Category: iWorld

  • ‘Two people who are opposite come together in this beautiful story”: Rajeev Siddhartha

    ‘Two people who are opposite come together in this beautiful story”: Rajeev Siddhartha

    Mumbai: – Amazon miniTV – Amazon’s free video streaming service recently premiered its rom-com series, Badi Heroine Banti Hai which blends romance, drama, thrill, and mystery. The series follows the journey of Kajal whose life takes a turn when she moves from her small hometown to pursue her dreams. Entangled in a murder mystery, her love life takes a captivating turn within the glamorous world of the fashion industry.

    Shedding light on the different shades of his character, Rajeev Siddhartha, who has portrayed the role of ‘Advait Singhania- the heartthrob CEO’ shared, “I’m portraying a character who owns a fashion house who has one brother, and his father recently passed away. He has had a sort of disciplined upbringing and did not receive much love while growing up which has made him the man he is today. He is very guarded and closed to any kind of emotion and affection from anyone. For him, it is just his work and business. The only time you see him emotionally invested is when it comes to his younger brother, he is very fond of him and has a soft spot for him. He is a strict businessman with unwavering dedication to his goals.   In his office, a minor mistake could lead to immediate firing and everyone harbors a certain fear of him. He is very much cut and dry that way.”

    Adding to this, he further stated how his love interest, Kajal changes the dynamics and helps transform his character. He expressed, “Eventually thanks to Kajal’s character, we can see a change in Advait’s character arc. Two people who are opposite come together in this beautiful story.”

    Created by Gul Khan, Badi Heroine Banti Hai features Prerna Lisa, Rajeev Siddhartha, Nehal Chudasama, and Utkarsh Kohli in pivotal roles. The series is streaming exclusively on Amazon miniTV for free, available on Amazon’s shopping app, on Fire TV, and Play Store.
     

  • Hungama Game Studio announces ‘Song Beat’

    Hungama Game Studio announces ‘Song Beat’

    Mumbai: Hungama Game Studio is truly merging the gaming and entertainment landscape with its thrilling game, ‘Song Beat.’ The spotlight is on the release of “Sher Khul Gaye,” the hit track from the blockbuster movie ‘Fighter.’ For a limited time, users can seize the opportunity to immerse themselves in the song from this Hrithik-Deepika starrer with an in-app purchase from 17 January to 31 January 2024.

    Discover the magic that sets ‘Song Beat’ apart – a captivating fusion of immersive gaming and delightful musical beats. Immerse yourself in a thrilling world where challenges and rewards unfold at an exciting pace, all harmonized by a symphony of beats that elevate your gaming journey. The latest updates promises that every tap and challenge take you deeper into a realm where gaming meets musical experiences – and players stand the chance to win cool movie magic box rewards! Elevate your playtime and let ‘Song Beat’ unleash the thrill – because gaming just got a whole lot groovier!

    Song Beat is expanding its playlist horizon as well. Known for its extensive collection of Hindi and Punjabi hits, the game is now reaching a broader audience. Dive into the musical diversity with trending tracks from regional languages like Marathi, Telugu, Tamil, Bengali, and even international languages such as Arabic and Sinhala, ensuring there’s a musical treat for everyone.

  • Sony calls off merger with Zee ?

    Sony calls off merger with Zee ?

    Mumbai: As per Bloomberg, Sony Group Corp. has officially informed Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd. about its decision to cancel the merger between its India unit and the media network, bringing an end to a two-year acquisition saga. This move leaves Zee exposed to competition as its rivals strengthen their positions. The Japanese entertainment giant sent a termination letter to Zee on Monday, and it is expected to be disclosed to the exchange later, according to anonymous sources. The termination is attributed to the failure to meet the conditions of the merger agreement, as stated in the letter seen by Bloomberg.

