Pixel P&L: Krafton’s Game Plan for India

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, 8th October. In today’s feature, we sit down with Krafton India’s executives to explore the studio’s latest collaborations, upcoming esports initiatives, and strategic vision for the future.

Meanwhile, JetSynthesys is making waves with its e-cricket league, attracting high-profile investors. Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha; Ankit Nagori, founder of Curefoods; and Accel partner Prashanth Prakash have joined forces to back the Bengaluru team, signaling growing interest in India’s nascent esports scene.

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In today’s feature story, we dive into Krafton’s ambitious plans for India, exploring how the company is solidifying its presence through strategic collaborations, innovative esports formats, and a robust roadmap for 2025. Fresh off the record-breaking 2024 Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) Pro Series, which peaked at nearly half a million concurrent viewers, Krafton is now looking to elevate its footprint beyond gaming.

We spoke exclusively with Seddharth Merrotra, Head of Business Development at Krafton India, and Karan Pathak, Associate Director of Esports, who provided unique insights into the company’s strategic shifts. Their conversations highlighted how Krafton is blurring the lines between gaming and mainstream entertainment, thanks to high-profile partnerships with Bollywood stars like Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh. These collaborations are designed to attract a more diverse audience while keeping existing players engaged with fresh content and unique in-game experiences.

Don’t miss the full story, where we unpack Krafton’s blueprint for esports growth, and its efforts to shape the future of gaming in one of the world’s most dynamic markets.

JetSynthesys, the digital entertainment firm behind the Global e-Cricket Premier League (GEPL), has announced the entry of its first franchise team owners for the upcoming season. Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha; Ankit Nagori, founder of Curefoods; and Prashanth Prakash, partner at Accel, have taken ownership of the Bengaluru team, marking a significant move in the growth of e-cricket as a recognized esports category.

The announcement follows a successful inaugural season for GEPL, which saw 200,000 registrations and a peak audience of 70 million. With season two on the horizon, JetSynthesys is looking to build on this momentum. The addition of prominent business leaders as team owners indicates growing confidence in the viability of esports franchises in India, where traditional sports continue to dominate.

For Kamath and his fellow owners, this move is about more than gaming. “The gaming industry is evolving quickly, and we’re at a point where India is not just a participant but a creator of global esports content,” Kamath said in a release.

With viewership numbers expected to rise and increased investment in the space, the challenge for GEPL will be maintaining audience engagement while establishing a sustainable business model for team owners and players. Season two’s finals are set for January 2025, with heightened expectations for the league’s performance.

We’re excited to announce an exclusive live webinar featuring Mayhem Studios' CEO Ojas Vipat, the visionary behind Underworld Gang Wars, a battle royale like no other—combining the thrills of a GTA-esque setting with the streets of Mumbai!

🗓 Date: 10th October 2024

🕒 Time: 2:30 - 3:30 PM IST

📍 Register Here

Why You Should Attend:

What’s it like to pivot from developing games at one of China’s tech giants to leading a nimble Indian studio? Ojas Vipat, founder of Mayhem Studios and former Tencent executive, will break down the contrasts between these vastly different worlds and what it takes for India to step up its game.

In this exclusive webinar, Vipat will discuss the unique challenges that come with transitioning from the resource-rich environment of Tencent to the lean, fast-paced nature of an Indian startup. How do creative processes, access to talent, and day-to-day operations compare? And more importantly, what can Indian studios do to compete on the global stage?

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from someone with a front-row seat to both ecosystems and who’s now shaping the future of India’s gaming industry.

GGRecon Shuts Down Amid Industry Turbulence

Esports and gaming news outlet GGRecon is shutting down, according to former employees who shared the news on social media, marking another casualty in a series of closures within the niche industry. Many smaller publications have struggled to adapt following Google’s “Helpful Content Update,” which has reduced their visibility. GGRecon’s closure adds to a growing list that includes Blix.gg, the Washington Post’s gaming vertical Launcher, Upcomer, and Inven Global, all of which have either ceased operations or scaled back in recent years as the esports media sector grapples with sustainability challenges.

Epic Plans to Expand Mobile Store, Add Third-Party Titles by Year-End

Epic Games is ramping up its mobile ambitions with plans to launch up to 50 third-party titles and introduce a free games program similar to its PC marketplace by year-end, according to Steve Allison, Epic Games Store manager. Speaking at Unreal Fest 2024, Allison announced Ark: Ultimate Mobile Edition as the first confirmed third-party game and detailed upcoming features like in-game chat and cross-platform play. Epic is targeting 100 million installs by year-end, despite challenges posed by Apple’s “commercially prohibitive” technology fees, which have slowed iOS adoption. Self-publishing tools are expected early next year, further accelerating growth.

Tomohiro Nishikado, the mastermind behind Space Invaders, single-handedly brought the iconic game to life. In an era when game development was typically a team effort, Nishikado took on every role—designer, programmer, artist, and sound mixer. But his creative control didn’t stop there. Unsatisfied with the available hardware of the time, he even engineered the game’s microcomputer from scratch.

Released in 1978, Space Invaders quickly became a global phenomenon and one of the earliest blockbusters in video game history. What set it apart wasn’t just its gripping gameplay but also its innovative use of technology. Nishikado’s custom-built hardware allowed for unprecedented graphical and sound capabilities, paving the way for modern gaming experiences.

Nishikado meticulously hand-drew each pixel of the game’s characters, ensuring the iconic alien designs were instantly recognizable. He also experimented with audio, creating one of gaming’s first synchronized soundtracks. The repetitive “thump-thump” sound, which speeds up as players progress, was an accidental but groundbreaking feature that increased tension and excitement.

His work on Space Invaders set new standards in game design and development, proving that one person’s vision and technical prowess could create a masterpiece that would inspire generations of game developers.