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.

Metasports Interactive Secures $20M UA Funding from Metica to Scale Hitwicket Globally

Metasports Interactive, a mobile-first competitive sports gaming company, today announced a $20 million UA (User Acquisition) funding from Metica, a London-based growth financing company.

The fund will be used to accelerate growth for Metasports Interactive’s competitive multi-player cricket game, Hitwicket. The capital will be deployed towards scaling marketing and user acquisition, as the studio targets its next phase of global expansion. The funding comes alongside a technology partnership, with Metica deploying its proprietary platform to optimise Hitwicket’s in-game revenue performance, strengthening the unit economics that underpin the studio’s growth model.

Co-founded by Kashyap Reddy and Keerti Singh, Metasports Interactive with its flagship title Hitwicket, has built a player base of over 18 million users across 109 countries since its launch. Its strong monetisation metrics, deep player retention, and the consistent quality of its user acquisition data gave Metica the confidence to deploy capital at scale. With this funding, Metasports Interactive is targeting approximately 8x growth over the next 18 months, driven by intensified marketing in priority international markets, AI-led targeting strategies, and continued investment in product depth.

Kashyap Reddy, Co-Founder and CEO, Metasports Interactive, said, “With Hitwicket, our vision is to reach over a billion cricket fans globally and build a truly world-class gaming business from India. This partnership with Metica gives us the capital and the tools to move faster in international markets without diluting ownership. We’re proud to be among the first Indian gaming companies to access this kind of structured UA funding, and we see it as a model that can unlock real scale for studios with strong fundamentals.”

UA funding, a new financing model, has been gaining momentum in the global gaming and consumer apps industry. As user acquisition is one of the biggest cost factors for gaming and consumer apps companies, this growth model is increasingly emerging as a smarter way to scale given its non-dilutive, performance-led growth mechanics. The model is now popular across the United States, Europe, and South-East Asia, where it has become a standard tool for scaling mobile titles efficiently.

Phil Mohr, CEO, Metica, added, “User acquisition funding is reserved for companies that demonstrate strong unit economics and repeatable growth. Metasports Interactive stood out because of Hitwicket’s ability to scale efficiently across both India and global markets. We see a major opportunity not only to provide growth funding, but also to support growth through our technology by helping optimise in-game revenue to increase lifetime value. We’re excited to partner with Metasports Interactive as they build a globally competitive gaming business from India.”

As Indian gaming companies mature, building internationally competitive products, adopting rigorous data practices, and demonstrating the kind of predictable growth curves that capital providers require, game developers are increasingly attracting the attention of global investors and financiers with alternative financial instruments. Metasports Interactive’s UA funding deal with Metica is a signal of this shift.

About Metica

Metica is a London-based growth financing and technology company focused exclusively on the gaming sector. It provides non-dilutive UA funding facilities alongside a proprietary technology platform that helps gaming studios improve player lifetime value through optimised in-game advertising and in-app purchases. Metica partners with studios that demonstrate strong retention, monetisation performance, and data maturity. For more information, visit www.metica.com.

About Metasports Interactive

Metasports is a mobile-first competitive sports gaming company building multiplayer sports games designed for long-term engagement and global scale. The company is the creator of Hitwicket, its flagship cricket multiplayer title launched in 2020, which blends deep, skill-based gameplay with mass-market accessibility. With a long-term vision to create category-defining sports gaming franchises, Metasports is focused on shaping the future of competitive sports gaming on mobile. Operating with a player-first, performance-driven approach, the company maintains a strong focus on product quality, scale, and global impact, underscoring that India can build world-class gaming companies beyond casual or service-led products. Metasports has raised $8Mn in funding from Prime Venture Partners and Horizon Ventures (Singapore). The startup is also backed by renowned cricket commentator, Harsha Bhogle. The game, designed as a skill-first, competitive multiplayer experience, has grown to over 18 million players across 109 countries.

