gaming ecosystem is set to make a lasting impact on the international stage, advancing the nation’s ambitions for a dynamic and globally recognized ‘Made in India’ tech industry.

This initiative aligns with India’s vision of becoming a global powerhouse in gaming technology and intellectual property, bolstered by the growth of India’s AVGC and XR sectors, which now contribute significantly to the economy. According to a FICCI-EY report, digital and online gaming grew the most within the Indian media sector.

For more information please visit: https://www.thetechtriumph.com/

Gaming Startup PlaySuper $500K Seed Funding Led by IAN Group and 100X.VC

PlaySuper, India’s first Gaming Commerce company, has raised US$500K in a seed funding round led by IAN Angel Fund and 100X.VC. The round also saw participation from prominent angel investors, including Uday Sodhi, KRS Jamwal, Pratham Mittal, Rajit Bhattacharya, and Ankit Das, among others.

Founders

The capital will be utilized to accelerate product development, expand market reach, and strengthen hiring. PlaySuper is set to launch its next-gen, hyper-personalized in-game store, allowing seamless integration without requiring updates. The company also plans to expand into Southeast Asia (SEA) within six months, followed by MENA and LATAM. Additionally, it will bring in a world-class Product Head and expand its B2B partnerships team to onboard more gaming studios.

Founded in April 2024 and headquartered in Gurgaon, PlaySuper is India’s first Gaming Commerce company, enabling gamers to shop inside their favorite mobile games while playing. The company is transforming the mobile gaming landscape by seamlessly integrating real-world shopping experiences within mobile games. The company’s innovative approach enables gamers to shop while they play, unlocking a new monetization model for game developers and enhancing player engagement like never before.

Shouradeep Chakraborty, Co-founder & COO, PlaySuper, said “Gaming is the largest form of entertainment today, yet mobile game retention remains an unsolved problem. At PlaySuper, we’re flipping the script—gamers don’t just play for fun, they play to shop. With this funding, we’re doubling down on product innovation and strategic partnerships to make in-game commerce mainstream. The future of gaming is interactive, rewarding, and commerce-driven, and PlaySuper is leading that change.”

Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder, IAN Group, said “The gaming industry in India is growing, retention and monetization continue to be major obstacles. PlaySuper is setting the standard for a new business model that combines gaming and commerce in a way that benefits both developers and players. We are confident in the founding team's capacity to spearhead this change due to their extensive industry knowledge and execution skills.”

The founding team, Shouradeep, Upamanyu, and Abhir are lifelong gamers and second-time entrepreneurs with a track record of building successful tech-driven businesses. Shouradeep and Upamanyu previously co-founded LectureNotes, an edtech platform that raised $2.5 million in 2022, demonstrating their ability to build and scale high-impact ventures. They bring extensive experience from gaming, Web3, and edtech sectors, and have identified a massive whitespace opportunity at the intersection of gaming, fintech, and commerce.

PlaySuper was born out of a deep passion for gaming and a vision to address the biggest challenge in mobile gaming player retention. With 98% churn rates among Indian mobile gamers, introduces a powerful solution that embeds real-world rewards within games, keeping players engaged while enabling developers to monetize effectively.

The company is at the forefront of a rapidly expanding global gaming commerce market, valued at over $500 billion. In India alone, the gaming industry is projected to grow beyond $5 billion, yet monetization challenges persist. Unlike traditional ad-based or in-app purchase models, PlaySuper introduces a first-of-its-kind gaming commerce ecosystem, where players can earn tangible rewards while playing.

With early partnerships already in place with leading gaming studios, the company is ready to disrupt the industry by making in-game commerce a mainstream revenue model. Over the next year, the company will focus on launching its in-game store, scaling its reach into new markets, and deepening its collaborations with game developers.

About PlaySuper:

PlaySuper is India’s first Gaming Commerce company, enabling mobile gamers to shop inside their favorite games while they play. By seamlessly integrating real-world rewards within mobile games, PlaySuper solves a critical retention challenge for game developers while unlocking a new era of interactive monetization. Founded in April 2024 and headquartered in Gurgaon, India, the company is backed by 100X.VC, Indian Angel Network (IAN), and marquee investors from leading tech and media industries.

About IAN Group:

IAN Group is the country’s single largest platform for seed and early stage investment platform with IAN Angel Fund, BioAngels, IAN Fund I and IAN Alpha Fund enabling entrepreneurs to raise from Rs. 50 lakhs to Rs. 50 crores. The platform brings money, mentoring from successful entrepreneurs and global market access. The platform is sector-agnostic and has funded innovative start-ups across 19 sectors in India and 7 other countries, thereby growing the global footprint of companies. IAN has been listed by Forbes as one of iconic business and economic events of Independent India, over 75 years along with LIC, NASSCOM, RBI, Naukri.com amongst others.

