Pixel P&L: Indian Esports Shines at Mobies 2024

Good Morning. It’s Thursday, November 21. An Indian streamer has made history. Payal “Payal Gaming” Dhare became the first Indian individual to win at the Mobies, taking home the Mobile Streamer of the Year award. Today’s newsletter delves into this milestone for Indian esports and highlights other winners from the ceremony.

We also explore Sony’s potential acquisition of Elden Ring developer FromSoftware and its implications for future titles. Plus, an update on Rainbow Six Siege’s rising esports viewership, the launch of a new Indian OTT platform, and more.

Payal “Payal Gaming” Dhare made history at the Mobies 2024 awards, becoming the first Indian to win the Mobile Streamer of the Year title. Held on November 20, the event recognized global excellence in mobile gaming, with Dhare’s win marking a significant milestone for India’s gaming community.

Dhare edged out five nominees in the category, including fellow Indian Parv “Regaltos” Singh. Both are part of S8UL, a leading Indian esports organization that also won Mobile Organisation of the Year. S8UL was nominated in four categories, including Live Event of the Year and Mobile Content Creator of the Year.

Upon receiving her award, Dhare expressed gratitude toward her family, fans, and S8UL’s leadership, emphasizing the role of community support in her success.

The Mobies 2024 ceremony, held in Los Angeles, drew attention to the growing prominence of mobile gaming globally, with a notable rise in representation from emerging markets like India. Dhare’s win, alongside S8UL’s recognition, reflects the increasing competitiveness of Indian gaming on the international stage.

Sony is in discussions to acquire Kadokawa Corporation, the Japanese media company that owns FromSoftware, the developer of the hit game Elden Ring. According to Reuters, Kadokawa’s shares soared 23% on Wednesday, hitting their daily trading limit after the news broke. 

The potential deal, if completed, would further expand Sony’s entertainment and intellectual property portfolio. Sony already holds a 2% stake in Kadokawa and is an investor in FromSoftware, the studio behind Elden Ring. The game, a collaboration between game director Hidetaka Miyazaki and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin has sold over 25 million units. Its expansion, Shadow of the Erdtree, recorded 5 million sales within three days of its release in June.

This acquisition, if it completes, could have significant implications for FromSoftware's future games. Sony already holds a minority stake in Kadokawa and FromSoftware, but a full acquisition would give it direct control over the studio behind Elden Ring. This raises the possibility that future FromSoftware titles could become PlayStation exclusives, at least during their initial release phase.

Sony has historically leveraged its acquisitions to strengthen its platform's exclusive offerings, as seen with studios like Insomniac Games and Bluepoint Games. FromSoftware’s reputation for blockbuster hits, combined with its ability to draw a loyal fanbase, aligns with Sony’s strategy of using exclusive titles to drive hardware sales and PlayStation Plus subscriptions.

Rainbow Six Esports Continues its Upward Viewership Trajectory

The BLAST Rainbow Six: Siege Major Montreal concluded with a peak viewership of 172,704, slightly surpassing the Manchester Major earlier this year and significantly higher than last year’s Atlanta Major, which peaked at 80,000, according to Esports Charts. Brazilian team w7m esports emerged victorious in what marked the final Major under Rainbow Six’s old tournament format. With an average of 64,000 viewers, Montreal’s event outperformed Atlanta’s 44,600 but fell just short of Manchester’s 66,000.

Prasar Bharati Launches Waves OTT Platform at IFFI

Indian public broadcaster Prasar Bharati has launched its OTT platform Waves at the International Film Festival of India, offering 40 live channels, including Doordarshan, Akashvani, and private networks like B4U, ABZY, and 9X Media. Marketed as “Waves—Family Entertainment Ki Nayi Lehar,” the app, available on Android and iOS, features a mix of news, regional programming, movies, live events, and games. To attract broadcasters, Waves introduces a revenue-sharing model where 65% of ad revenue goes to content creators. With a focus on trending channels and high GRP selections, the platform aims to strengthen its digital footprint and diversify its audience reach.

Play Ventures Raises $140 Million for Third Gaming Fund

Singapore-based Play Ventures has secured $140 million for its third gaming fund, marking its largest to date and bringing total assets under management to $450 million. Founded in 2018, the venture capital firm focuses on early-stage investments across gaming ecosystems, including AI-powered tools, gaming infrastructure, and next-generation platforms. The new fund launches amid a challenging period for the gaming industry, which has faced over 33,000 layoffs in the past 2.5 years. Play Ventures aims to support founders driving innovation in gaming, tapping opportunities in areas like user-generated content and AI-driven interactive experiences.

Player Spending in Monopoly Go Falls 58% From March Peak

Player spending in Scopely’s Monopoly Godropped 58.3% in October from its March peak, according to AppMagic estimates, though the game still generated $117.8 million last month. The title, which earned a record $282.4 million in March, remains among the world’s top-grossing mobile games, ranking eighth across the App Store and Google Play.

Did you know one of the weirdest game controllers ever made was shaped like a chainsaw? The Resident Evil 4 Chainsaw Controller, released in 2005 for the GameCube and PlayStation 2, was designed to look like a bloodied, battle-worn chainsaw, complete with gruesome details like fake blood splatters and a jagged "blade."

While it looked incredible, using it was a whole different story. The unconventional shape made it nearly impossible to hold comfortably, with buttons awkwardly placed in ways that made controlling Leon Kennedy feel like an added survival horror challenge. Imagine trying to fend off hordes of enemies with your hands gripping a plastic chainsaw—it was as impractical as it sounds.

Interestingly, the controller also came with a special display stand, acknowledging that it was more of a collector’s item than a practical tool for gaming. Despite its quirks, the Chainsaw Controller has become a sought-after piece of gaming memorabilia, treasured by fans for its unique design and connection to one of the most iconic games of its era.