India's AAA Gaming Evolution

In gaming, “AAA” refers to blockbuster video games developed and published with very high budgets, large teams, and extensive marketing campaigns—similar to Hollywood movies in scale and ambition. These titles are expected to deliver cutting‑edge graphics, polished gameplay, and mass appeal.

AAA games are the industry’s top tier, produced by major publishers or studios with hundreds of developers. Development costs often exceed $100–200 million, with marketing sometimes costing even more. Examples include – Final Fantasy VII, The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077, Call of Duty, Assassin’s Creed, Grand Theft Auto V.

India is now entering the AAA gaming space, with studios like Tara Gaming (co‑founded by Amitabh Bachchan and author Amish Tripathi) developing The Age of Bhaarat, touted as the country’s first true AAA title inspired by the Ramayana. This marks a shift away from India’s reliance on real‑money gaming toward blockbuster, globally competitive productions.

Several other Indian studios are also actively developing AAA (triple‑A) games, marking a major shift from casual and real‑money gaming toward globally competitive, high‑budget titles. The most prominent names include LightFury Games, SuperGaming, Mayhem Studios, Dot9 Games, and Aaryavarta Technologies.  

Current Developments

• Tara Gaming (Pune): Building The Age of Bhaarat, a dark fantasy action‑adventure RPG inspired by Indian epics.
• Team size: ~140 developers, including 40 in Pune.
• Narration: Trailer voiced by Amitabh Bachchan, who is also a co‑founder.
• Vision: To position India alongside China’s Black Myth: Wukong as a cultural export through gaming.
• Global Context: Black Myth: Wukong sold 20M units in its first month, showing demand for culturally rich AAA titles.

Market Shifts

• India’s Gaming Market Size: Valued at $4 billion in 2025.
• Dominance of RMGs: 85% of revenue came from fantasy sports, poker, and rummy.
• Regulatory Change: The Online Gaming Bill 2025 banned RMGs, forcing platforms like WinZO and PokerBaazi to shut down.
• Impact: Ban redirected focus toward AAA development as a sustainable growth path.

Why AAA Matters for India

• Global Revenue Potential: Rockstar’s GTA VI projected to earn $7.6B in 60 days, more than India’s film box office for two years combined.
• Talent Base: India contributes heavily to global AAA games—Rockstar Bengaluru (1,600 professionals), Ubisoft Pune, EA Hyderabad.
• Challenge: Domestic AAA studios need patient capital, premium‑paying audiences, and piracy protection.

Strategic Importance

• Soft Power Window: India’s first globally scaled AAA game could act as a cultural bridge, similar to Kung Fu Panda for China.
• Cultural Export: AAA games based on Indian epics can help global audiences engage with India’s civilization in an entertaining way.

Comparison: India vs. Global AAA

Aspect	India (Emerging)	Global Leaders
Flagship Titles	The Age of Bhaarat (in development)	GTA VI, Cyberpunk 2077, Black Myth: Wukong
Studios	Tara Gaming, Rockstar India (support), Ubisoft Pune, EA Hyderabad	Rockstar, CD Projekt Red, Ubisoft, EA
Market Size	$4B (2025)	$200B+ global gaming market
Challenges	Piracy, limited premium audience, funding gaps	High costs, crunch culture, franchise fatigue
Opportunity	Mythology‑driven AAA exports	Established franchises, cinematic universes

Key Takeaway

• India’s AAA gaming journey is just beginning, with The Age of Bhaarat positioned as a landmark project.
• Success depends on global storytelling appeal, patient investment, and overcoming piracy.
• If executed well, India could establish itself as a new cultural powerhouse in gaming.