    The termination comes after a prolonged deadlock between the companies, primarily revolving around the leadership of Zee’s CEO, Punit Goenka, in the merged entity. This issue arose amid an investigation into Goenka’s conduct by India’s capital markets regulator. The standoff has now seemingly thwarted the deal, which had the potential to create a $10 billion media giant capable of competing with global powerhouses like Netflix Inc. and Amazon.com Inc.

    Sony’s termination letter arrived following the expiration of a 30-day grace period over the weekend, during which the two sides failed to reach an agreement on a deadline set in late December.

    We will wait for an announcement from Sony, and Zee.”

     

  • Shark Ritesh Agarwal and his mom bond over Shark Tank India

    Shark Ritesh Agarwal and his mom bond over Shark Tank India

    Mumbai: Prepare for a thrilling season of Shark Tank India, the transformative reality show that has empowered numerous entrepreneurs nationwide by offering them a valuable platform to showcase their ideas and be heard. This year, the inspirational journey unfolds with the introduction of six new sharks on the panel. Among them is the youngest shark in the history of Shark Tank India, OYO Rooms founder & CEO Ritesh Agarwal who proudly calls himself the ‘dolphin’ of the tank, adding a fresh perspective to the panel.

    Ritesh, an inspiration to budding entrepreneurs, shares his personal experience on how Shark Tank India is helping the masses understand what entrepreneurship is and how it’s a topic of discussion in every household. He said, “Back when I started, we didn’t have a platform like this, and people often couldn’t understand what we were doing. But now, everyone across the country wants to carve out their path, and it’s incredible to see folks from small towns with innovative ideas, fully supported by their families.

    Adding further, he said, “In our home, my mom was the first one who started watching Shark Tank India. Six years ago, my mom might not have understood my work, but today she comes to me and says, you know, a few years back, I overheard you talking about equity dilution, and now I actually know what it means.

    He stated, “We often sit down together to watch the show, and the interesting part is after it concludes, my mother is full of insights on which pitch should have secured funding and more. Engaging in such conversations with her is fun!”

    Tune in to witness Ritesh and other Sharks in action on Shark Tank India Season 3 starting 22 January on Sony LIV!

  • Simplified launches revolutionary AI Clips tool for effortless video content creation

    Simplified launches revolutionary AI Clips tool for effortless video content creation

    Mumbai: Simplified, the leading AI content creation and collaboration platform for modern marketing teams, today announced the launch of its newest innovation – AI Clips. This groundbreaking tool leverages advanced artificial intelligence to transform long videos into viral, shareable shorts with just one click.  

    AI Clips ushers in a new era of efficiency and creativity for video content creation. Simply upload a video, and AI Clips goes to work automatically curating highlights, creating captions, cropping, and more to output social media-ready clips tailored to your brand. The sophisticated AI technology detects speakers, identifies key moments, and edits videos dynamically like a seasoned pro.

    “We’re thrilled to introduce AI Clips to the world and revolutionise how marketing teams approach video content creation,” said Simplified co-founder Ajay Yadav. “It’s an amazing feat of technology that delivers professional quality at scale, making great video content accessible to all. With AI Clips, we’re democratising viral video creation and enabling anyone to produce shareable shorts that engage audiences, no expertise required.”

    AI Clips delivers unmatched speed, convenience, and quality. Users can turn one long video into over 20 viral shorts in just minutes. The AI curation mimics a personal editing assistant, automatically finding and highlighting engaging moments. Speaker focus keeps presenters centred regardless of movement. And integrated brand settings, captions, cropping, and translations give videos a professional, on-brand edge geared for social platforms.  

    For modern marketing teams and creators overloaded with content needs, AI Clips is a game changer. Now compelling video shorts that stop scrolls and spark shares can be created in a fraction of the time, without the need for advanced skills. AI Clips makes video content creation not just seamless, but downright enjoyable.