Gaming Startup MetaShot Secures $400K in Funding Round with Participation from Inflection Point Ventures

(L–R) Founders – Ajith Sunny (CFO) , Prince Jacob Thomas (CEO), Ranjit Behera (COO) - Metashot

Gaming startup MetaShot secures $400K in Pre-Seed Round with Participation from Inflection Point Ventures

• MetaShot developed a smart metaphysical gaming device with advanced sensors and proprietary technologies which now enables console like game experience at mass affordable pricing.
• Funds to be used for growing the tech team, scaling operations, investing in marketing and R&D
• Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) has so far invested over INR 600 Cr across 190+ deals.

MetaShot, a Bangalore-based gaming startup, secures $400K in a Pre-seed Round with participation from Inflection Point Ventures. The round also saw participation from an early-stage gaming focussed fund and prominent angels, including founders of Dineout - Ankit Mehrotra, Sahil Jain and Khalid Qazi, among others. The funds will be used to expand the team, invest toward growth & marketing, and for R&D efforts.

MetaShot, with its vision to bring the joy of sports to every living room, aims to democratize the console gaming industry with its innovative technologies that will now make metaphysical gaming devices accessible to millions of households.

Vikram Ramasubramanian, Partner, Inflection Point Ventures, says, “MetaShot is bringing a near real life cricketing experience to the gamers. Cricket is loved in India in all seasons and for all reasons. We see that with the right marketing and business strategy, that Metashot has demonstrated, they can tap into billions of cricket lovers in the country and explore strategic partnership to drive their brand recall. The potential is immense, and we believe IPV can help MetaShot with this Moon shot of an opportunity.”

MetaShot's revolutionary platform offers users an immersive cricket experience from the comfort of their living rooms. No more waiting for the right season or fancy stadiums – one can play cricket and connect with friends from all over the world. MetaShot platform allows users to play with their friends or strangers from around the world, making the game social. MetaShot is one of the few companies from India uniquely positioned to disrupt the growing global console market. The company aims to carve a new audience segment with its unique metaphysical gaming experience.

MetaShot is backed by a dynamic founding team of three individuals, each bringing diverse expertise and extensive experience. Prince Jacob Thomas, the CEO, brings over 13 years of experience in product and brand-building, having previously held a management position at BankBazaar.com. Ranjit Behera, the COO, is an alumnus of IIM Bangalore and NIT Rourkela, with a rich background in growth and marketing strategy, he has worked at MyGate, Aditya Birla, and BankBazaar, among others, and holds two patents. Ajith Sunny, the CFO, comes with a solid sales and operations background and has experience in senior management roles in various industries, including logistics and real estate.

Prince Thomas, Co-founder, MetaShot says, "MetaShot aims to revolutionise the $72bn global gaming console market by introducing accessible metaphysical gaming, which is currently in its early stages globally and in India. Our mission is to bring the joy of physical sports to every living room. With our first product, we aim to bring the fun & excitement of real cricket into every living room of a cricket-crazy nation. Interestingly, we dreamed, designed & built MetaShot completely out of India. We thank our investors for believing in our journey and backing our mission."

In a cricket-obsessed nation, MetaShot is reshaping the game itself. The pricing, set at a mere fraction of console costs, opens the door for every cricket enthusiast to indulge in an enticing and accessible experience. MetaShot achieved a remarkable feat by selling its pre-booking spots for Bangalorei in 24 hours!

Currently, MetaShot is operating in the Bangalore market and plans to expand its operations to other cities in the second quarter of the current financial year, with further aspirations to venture into other cricket-playing nations soon.

The Indian gaming gadget market, currently valued at $1.2 billion, is projected to experience a significant CAGR of 14.1%, reaching an estimated worth of over $6.3 billion by 2032. Globally, the gaming gadget industry stands at $71.2 billion today and is anticipated to grow substantially to $157 billion by 2032.

Earlier in June, metaverse gaming platform AvatarLife raised $1.5 million in seed funding round led by Info Edge Ventures and Temasek. In January, Bengaluru-based casual gaming startup Giga Fun Studios had raised $2.4 million in Seed round led by Lumikai and Fireside Ventures

About Metashot

MetaShot is a startup on a mission to bring the joy of physical sports to every living room. Founded by Prince Thomas, Ranjit Behera, and Ajith Sunny, the founding team has extensive experience in senior leadership positions across Soonicorns and Unicorns. Through their immersive gameplay, MetaShot aims to revolutionise the world of interactive entertainment.