India’s Gaming Evolution (2010–2026)

India’s Gaming Evolution Timeline

Year	Milestone	Impact
2010–2014	Rise of mobile casual games (*Teen Patti*, *Ludo King*)	Established India as a mobile‑first gaming market.
2015–2018	Real Money Gaming (RMG) boom (fantasy sports, poker, rummy)	Accounted for 80%+ of industry revenue; attracted VC funding.
2019–2021	Global studios expand in India (Rockstar Bengaluru, Ubisoft Pune, EA Hyderabad)	Indian talent contributes to AAA titles like *GTA V* and *Assassin’s Creed*.
2022–2024	Esports surge (*BGMI*, *Free Fire*)	India becomes one of the world’s largest esports audiences.
2025	Online Gaming Bill bans RMGs	Platforms like WinZO and PokerBaazi shut down; industry forced to pivot.
2025–2026	Launch of Tara Gaming’s The Age of Bhaarat	India’s first homegrown AAA project, inspired by Ramayana, co‑founded by Amitabh Bachchan.
2026	Record $4B market size despite RMG ban	Focus shifts to premium AAA titles, esports, and cultural exports.

• Pre‑2014: DPSU‑style modest gaming presence, dominated by casual mobile titles.
• 2015–2024: RMGs drove revenue but limited India’s global gaming footprint.
• 2025 onward: Regulatory ban on RMGs created a pivot point, pushing studios toward AAA development.
• 2026:The Age of Bhaarat positions India alongside China’s Black Myth: Wukong as a cultural export through gaming.

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/

Airoclip Lands $2.75M to Fuse Generative AI with Personalized Puzzle Gameplay

Airoclip, an AI-powered gaming studio focused on building adaptive gaming experiences for global audiences, has raised $2.75 million in a seed funding round led by T-Accelerate Capital (TAC), co-led by Centre Court Capital and global gaming investor BITKRAFT Ventures.

Founded in 2024 by IIM Calcutta alumni Naga Rohith Anisetty and Pruthvi Sai Y, Airoclip is pioneering a new era of mobile puzzle games by integrating adaptive story progression, innovative monetisation models, and scalable live operations. The company focuses on AI-driven personalisation and dynamic content generation to deliver superior gaming experiences to the world from India.

Airoclip, with its flagship puzzle games Tap Hexa and Hexa Dreams, has rapidly gained strong traction among players in the USA and Europe. With a stellar 4.8/5 rating on the Play Store and more than 300,000 installs, the studio is just beginning its journey to craft premium puzzle experiences for global audiences.

“We’re not just building games, we’re crafting experiences that evolve with every player. We’re thrilled to partner with investors who share that vision and will help us bring it to life,” said Rohith, co-founder and CEO of Airoclip.

This capital infusion will accelerate the development of Airoclip’s proprietary game personalization technology and strengthen its teams across game development, data, design, and marketing.

“We combine strong game design principles with innovative content formats that generative AI now enables. This approach will significantly enhance player engagement and unlock new revenue streams. By creating personalized, culturally relevant content, we can scale efficiently across global markets with experiences that truly resonate with players everywhere,” added Pruthvi, co-founder.

Investors see Airoclip’s approach as a blueprint for how Indian founders can merge creative depth with analytical precision to build global gaming experiences.

“We’re excited to partner with Airoclip on their growth journey. Their sharp blend of analytical depth and creative ambition reflects the evolution of India’s gaming ecosystem and underscores the confidence of a new generation of studios ready to compete on the global stage,” said Carol Wong, Founding General Partner at T-Accelerate Capital.

Mustafa Ghouse, General Partner at Centre Court Capital, an India-based fund exclusively focused on sports and gaming, said, "Our conviction in Pruthvi and Rohith is rooted in their sharp product intuition and a disciplined, capital‑efficient mindset. Their vision to harness AI for personalization and pair it with a rapid iteration cycle enables them to refine gameplay and deliver impactful experiences at scale."

Backed by increasing digital adoption and rising global playtime and revenue, the casual gaming segment is seeing sustained investor interest and global momentum.