  • “The influencer marketing industry in India has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years”: DRIM’s Yulia Aslamova

    “The influencer marketing industry in India has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years”: DRIM’s Yulia Aslamova

    Mumbai: DRIM Global- India’s 1st & only performance-based influencer marketing startup that offers end-to-end management to D2C brands and has over 250k influencers, 200 brands, and nearly 2000 influencer talent managers and develops campaign strategies to help brands like Domino’s Pizza, McDonald’s, Swiggy, Amazon, Snapdeal, and others.

    The brand has developed practical algorithms that ensure 500+ lakhs monthly results to assist businesses. DRIM is the only performance-influence marketing company that works with social media influencers on a CPA (pay-per-action) approach in India.

    DRIM has formed alliances with more than 300k social media influencers on YouTube, Instagram, Telegram, Moj, and Twitch in just two years. The brand is building a women’s community where every single woman from any part of India with no experience gets a chance to work and learn at DRIM.

    On DRIM Global setting apart from other influencer marketing startups

    At DRIM Global, we are revolutionizing the influencer backed performance marketing space in India with our innovative and data-driven approach. Our focus is on driving real results (sales, installs, or high-quality traffic) for brands, and we achieve this by leveraging the power of AI and machine learning to identify the best influencers and channels for each campaign.

    One of the things that set us apart from our competitors is our rigorous influencer selection process and easy scalability and optimisation of the influencer marketing campaign. Selection of effective influencers involves analyzing a massive pool of data to identify the best-performing segments and influencers for each campaign. The in built fraud detection system on our platform weeds out influencers with bots and fake followers.

    Additionally, our proprietary technology allows us to track and measure the success of campaigns based on actual results, rather than just vanity metrics such as likes and followers that do not translate into conversions. Our platform makes it possible to scale campaigns seamlessly with no downtime, so that as soon as the system identifies the winning approach, the campaign is scaled and optimized in no time.

    Our recent collaboration with McDonald’s India (South and West) is a testament to the success of our strategy. By working with a diverse range of influencers and using a cost-per-action model, we were able to generate 27,000+ new orders for the brand. Our efforts have been recognized by the industry and we have won accolades for it.

    On explaining the key services provided in your end-to-end management for D2C brands

    We offer a full range of services as part of our end-to-end management for direct-to-consumer companies, beginning with market research and strategy development. We use influencer partnerships to our advantage, produce engaging content, and customize brand positioning. We refine ways for optimal performance in our influencer marketing campaigns, with a particular emphasis on data analytics. For D2C companies, our end-to-end solution fosters brand loyalty and drives sustainable growth by ensuring a consistent brand experience.

    On your platform identifying and collaborating with suitable influencers for specific D2C brands

    For each D2C company, our platform uses a methodical approach to find and work with the best influencers. We begin by gaining a thorough understanding of the target audience, campaign goals, and brand ethos. We carefully examine the audience legitimacy, engagement rates, content quality, and demographics of influencers using cutting-edge AI-driven data. By using this data-driven strategy, we are able to identify influencers whose values are in perfect harmony with the brand, which guarantees sincere interactions that connect with the target market. Our team of Influencer Talent Managers look after relationship-building and individualized outreach with influencers to create genuine partnerships that have a significant positive influence on the brand’s direct-to-consumer (D2C) initiatives.

    On the process or steps involved when a D2C brand partners with your platform for influencer marketing

    The influencer marketing approach that a D2C brand and our platform work together on is broken down into strategic phases. First, we perform a thorough brand study to determine the target audience’s goals and demographics. After that, we create a customized influencer marketing plan that complements the brand image and defines clear goals. Next, influencers are carefully chosen by us using engagement, relevance and performance metrics. A coherent message is ensured through collaborative briefings with the brand as well as all stakeholders. Once the campaign is launched, we constantly monitor the performance and make necessary real-time adjustments. The campaign is scaled as soon as it becomes feasible.

    A thorough performance analysis is provided after the campaign. This methodical strategy guarantees influencer collaborations that have a genuine impact on the D2C brand’s audience, and has proven to increase brand loyalty and revenue.

