M-League Launches Blast+ Publishing Arm to Expand Free-to-Play Games in India

M-League, the parent company of Bengaluru-based Mobile Premier League (MPL) and European game studio GameDuell, announced on November 7 the launch of Blast+, a free-to-play publishing arm aimed at scaling independent games in India. The move aligns with M-League's broader strategy to capitalize on India’s growing gaming market. Following its acquisition in 2022, GameDuell has seen a 50% revenue boost, with nearly 70% from free-to-play games. “We believe that Free to Play (F2P) represents the next big opportunity for gaming in India,” said Sai Srinivas, M-League’s co-founder, highlighting India’s potential as a global gaming hub.

FAU-G: Domination Playtest Announced at IGDC 2024 in Hyderabad

Dot9 Games and Nazara Publishing will unveil their upcoming mobile title, FAU-G: Domination, for public playtesting at the India Game Developer Conference (IGDC) 2024 in Hyderabad, scheduled from November 13 to 15. Showcased at Nazara's booth, the first-person shooter (FPS) game, part of the FAU-G franchise, will feature two new modes—Kiss of Death and 1v1—alongside improved graphics, voice chat, and enhanced character models based on October’s community feedback. Pre-registrations are live on Google Play, with exclusive tiger-themed cosmetics for early registrants. IGDC expects over 5,000 attendees and will feature 150 sessions and 250 speakers.

8Bit Creatives Named Exclusive Talent Partner for DreamHack India 2024

Indian esports consulting and talent management agency 8Bit Creatives announced a partnership with NODWIN Gaming as the exclusive Talent Partner for DreamHack India 2024. The event, set for November 15–17 at Hyderabad’s Hitex Exhibition Centre, will feature gaming tournaments, cosplay, music, and stand-up comedy. As part of this collaboration, 8Bit Creatives’ popular roster of gaming creators, including Mortal, Snax, Kaashvi, Thug, and Payal, will engage fans through content and meet-and-greet sessions.

Tencent’s Honor of Kings Hits 100 Million Daily Active Users, Sets World Record

Tencent’s popular mobile battle arena game Honor of Kings has achieved 100 million daily active users, setting a world record, according to Niko Partners senior analyst Daniel Ahmad. The milestone comes as the game prepares to celebrate its fifth anniversary and remains available only in China, the world’s largest mobile games market. Ahmad noted Honor of Kings owes its success to live operations, innovative updates by developer TiMi Studios, and cultural integration through traditional art-inspired skins. The game has also pioneered mobile esports in China, generating 44 billion views in 2019, with 24 billion from official tournaments alone.