"Airoclip represents the new wave of ambitious gaming studios emerging from India with global potential and vision. Their focus on quick prototyping along with their past experience in scaling games globally positions them to create enduring mobile gaming franchises from India in the future," said Anuj Tandon, Partner - India & UAE at BITKRAFT. 

About Airoclip

Airoclip is a Bengaluru-based gaming studio building AI-powered mobile puzzle games. Founded in 2024 by IIM Calcutta alumni Naga Rohith Anisetty and Pruthvi Sai Y, the studio focuses on delivering deeply engaging, adaptive gameplay experiences powered by live operations, monetization innovation, and data-driven design.

About T-Accelerate Capital (TAC)

T-Accelerate Capital is a global venture capital firm investing at the intersection of gaming, consumer technology, and interactive media. With a $100 M fund and a growing global footprint, especially across India, Vietnam, and Turkey, the firm backs ambitious teams building the products, platforms, and cultural movements shaping the next generation of digital experiences. The team is led by experienced investors and operators who bring deep on-the-ground expertise, operational depth, and a global perspective with strong networks to help founders scale from seed to Series A and beyond.

About Centre Court Capital

Centre Court Capital is a first-of-its-kind venture capital fund backing founders that expand the boundaries of sports and gaming for India. With India emerging as a serious contender in the sports and gaming industry, we bring deep operational and investing experience in the sector focus and work closely with founders to drive smart growth in our sectors.

About BITKRAFT Ventures

BITKRAFT Ventures is a global investment platform at the intersection of games, immersive technology, Web3, and AI. With over $1B in assets under management and more than 130 portfolio companies, BITKRAFT is built by founders for founders. The firm leverages deep domain expertise, a decentralized global presence, and institutional-grade infrastructure to back visionary teams building in interactive media and adjacent verticals. BITKRAFT’s core belief is that gaming is not just the largest entertainment sector; it is a catalyst for consumer and technology innovation and a blueprint for the future of digital experiences.

Kratos Studios Announces Rs 50 Cr Grant for Gaming Studios; Launches ‘Kratos Games Network’

With an aim to boost revenue for Web2 Gaming Studios

Kratos Studios, owner of the IndiGG IP, announces the ‘Kratos Games Network’ program which will allocate a grant of INR 50 cr towards gaming studios. The company will aim to target the first set of 10-15 studios by March 2024. Kratos has already enabled monetization for 1.5 lakh gamers, amounting to INR 5 crore, and is expected to see a 100X increase in the number of gamers with this move.

The ‘Kratos Games Network’ will extend the grant to web2 gaming development studios and will transition their games to blockchain gaming. The program aims to build a strong game developer community across the world and create a pipeline of the top games that cut across genres, languages and cultural sensitivities and make the same available on the Kratos platform.

The shortlisted gaming studios will get the benefit of the Kratos proprietary blockchain tech stack giving them access to the 10 lakh user base of the on-chain global gamer community. The integration of blockchain will enable these studios to monetize and build revenue for developers and gamers alike.

The Kratos gamer community is already present in multiple geographies and will target gaming studios beyond India, including LATAM, East Asia, and SE Asia.

The rigorous selection process will focus on factors based on profitability spanning 2-3 years, game studios with a minimum daily active user count of 500,000.

The Kratos Games Network will offer a multitude of benefits, including access to a large number of gamer communities. Being a part of Kratos Games Network, the partner developers will also have an economic value-sharing model with their gamers, leading to enhanced user retention and increased monetization for individual gamers.

Elaborating on this, Manish Agarwal, Founder of Kratos Studios, stated, “Kratos Studios stands for the gamer community. This initiative will bring high quality games and hence more gamers to blockchain gaming. We are on our way to becoming the largest network of gamers on the blockchain, globally.