    On level of customization you offer to ensure influencer campaigns align with a brand’s specific goals and values

    We prioritize high levels of personalization to guarantee that influencer campaigns are aligned with the distinct objectives and core values of the brand. We hold in-depth discussions to fully grasp target demographics, messaging nuances and brand objectives. Every influencer partnership is carefully crafted, taking into account the campaign goals and brand identity.

    Everything is customized, even the tone of voice and content development rules. This is done without losing the influencer’s authentic style, which is what their audience is used to. Influencer relationships are guaranteed to blend in smoothly with the brand’s ethos thanks to this custom strategy, which also maximizes the impact of reaching targeted marketing goals and connecting with the audience.

    On your platform staying updated with changes in social media algorithms and regulations, ensuring effective influencer marketing strategies

    Our platform remains at the forefront of social media dynamics through continuous monitoring and adaptation. We employ dedicated teams for real-time tracking of algorithm changes across platforms. Regular industry updates, participation in conferences, and collaboration with platform specialists keep us informed. Compliance officers stay vigilant about evolving regulations, ensuring campaigns adhere to legal standards. This proactive approach allows us to swiftly adjust strategies, optimizing influencer content for algorithmic shifts and maintaining compliance with changing regulations. Our teams are regularly coached and given training sessions to stay up to date with the latest developments in technology and on social media platforms.

    By keeping our teams agile and well-informed, we ensure our influencer marketing strategies consistently align with the latest social media trends and guidelines.

    On innovations you foresee in the influencer marketing landscape that DRIM Global India is prepared to capitalize on

    The influencer marketing industry in India has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years. With the widespread adoption of social media platforms and the increasing influence of digital media, brands have recognized the power of influencer marketing in reaching their target audiences effectively.

    One of the key trends we foresee – brands will seek a community of micro influencers to empower brand advocacy.  While macro-influencers with large followings have traditionally been sought after by brands, there is a shift towards micro-influencers who have smaller but more engaged and niche audiences. Also, being able to reach out to regional audiences is key.

    Building a connection and long-term collaboration with micro-influencers have the ability to establish a personal connection with their followers, resulting in higher levels of trust and engagement. DRIM relies on its own network of micro influencers who have time and again proven themselves to bring results for brands across varied segments like food tech, financial services, home interiors and even pharmaceuticals.

    DRIM’s emphasis on ROI rather than just vanity metrics aligns with this trend. We believe that compelling and authentic content and measurable results is crucial for impactful influencer marketing campaigns that justifies the brand’s investment into influencer marketing.

    Furthermore, as the influencer marketing industry matures, we expect to see an increasing focus on data-driven strategies and performance measurement. Brands are becoming more deliberate in their approach to influencer marketing now have budgets earmarked specifically towards influencer marketing campaigns.

    Brands are demanding measurable results and return on investment. DRIM’s forte is delivering results on the Cost Per Action basis, by which brands pay only for the results we deliver. We make influencers a reliable performance marketing channel for brands.

    Practical algorithms play a significant role in delivering monthly results and assisting growth marketing efforts for big brands, helping them optimize their influencer marketing initiatives based on data insights.

  • NODWIN Gaming and Riot Games announce OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024

    NODWIN Gaming and Riot Games announce OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024

    Mumbai: Industry-leading gaming and esports media company NODWIN Gaming, in partnership with leading video game publisher Riot Games, announced the much-awaited 2024 season of OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia. After the success of India’s first-ever publisher-backed esports league, the OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024 aims to immerse fans in the excitement, offering an unparalleled VALORANT experience to the community.

    Offering a prize pool of $ 130,000, and the opportunity to represent the region at VCT Ascension 2024: Pacific, the OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024 marks a significant milestone in the partnership between NODWIN Gaming and Riot Games. The tournament aims to build upon both organizations’ commitment to crafting a viable and adaptable roadmap for organizing and delivering quality community favourite esports tournaments within the Indian ecosystem with a strong emphasis on sustainability and growth.

