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Tag: Milind D. Shinde

  • From ‘go play outside’ to gaming glory: India levels up

    From ‘go play outside’ to gaming glory: India levels up

    MUMBAI: Once dismissed as a frivolous pastime that couldn’t put food on the table, gaming in India has hit the ultimate power-up.

    What was once the bane of parental lectures has become a billion-dollar behemoth.

    The gaming and esports industry is set to score big in 2025, with global tournaments and homegrown innovations fueling a feverish growth spurt.

    As per the India Market Model Report by Niko Partners, the country’s gaming market will hit the $1 billion jackpot in 2025, leveling up to $1.4 billion by 2028, riding on an 11.1 per cent five-year CAGR.

    Gaming fever is here, and it’s contagious!

    The spotlight will shine on the Olympic Esports Games in Saudi Arabia, marking a milestone in global recognition for esports. Following India’s stellar performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Indian gamers will aim to contribute to the country’s medal tally in this rapidly growing competitive arena.

    The Esports World Cup, featuring chess as a title with a prize pool of $1.5 million, will provide another platform for Indian excellence. Chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju’s historic world championship win adds anticipation for India’s participation in this event, scheduled from 31 July to 3 August 2025 in Saudi Arabia.

    Domestically, the Waves Esports Championships (WESC), supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, will kick off the year with finals for titles like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), World Cricket Championship (WCC), and eFootball at the inaugural Waves Summit in February 2025. Government-backed initiatives like these will further shape India’s esports landscape.

    The convergence of cricket and esports continues to expand, with partnerships such as Mumbai Indians collaborating with BGMI, Gujarat Titans organising esports tournaments, and Kolkata Knight Riders teaming up with S8UL Esports. This growing synergy will solidify esports’ appeal in India’s sports ecosystem.

    NODWIN Gaming co-founder & MD, Akshat Rathee predicts deeper ties between esports and entertainment in 2025, “Cricket will integrate more with esports through collaborations with IPL teams and cricket esports titles. Bollywood stars and musicians will also engage actively, merging gaming with music, anime, and youth-centric entertainment. This trend was evident in NODWIN Gaming’s hosting of DreamHack India alongside Hyderabad Comic Con, and it will only grow stronger.”

    The rise of gamification across sectors will also redefine how users interact with platforms. Social media giants like Facebook and Netflix have integrated gaming features, with others like Amazon and LinkedIn following suit. This trend will intensify in 2025, reshaping user engagement.

    The surge in brand collaborations highlights gaming’s mainstream appeal. 8Bit Creatives secured a landmark sponsorship with iQOO, reflecting non-endemic brands’ interest in the gaming sector.

    8Bit Creatives founder & CEO, Animesh Agarwal emphasises the expanding scope of esports, “Esports will grow into new titles, attracting diverse players and audiences. South Asia and MENA regions will play vital roles in global esports, with content creators shaping fan engagement and brands leveraging gaming as a primary connection channel.”

    Prime minister Narendra Modi’s call for India to lead in video game development has accelerated the launch of Made-in-India games. Companies like 88 Games plan to launch major titles in 2025, representing India’s capabilities on the global stage.

    88 Games founder & CEO, Milind D. Shinde highlights technological advancements, “Generative AI and extended reality (XR) will redefine game development in 2025. For us, it will be pivotal as we launch our first PC and console game, contributing to gaming’s cultural and economic significance.”

    PC gaming also continues to gain traction, with a 150 per cent increase in new Indian users on Steam since 2019. High-profile investments in gaming setups and content creation systems, led by companies like CyberPowerPC India, underline the industry’s bright future.

    With major events, government support, and innovation shaping the landscape, 2025 promises to be a transformative year for India’s gaming and esports industry.

  • 88 Pictures launches its gaming division – 88 Games

    88 Pictures launches its gaming division – 88 Games

    Mumbai: 88 Pictures, an animation and VFX studio from India, has launched a new gaming division, 88 Games, entering the game development sector with a focus on high-quality indie games for PC and console audiences. 88 Games aims to blend visual quality with storytelling inspired by India’s rich history and culture.

    Known for its animation work on shows like Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, Gremlins: Secret of Mogwai, Transformers: The Earth Spark, Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight, and Fast & Furious: Spy Racers, 88 Pictures has made a mark in international markets. With 88 Games, the studio builds on its storytelling legacy to offer interactive experiences that entertain, educate, and inspire.