Benefits from Web 2 to Web 3

Transitioning from Web2 to blockchain technology in the gaming industry offers several benefits. Firstly, blockchain enhances player ownership by allowing gamers to have true ownership of in-game assets that can be bought, sold, and traded across different games and platforms. Blockchain technology ensures transparency and security through decentralised ledger technology, reducing the risk of cheating, fraud, or centralised control. According to a recent report, the market size of gaming is expected to reach $8.6 billion by 2027, up from $2.6 billion in 2022, at a CAGR of 27 per cent. The global Web3 gaming industry is expected to rise at a CAGR of 18.7 percent from 2023 to 2033. This not only empowers players but also creates a new economy around gaming.

Mobile Games Developer HighXP Raises $2.2 Mn in Seed Funding from 3one4 Capital

Bengaluru based HighXP, a mobile games developes is building social casual games, has raised $2.2 million in seed funding led by 3one4 Capital with participation from Prime Venture Partners and Gemba zee.

Angel investors such as Anuj Tandon (CEO-Gaming at JetSynthesys), Rahul Bhardwaj (Junglee Games co-founder) and Giri Patil (VP, Engineering at Propertyfinder) also participated in the funding round.

HighXP will use the freshly raised funds to accelerate the growth of its debut game Doodle Me, which is currently available as a free download on Google Play store and Apple App Store as well as help them launch more games. Doodle Me is a social drawing and guessing game designed for players aged 5 and above.

HighXP was founded in 2021 by seasoned industry veterans Shankara Seethappa and Raghu Sankar, who played key roles in the creation of 20 games at well-known gaming developers such as Zynga, Microsoft, and Big Viking Games.

Earlier in March, Simple Viral Games aka SVG, a hyper-casual mobile gaming platform, raised Rs 4 Cr in a pre-seed round led by WEH Ventures, along with participation from Eximius Ventures, PointOne Capital, Force Ventures & a few angels including Ankit Agrawal (Founder & CEO of InsuranceDekho), Prashant Sachan (Founder & CEO of AppsForBharat).

Earlier this month, in a first-of-its-kind study on online gamers in India, it was revealed that the growing trend of gaming is emerging as a career option in India and not just being limited to a means of entertainment. Based on the study, 83% of the respondents consider gaming as either a primary or secondary source of income, highlighting the paradigm shift towards gaming being a viable option that can be pursued professionally.

Studio Sirah Raises $2.6 Mn in Pre-Series A Round Led by Kalaari Capital and Lumikai

The studio will globally launch its flagship gaming title Kurukshetra: Ascension, and build out additional original IP based strategy and mid-core games leveraging Indian culture and lore

Studio Sirah, a next-gen game studio that builds unique Indian-themed games, announced today that it raised $2.6 million in a Pre-series A round led by Kalaari Capital (an early-stage, technology-focused VC firm), and its seed investor, Lumikai (India’s pioneering gaming, and interactive media focused VC fund). The company plans to utilise the funds to globally launch its flagship gaming title, Kurukshetra: Ascension, by June 2023. In addition, the funds will also help to build out their second title, which will go even further in terms of ambition and scope.

Kurukshetra: Ascension is a free-to-play card battler, themed on India's two great epics - the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Players don the roles of ancient legends such as Arjuna and Sugriva, collect divine Astras and mythical creatures (from Apsaras to Daityas), and battle it out to the top in thrilling online duels. The studio is now adding in an expansive story mode (Ascension) - a grand tale of warring gods, conflicting philosophy, and the nature of Dharma itself, where player choices determine the fate of the universe.

Expressing his views on the fundraise, Abhaas Shah, Co-founder & CEO, Studio Sirah said, "Over the last year, we have worked hard to build a mid-core gaming studio from scratch, and launched a game which has both cultural resonance and global quality. The response has been amazing, both in India and abroad, and it is evident that there is a huge (and growing) market for uniquely Indian content. We are deeply grateful to Kalaari for joining us in this journey, and to Lumikai, for believing in our vision from the very beginning. Over the coming decades, we hope to not only entertain Indian gamers, but to take a slice of India to the world at large."