    The upcoming 2024 VALORANT Challengers South Asia season will see HP’s flagship gaming brand OMEN return as the tournament’s title partner. OMEN is named as the brand of choice for VALORANT Challengers South Asia and has played a consistent role in empowering the gaming community through their state-of-the-art gaming ecosystem including PCs and delivering to gamers an immersive gaming experience at OMEN playground stores and partnerships on esports platforms.

    In a bid to enhance overall competitiveness, the OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024 will be set up in a dual-split format, presenting players and teams with a multitude of opportunities to display their skills and compete at the highest level in South Asia. The dual split format also adds extra excitement and strategic depth to the tournament, offering fans an extended period of exhilarating VALORANT esports action. The first split will see two Cups up for grabs, with the finals unfolding in a thrilling LAN setting in front of a live audience. Additionally, a transfer window between the two Split 1 Cups will allow teams to make strategic roster changes and bolster their line-ups.

    The upcoming edition of the VALORANT Challengers South Asia will also see a promotion and relegation system incorporated into the tournament flow. Post-completion of Split 1, the 2 lowest-ranked teams from the city Cups will compete against Premier rivals to secure a spot in the Split 2 Main Event stage.

    Speaking on the OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024, NODWIN Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee said, “The OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia is a testament to the collaborative efforts of NODWIN Gaming and Riot Games. We are united in our shared goal of advancing the Indian esports scene through a sustainable and adaptable roadmap while delivering exhilarating VALORANT esports action to our community. In its 2024 edition, the VCSA seeks to elevate the fan experience by bringing them closer to the action through multi-city LAN roadshows, and curated content for enhanced esports viewing.

    With the innovative dual-split tournament format, a substantial prize pool of $ 130,000 and the opportunity to represent the region at VCT Ascension 2024: Pacific, the stage is perfectly set for an exceptional season of VALORANT action. The upcoming season has a lot in store, and we are thrilled to bring VCSA 2024 to our community!”

    Riot Games Esports lead South Asia Sukamal Pegu said, “The OMEN VCSA represents the best VALORANT Esports action in the region and we are excited to bring another edition for the fans, together with NODWIN Gaming. Riot’s goal is to bring the VCSA closer to our fans and this fresh design will not only make it more exciting for the viewers but also create more opportunities for the aspiring esports athletes in the region, with the in-game Premier mode leading into our CL ecosystem. Viewers can expect to see not only fan-favourite athletes returning from the 2023 VCSA season but also some fresh talent who can potentially shake things up this year!”

    The collaboration between NODWIN Gaming and Riot Games aims to enhance the fan experience by bringing them closer to the action. Through innovative content, engaging broadcasts, specially curated LAN events, and interactive fan engagement initiatives, OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024 seeks to create a dynamic and inclusive environment for the entire esports community.

    The OMEN VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2024 will bring the competition to the heart of Indian cities with electrifying LAN events. This immersive experience fosters a sense of community and allows fans to witness the intense competition up close, creating an unforgettable atmosphere for both players and spectators.

     

  • Here’s why Amazon miniTV series Badi Heroine Banti Hai must be on your binge-watch list

    Here’s why Amazon miniTV series Badi Heroine Banti Hai must be on your binge-watch list

    Mumbai: Amazon miniTV – Amazon’s free video streaming service recently released its highly anticipated rom-com series Badi Heroine Banti Hai. A modern romantic tale blended with mystery and filled with drama, the show stars Prerna Lisa, Rajeev Siddhartha, Nehal Chudasama, and Utkarsh Kohli in pivotal roles.  Amid the glitter of the high fashion industry and a tense murder, Kajal’s life takes a complete U-turn, and the plot develops around her empathetic love story. Gul Khan has created the series, which is an amalgamation of romance, drama, heated bickering, and excitement.

