Pixel P&L: Building the Next Hit Game Studio in India

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, 2nd October. In today’s feature by Harish Chengaiah, Founder of Outlier Games, we explore the key steps to launching a successful game development studio in India. From self-evaluation to funding, Chengaiah shares insights for turning your game idea into a thriving business.

We also report on Indian telecom operator Vi making an entry into esports, Playstation network’s outage, and more.

If this is your first time reading this, sign up here. 

Why are game developers leaving cushy studio jobs to dive headfirst into the chaos of entrepreneurship? Whether it’s the promise of creative freedom, the thrill of building something from scratch, or a desire to escape the dreaded corporate grind, more developers are betting on themselves and starting their own companies. But is it all just a fantasy?

In today’s feature from Outlier Games Founder Harish Chengiah, we uncover the surprising reasons behind this exodus and break down the playbook for those daring enough to go indie. From self-evaluation to company registration, we reveal the essential steps to turn that game idea you’ve been sketching on napkins into a legitimate business. But beware—financial pitfalls, production nightmares, and bureaucratic roadblocks lurk at every turn.

So, how do you navigate the risks, craft a killer game plan, and raise funds without sinking your savings? And what are the secrets of those who’ve made it to the top? We’ve got all the inside tips for aspiring game founders looking to beat the odds and create the next breakout hit. If you’re considering a move from game developer to gaming industry CEO, this story is your first level-up. 

In a strategic push to capture a share of India’s burgeoning mobile gaming market, Vi, the country’s third-largest telecom operator, has announced its entry into esports with the launch of its inaugural grassroots tournament, “Vi Game to Fame.” The move, unveiled ahead of the India Mobile Congress 2024, highlights Vi’s efforts to diversify its offerings and engage the country’s growing community of mobile gamers.

India’s gaming market has experienced explosive growth in recent years, accounting for about 20% of global mobile game downloads. With the new tournament, Vi is targeting a broad spectrum of participants, from casual gamers to seasoned players, in an effort to solidify its position in this lucrative sector.

The competition’s first edition features the popular first-person shooter Call of Duty: Mobile and will culminate at the India Mobile Congress, where top teams will compete for prizes, including a trip to Paris to visit Team Vitality’s training facility. The event will also serve as a testing ground for Vi’s gaming platform, Vi Games, which offers a range of titles from casual games to AAA experiences.

Sony Restores PlayStation Network After Major Outage

Sony has restored online services for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 users after a widespread outage on its gaming network that started Monday night and lasted approximately eight hours. The disruption affected nearly every PlayStation system, including PS3 and PS Vita, leaving players unable to sign in, play multiplayer games, or access online features. The company confirmed that “all services are up and running” on its PSN Service Status page, and the Japanese Ask PlayStation support account issued an apology for the inconvenience. While the issue appears resolved for most users, some players are still reporting intermittent connectivity problems. Sony has not yet disclosed the cause of the outage.

Asian Chess Federation Unveils ‘echess’ Initiative to Push for IOC Recognition

The Asian Chess Federation (ACF) has launched a new initiative called “echess,” aiming to position chess and its digital counterpart as IOC-recognized sports. Announced at the FIDE Olympiad in Budapest in partnership with Checkmate Live, ACF’s online broadcast and tournament partner, the initiative will kick off in October 2024 with a series of official tournaments and educational events. National federations across Asia will also have the chance to run player and community programs under the echess banner. ACF hopes to leverage the surge in digital chess, which has seen platform user bases grow by 400% since 2020.

Google Condemns Epic’s “Dangerous” Lawsuit Over Samsung’s Security Feature

Google has criticized Epic Games’ latest lawsuit against the company and its partner Samsung, calling it “meritless and dangerous.” Epic claims Samsung’s new Auto Blocker feature, which restricts the installation of apps from sources outside Google and Samsung’s stores, unfairly limits competition by discouraging users from downloading apps like the Epic Game Store and Fortnite. Dave Kleidermacher, Google’s VP of Engineering for Android Security, defended the feature as a necessary measure for user safety, emphasizing that Android’s flexibility for sideloading apps has long been accompanied by warnings about the risks associated with downloading from unofficial sources.

AEW Reconsiders Video Game Future After Disappointing Launch of Fight Forever

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is reportedly considering a new development partner after the disappointing launch of its debut game, AEW Fight Forever. Sources told Insider Gaming that the game, released in June 2023, went over budget and failed to deliver the expected experience, prompting internal discussions about the future of AEW’s gaming division. While AEW holds the rights to the game’s build and could transfer it to a new studio, it remains unclear if the company will proceed with a new console game or pivot its focus elsewhere. 

In 2011, John Riccitiello—now the CEO of Unity but then the head of Electronic Arts (EA)—proposed a controversial monetization model that sparked debate across the gaming industry. Riccitiello suggested a system for online multiplayer shooters, like Battlefield, where players who ran out of ammo could make a quick, real-money payment for an instant reload.

The idea was to seamlessly integrate microtransactions into gameplay, offering players a shortcut during crucial moments of combat. Riccitiello envisioned this model as a way to increase engagement and revenue, likening it to how people spend money on snacks or drinks in real life. “When you're six hours into playing Battlefield and you run out of ammo, and we ask you for a dollar to reload... You're really not very price sensitive at that point in time,” he argued.

However, the proposal was met with strong backlash from the gaming community, who criticized it as exploitative and detrimental to fair play. The idea was never implemented, but it highlighted the tension between game monetization strategies and player satisfaction, setting the stage for future controversies around in-game purchases.