    Led by industry veterans Milind D Shinde and Shiben Bhattacharjee, the team includes experienced professionals from global studios, all dedicated to creating games that showcase India’s cultural heritage.

    88 Games founder & CEO Milind D Shinde said, “88 Games represents the next step in our journey at 88 Pictures. Our team is dedicated to producing premium games that are not only visually stunning but also deeply rooted in our cultural identity. India, being one of the oldest civilizations in the world, has legends, stories, cultures, and art that have existed for thousands of years, forming a unique kaleidoscope that needs to be showcased to the world. It is an exciting challenge to translate the heritage of India into this new medium, with our mission to narrate stories based on this immense cultural capital through video games for the global audience.”

    88 Games plans to introduce titles that will give global gamers a unique glimpse into India’s folklore and history. Through intricately crafted art styles and immersive sound design, each game will present an authentic, engaging experience, drawing from classic Indian tales, legends, and mythological characters.

    “At 88 Games, we see storytelling as a powerful bridge between cultures. Our mission is to create games that entertain while connecting players to India’s rich history and mythology. As India’s gaming market rapidly expands, there remains a significant gap in the availability of high-quality PC and console games that showcase the country’s unique cultural identity. 88 Games aims to fill that void, by providing an exceptional gameplay experience to immerse and contribute to the growth of the video gaming industry,” stated 88 Games’ game director Shiben Bhattacharjee.

    88 Games has three games in development, with its first title—launching on Xbox and PlayStation—set for a reveal at the India Game Developers Conference (IGDC) 2024.

    According to Lumikai’s recent Levelling Up: State of India Interactive Media & Gaming Research FY’24 report, India’s Animation/VFX industry was valued at $1.6 billion in FY 24. The gaming market also grew by 23 million new players, reaching a total of 590 million gamers and projected to exceed $9.2 billion by FY 29, with a 20 per cent five-year CAGR.

    The union cabinet, under prime minister Narendra Modi, recently approved the National Centre of Excellence (NCoE) for AVGC-XR (animation, visual effects, gaming, comics, and extended reality). PM Modi also encouraged Indian game developers to make an international impact in his Independence Day address.

    With 88 Pictures’ animation and VFX expertise, the launch of 88 Games is expected to further boost India’s role in the global AVGC-XR and gaming sectors.

  • Assemblage Entertainment strengthens team with three key hires

    Assemblage Entertainment strengthens team with three key hires

    MUMBAI: Indian 3D animation studio Assemblage Entertainment has strengthened its leadership team across the CGI process verticals.

     

    The company has hired three new professionals namely animation veteran Vivek Ram as CG supervisor, Saswat Sahoo as technical director & pipeline supervisor and Rakesh Patil as studio producer.

     

    Assemblage Entertainment COO Milind D. Shinde said, “We are proud to be in company of such esteemed talent. Being one of the largest congregation of Indian animation industry’s marquee talent, we at Assemblage are not only confident of designing and delivering world-class quality projects; but more importantly, are focused to carve a formidable niche in the global arena in the coming years. In doing so, I am sure our leaders in the organisation, including the new members – Vivek, Saswat and Rakesh will play a key role.”

     
    Ram has 15 years of experience as a senior industry veteran and VFX Supervisor with extensive experience across the CG animation process. He was engaged in projects such as Madagascar, Madagascar 3, Penguins of Madagascar, Alvin and the Chipmunks and The Incredible Hulk amongst others. He has also worked with studios such as DreamWorks Animation and Rhythm, and Hues.

     
    Sahoo holds more than a decade’s experience as senior technical director and CG pipeline architect. He has been associated with various projects including Puss in Boots, Madagascar, How to Train Your Dragon, Incredible Hulkand The Golden Compass, which won his team an Academy award. Previously, he has worked at studios such as DreamWorks Animation, Rhythm & Hues, and Prime Focus.

     

    Patil is armed with a decade of experience in the animation industry as a production supervisor focusing on resource management and planning. He has previously worked with DreamWorks and Crest and has played a significant role in animated movies such as Puss in Boots, Madagascar, Dragons, Scared Shrekless and Casper.

     
    Assemblage recently appointed PMV Ramana as art director as well as Rahul Nair and Vaibhav Shah as the lighting and modeling supervisors respectively.