    Here are the top 5 reasons why Badi Heroine Banti Hai must be your next rom-com watch.

    ●       Intense storyline with romance and suspense: Kajal, a small-town girl who dreams big, and Advait, a fashion industry veteran, have a love-hate relationship that drives the plot. The two opposite personalities embark on a journey packed with romantic moments, murder mystery, and sparking rivalry as their fates get tangled with each other.  Their story unfolds secrets amidst the glare of glamorous industry enriched with various twists and turns, which will keep you engrossed until the very end.

    ●       Sizzling chemistry of Kajal and Advait: The viewers will swoon over the charismatic chemistry of Kajal and Advait, cheering for the couple and their romantic moments. They form an unlikely bond as they grow closer with each episode. The contrast in their personalities and electrifying presence ignite the intensity of each scene, gripping everyone’s heart, and taking them on a journey to find love.

    ●       Rom-com with a twist: Badi Heroine Banti Hai delves deeper into the high-end fashion world, where emotions are hidden, and relations are at stake to climb the ladder of success. The series is jammed with adorable and light-hearted moments, making it a perfect rom-com story. Exploring the glamorous yet dark world of fashion, the narrative takes a thrilling turn with a murder.

    ●       Skillful ensemble of cast: Transporting you into a world of glamour, love, mystery, and a lot of drama, the series boasts an ensemble of cast including Prerna Lisa, Rajeev Siddhartha, Nehal Chudasama, and Utkarsh Kohli in pivotal roles. With their fresh and raw on-screen presence and impactful performance, every scene hits the right chord, leaving the viewers to ponder upon what will happen next.

    ●       Free to watch: Yes! You get to enjoy this drama and mystery-filled rom-com story and experience the fashion world closely for free. There is no need to pay anything to view this intriguing and heart-warming show on a subscription basis. It is free to stream on Amazon miniTV and Fire TV in the Amazon Shopping App and Play Store.

    Savor a romantic treat in the middle of suspense and drama filled with laughter, with Badi Heroine Banti Hai on Amazon miniTV available on Amazon’s shopping app, on Fire TV, and Play Store.

  • From dreams to reality, Amazon miniTV presents the trailer of Hustlers- Jugaad Ka Khel

    From dreams to reality, Amazon miniTV presents the trailer of Hustlers- Jugaad Ka Khel

    Mumbai: Amazon miniTV – Amazon’s free video streaming service released the trailer for its upcoming entrepreneurial drama Hustlers- Jugaad Ka Khel. Set against the backdrop of the start-up boom that Mumbai witnessed in 2010, the series chronicles the inspiring journey of Sanjay, a middle-class boy who conquers the start-up world with his entrepreneurial bent of mind and sheer determination. Inspired by true stories, the series explores hardship, failure, passion, and winning. Hustlers- Jugaad Ka Khel will feature Vishal Vashishtha, Maharshi Dave, Anurag Arora, Samir Kochhar and Anjali Barot in pivotal roles.

    To add to the excitement around the announcement, the streaming service today released the trailer of their series, which provides a glimpse inside Sanjay’s fight against the system that’s laden with hurdles and it is ultimately his creative and non-conventional approach that helped him ascend the stairs of achievement. Taking the audience on a roller-coaster ride, the trailer dives deeper into how he works to create his unique identity, elevating his career graph. The strong storyline of the series highlights the significance of independence in today’s world while narrating the entrepreneurial journey of Sanjay.

    Samir Kochhar who plays a pivotal role in the series, added, “Hustlers is the story of an individual who starts from the ground and works his way up chasing his dreams. The story not only motivates the young generation to stand against the odds but is also a lesson for everyone to believe in themselves and stay determined and optimistic. My character, Mihir is that ray of hope in Sanjay’s life, that we all need at some point.  He turns into his pillar of support, guiding his journey toward chasing his dreams. I hope the series becomes a source of inspiration for many and that viewers enjoy this captivating treat.”