About Inflection Point Ventures & Physis Capital

Inflection Point Ventures (IPV) is an angel investing platform with over 8600 CXOs, HNIs, and Professionals to together invest in startups. The firm supports new-age entrepreneurs by providing them with monetary & experiential capital and connecting them with a diverse group of investors. IPV has announced the launch of a $50 million CAT 2 AIF Physis Capital to invest in pre-Series A to Series B growth-stage start-ups. 

Metaverse Gaming Startup AvatarLife Raises $1.5 Mn from Info Edge Ventures

Info Edge Ventures, a venture capital firm backed by Naukri.com parent Info Edge India Ltd and Temasek, has led a $1.5 million seed funding round in metaverse gaming platform AvatarLife.

The startup plans to utilize the freshly raised capital into backing product research and development, community building and global team expansion.

Founded in 2022, by Sushant Chandrasekar and Gaurav Gupta, AvatarLife offers single- player, multi-player and play-to-earn skill- based games in its virtual world. It also allows other creators to develop and operate games on its platform.

AvatarLife is a Web 3.0 native gaming company building games for the metaverse and offer a wide variety of games from PvP to PvE, P2E to free-play. The gaming startup's focus is to build player-first games. AvatarLife also has its OpenSim Metaverse with games and other attractions.

The platform also allows creators to develop and operate their own games.

“We are transitioning from a 2D internet living on our screens to a 3D space present inside our screens. This will require new ways of thinking about the user experience and, ultimately, product development. We will continue to invest in building the technology and developing capabilities in-house,” Gaurav Gupta said in a statement as quoted by Economic Times.

Earlier, Info Edge Ventures has led the $2.5 Mn funding of AR-based toymaker Mirana and popular fantasy esports platform Fan Clash. 

In start of this month, a report, by Arthur D. Little, said that Indian web3 and metaverse market will reach US $200 billion by 2035. The retail (37%) and financial services sector (15%) will drive the Web3 and Metaverse adoption in India. 

Building Bharat’s TikTok for Games, SimpleViralGames Raises Rs 4 Cr in Pre-Seed Funding

• SimpleViralGames, aka SVG, has raised Rs 4 Cr from WEH Ventures, Eximius Ventures, PointOne Capital, Force Ventures. WEH led the round.
• A few prominent angels including Ankit Agrawal (Founder & CEO of InsuranceDekho), Prashant Sachan (Founder & CEO of AppsForBharat) also participated in the round. 
• The raised funds will be used by SVG to build Bharat’s TikTok for Games via their app named ‘TimePass’ which shall host 100s of fun hyper-casual games on the platform which can be played with a tap of a button without any additional download for each game.

Simple Viral Games aka SVG, a hyper-casual mobile gaming platform, today announced raising Rs 4 Cr (500,000 USD) in a pre-seed round led by WEH Ventures. The round also saw participation from Eximius Ventures, PointOne Capital, Force Ventures & a few angels including Ankit Agrawal (Founder & CEO of InsuranceDekho), Prashant Sachan (Founder & CEO of AppsForBharat).

Founded in December 2022 by Rahul KR & Sourav Badami, SVG is focused on giving the best mobile gaming experience to Bharat. This hyper-casual gaming platform shall serve users from all age groups & make playing fun games a part of everyone’s daily routine. On their app named TimePass, users can discover & play lots of games without any additional download for each game. Simply swipe up to see a new game reel!

(L-R) - Sourav Badami and Rahul K R

Rahul K R is an IIT Madras Alumnus and ex- Lead Product Manager at Khatabook & Apna. He was first Product Manager at Khatabook. While, Sourav Badami is an ex- Engineering Manager at Gojek. 

Speaking of the platform, the founders said “We are making Bharat discover and play the world's best, most simple, fun and innovative games! Imagine a video game arcade, which has 1000s of games to choose from & you can start playing with a single tap, all in one single app.”

Currently, the app has over 20 games & is adding new games every week. The company has started working with game developers & studios as well to on-board their games onto the TimePass app.

“Our goal is to become a TikTok like platform for hyper-casual/casual games & empower game developers and studios to publish their instant games on our platform & get distribution right away & earn with the revenue share. In next 3-5 years we wish to have over 100M monthly active gamers on out platform. Built in India, Built for Bharat” said the founders.

Speaking on the investment, Rohit Krishna, General Partner, WEH Ventures said “Except gaming, almost all other content categories have platforms that focus on personalized, infinite scrolls. We think Rahul and Sourav have great chemistry and complementary skills to build a ‘TikTok for gaming’ platform for Bharat”

Launched in 2017, WEH Ventures is a sector-agnostic early-stage venture fund with a primary focus on startups solving India-first problems. The fund is very often the first institutional investor in a company and aims to support it through the early years and beyond.  In its six year journey, the fund has already backed several category-leading companies such as smallcase, Jar, Masterchow, Appsforbharat and Pratilipi which have been subsequently backed by top tier institutional investors.