With over 120K organic downloads in beta, Kurukshetra-Ascension is available in early access on Play Store and Steam. A dedicated follower base on Instagram and a close-knit Discord community that has helped build and test the game from its MVP days reveals a growing appetite for India-based gaming content. Their current user base is deeply engaged, with a DAU/ MAU ratio exceeding 20% and average session times of over 25 min.

Commenting on the investment Vamshi Krishna Reddy, Partner at Kalaari Capital
said, “The Midcore genre like CCGs has done well globally, including China and Japan – but is severely under-penetrated in the Indian market. There is immense potential for more core IPs to come out of India. When we first met Abhaas and Prateek, we were in awe of the passion with which they were building Kurukshetra and saw a clear whitespace. With stellar artwork and innovative gameplay – Kurukshetra has already garnered a lot of appreciation from users and we are excited with what lies ahead."

Commenting on the investment Justin Shriram Keeling, Founding General Partner, Lumikai said, “We’re immensely proud of Abhaas and Prateek for building such a high quality midcore game studio over the last year. Kurukshetra Ascension has been lighting up the community and is widely anticipated ahead of its full release next quarter. Our recently published ‘India State of Gaming 2022 survey indicates that 80% of players have a strong tendency to play games with Indian IP., and we believe that games with culturally resonsant themes have the potential to significantly disrupt the Indian gaming market – especially in the midcore category. We’re excited to see Studio Sirah evolve to the next stage in their vision to create world-class IPs with culturally resonant content.”

Kurukshetra: Ascension is the first title from a team of two brothers, Abhaas Shah and Prateek Shah, avid gamers with strong technical backgrounds. They aim to build a new white space in the gaming industry with their rich Indian themed IPs that are gaining huge popularity across the globe. Prior to this, Studio Sirah had raised $830,000 in September, 2021 in its Seed round led by Lumikai and a pool of renowned angels such as Akshat Rathee (founder, Nodwin Games), Alexis Bonte (chief operating officer, Stillfront Games), Piyush Shah (cofounder, Inmobi), Roshni Rathi (partner, BCG), and Sameer Pitalwalla (Head Of Gaming, Google Cloud).

About Studio Sirah:

Studio Sirah builds mid-core games with a uniquely Indian flavour, for mobile and PC. Their games tap into India's rich lore, while making it accessible to a contemporary audience through stunning visuals and deep, engaging gameplay. The company aims to tap into the ever evolving Indian Gaming ecosystem with their rich Indian themed IPs. Studio Sirah envisions to be ‘India’s Biggest Global Entertainment Export.’
www.studiosirah.com

About Kalaari Capital:

Kalaari Capital is an early-stage, technology-focused venture capital firm based out of Bengaluru, India. Since 2006, Kalaari has empowered visionary entrepreneurs building unique solutions that reshape the way Indians live, work, consume and transact. The firm’s ethos is to partner early with founders and work with them to navigate the inevitable challenges of fostering ideas into successful businesses. At its core, Kalaari believes in building long-term relationships based on trust, transparency, authenticity, and respect.
www.kalaari.com

About Lumikai:

Lumikai is India’s first dedicated games and interactive media VC. The fund is building a next-generation tribe of India’s most forward-thinking, creative, and talented founders. The leadership team combines decades of strategic experience and sector knowledge while leveraging all-star local and global networks to help propel founders to success.

Lumikai has already backed some of India’s leading games companies including Bombay Play (building global hypersocial, cross-platform games), Loco (India’s leading game streaming platform), and Elo Elo (creator-led, social gaming, live streaming platform) amongst others. Lumikai is the lighthouse VC fund catalysing India’s “ripe for disruption” gaming & interactive media industries.
www.lumikai.com

Games Studio Mayhem Unveils Its 1st Battle Royale Title "Underworld Gang Wars" With A Drone Show

"Underworld Gang Wars" or UGW, which revolves around the rivalry between two gangs, launched through India’s largest drone show designed for a game reveal

Mayhem Studios, India’s first studio for AAA games has announced its first title “Underworld Gang Wars” (UGW), a Battle Royale game set in India. With the characters and plot rooted in India, the game promises an exciting setting with some interesting characters inspired by stories of India.