    Vishal Vashishtha, who essays the role of Sanjay in the show, shared his experience from the show: “This script hits home in the current milieu of flourishing entrepreneurship. The narrative embodies the passion, ambition, and tenacity necessary for professional success. In my opinion, any prospective entrepreneur might identify with the show since every setback is transformed into an opportunity and every victory is a noteworthy accomplishment. It was, in my opinion, an incredible experience, and I sincerely hope that the audience will like and support Sanjay as he follows his passion.”

    Amazon miniTV head of content Amogh Dusad said, “Through Hustlers-Jugaad Ka Khel we look to diversify our content offering and offer a gritty, inspirational tale set in the world of college, startups, entrepreneurship, and business that is relevant to today’s youth.”

    Hustlers- Jugaad Ka Khel will premiere exclusively on Amazon miniTV for absolutely free, accessible with the click-of-a-button on Amazon’s shopping app and Fire TV.

  • Obelisk Studio raises $2M from The Games Fund for the development of ‘Displacement

    Obelisk Studio raises $2M from The Games Fund for the development of ‘Displacement

    Mumbai: Obelisk Studio, an established AAA co-development company with a decade of experience working on household name franchises and independent games, today announces it has secured $ 2 million from The Games Fund, a specialist early-stage VC fund that invests in innovative video game developers and GameTech companies.

    The raise will fund Obelisk’s pivot into the development of independent first-party titles. Displacement, the studio’s first IP, is a psychological action-horror game that explores the dark side of human nature in an atmosphere of isolation and madness and spiced with intense violent melee combat.

    Over the past decade, the 20-strong Cyprus-based Obelisk Studio has been a major co-development partner for Sons of the Forest, which sold over 2 million copies in the first 24 hours, and other iconic IPs, including Call of Duty, Dota 2, Fallout 76, New World and David Fincher’s episode for Love, Death & Robots. Following the new investment, Obelisk is reinforcing the handpicked Displacement team with top-tier developers and designers who previously played key roles in the development of critically acclaimed games like Pioneer.

    Obelisk Studio co-founder and CEO Artem Dorokhin commented, “We’re so happy to see the excitement that ‘Displacement’ sparks in people when we recruit and tell them about the game we work on! They see the potential even at this early stage and share our vision that the market and players are waiting for a true hardcore horror game. The Games Fund has placed a lot of trust and support in Obelisk. Thanks to their resources and extensive connections in the industry, we’ve built all the critical infrastructure, made key hires, and kickstarted the company in record time.”

    Obelisk Studio co-founder and creative producer Alexander Vershinin said, “While humour and drama may be culturally specific, fear is universally understood, tapping into our most primal instincts as human beings. The action-horror genre, once considered niche, has grown to the point where it can hardly be classified as niche anymore. In collaboration with specialists in the psychology of extreme survival, we are making the ‘Displacement’ the most authentic psychological horror experience possible, full of raw emotions and literally driving players crazy.”

    This investment aligns with The Games Fund’s approach of funding unique and innovative gameplay experiences. The Games Fund co-founder and managing partner Ilya Eremeev, added:

    “We believe that a well-crafted AA game, one that honours and builds upon the legacy of classic horror titles with soul and grit, is a clear opportunity. With one of the most experienced teams in the region, ethical management practices, and exciting original IP, the Obelisk team is attracting the best talent on the market and developing an inspiring and beautiful but truly chilling horror game. We are committed to continuing our support and investment in the growing gaming industry of Cyprus, one of our key regions, ensuring that the incredibly talented game developers will not be left alone in the dark.”

    The Games Fund’s inaugural fund raised $50 million to invest in gaming companies and founders from emerging markets in central and eastern Europe, such as KEK Entertainment, Jarvi Games, and Red Rover Interactive.