Set in a truly Indian plot, the locations, the gangs and the icons represent an Indian context in a AAA game for the first time. The theme, weapons, and the maps of the game have been designed to offer a unique experience to the gamers.

The gameplay becomes intense in UGW as the underdog gang from the West wants to take control of the Eastern region from its arch-rival urban gang.

To provide an authentic experience, each region depicted in the game resembles a real location in India, be it the coal mines or the next-door apartment complex. It also has iconic landmarks including a fort, station, stadium and a racecourse.

#IndiasBiggestGamingReveal is here to create some MAYHEM tonight ⚡Watch it live as we take over the skies. https://t.co/iqk24z5Vk2

— Mayhem Studios (@mayhem_studios) May 17, 2022

Scheduled to be launched later this year, the game’s pre-registration window will open from 22nd May.
Commenting on the announcement, Ojas Vipat, CEO of Mayhem Studios, said: “We are thrilled to come up with the first Battle Royale Title that promises to offer one of the most relatable storylines for gamers. UGW’s unique locations and the highly relatable universe with great graphics are sure to provide a great experience for Battle Royale players. We are also excited to put together a blockbuster game with some unique stories of India for the world.”

Mayhem Studios has conducted India’s biggest game reveal through a drone show at Mumbai’s Mahalaxmi Racecourse. Through this drone show, the studio revealed the game logo and also created a QR code that directed the onlookers to the game teaser. Here is the link to the game teaser.

The event was also attended by leading gaming influencers and enthusiasts like Tanmay Bhat, Mortal, Scout and Dynamo Gaming.

To View India’s second-largest drone show – https://mobile.twitter.com/mayhem_studios/status/1526568232634974210

Mobile Premier League Launches Gaming Studios "Mayhem Studios"

MPL’s first-ever gaming studio to develop AAA titles for India and global markets

Mobile Premier League (MPL), one of the world’s leading mobile eSports platforms, has launched a world-class gaming studio called Mayhem Studios to step up the development of AAA mobile games for domestic and global markets.

Mayhem Studios, which will operate as a subsidiary of MPL, aims to harness the strength of India’s talented game developer community and produce high quality games. The Studio will have a team of top-notch professionals in the area of animation, art, cinematics, design, engineering, UI and UX game design and game production.

Speaking on the launch of the studio, Sai Srinivas, Co-founder and CEO, MPL, said: “India has the potential to become a gaming hub of the world. It is imperative to create requisite infrastructure for making world-class games to help achieve the country’s vision to make the Indian digital gaming sector a world leader. Mayhem Studios launch is our first contribution towards achieving this vision”.

Headquartered in India’s tech capital, Mayhem Studios will be India’s first AAA gaming studio. Mayhem Studios will work on multiple esports and other game titles to meet an ever-increasing demand due to the gaming boom across India and other markets. Ojas Vipat will be the CEO of Mayhem Studios.

“Mayhem Studios will be focused on developing games that all gamers can relate to and enjoy the best-in-class gaming experience. Setting up such a state-of-the-art studio is the first major step towards development of many AAA mobile game titles from India for the global markets and we are on the right track. ” said Ojas Vipat, CEO Mayhem Studios.

MPL is the world's leading mobile eSports platform that allows users to participate in paid competitions across 60+ games in multiple categories, including mobile games, daily fantasy sports, quizzing, and board games. Founded in 2018, MPL hosts hundreds of millions of tournaments a month and is trusted by over 90 million registered users across India, Indonesia, Europe, and the U.S.

To learn more about Mobile Premier League, please visit www.mpl.live.