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Tag: Nodwin Gaming

  • Scara Live turns the spotlight on culture and connection in real time

    Scara Live turns the spotlight on culture and connection in real time

    MUMBAI: In a world where everything’s streamed, Scara Live wants you to feel it live. The new vertical from Scara Gaming is reimagining India’s entertainment landscape by bringing brands, creators, and audiences together in the real world where emotion meets experience.

    At the intersection of entertainment, sports, and culture, Scara Live isn’t just about events, it’s about cultural engineering. It crafts immersive, insight-led experiences that move beyond screens and algorithms to build real-world communities that pulse with creativity, connection, and conversation.

    Helmed by a powerhouse leadership team, Scara Live draws on a collective experience of over 60 years across gaming, tech, live events, and media. Manoj George, with 20-plus years in the gaming and cultural sectors, previously drove business and revenue at Nodwin Gaming, Cornerstone, and UTV Disney. Mazher Ramzanali, who has shaped brand narratives for Budweiser, MTV, OML, and Vice Media, brings his 15 years of expertise in sponsorship and culture programming. Santosh P, former marketing leader at Bookmyshow and OML, adds 16 years of live entertainment strategy, while Vikas Chand brings his operational prowess from marquee sports entities such as BCCI, IMG Reliance, and Delhi Capitals.

    Together, they aim to rewrite the live playbook turning brand engagement into shared memory. “Scara Live represents our belief that live experiences are where culture truly happens,” said Manoj George. “We’re combining the power of creativity with the discipline of data and delivery to help brands engage audiences in meaningful, lasting ways.”

    Mazher Ramzanali added, “The lines between digital and physical engagement are fading fast. Scara Live is built to help brands bridge that space, transforming entertainment, sport, and culture into living experiences that drive connection and community.”

    The company’s flagship properties, Pixel Pulse and Beyond the Game, anchor this philosophy. Pixel Pulse blends music, comedy, fashion, and gaming to create large-scale cultural moments, while Beyond the Game functions as a B2B thought-leadership and networking platform for sports, gaming, and innovation professionals.

    The first project under Scara Live’s belt, iPopstar, is already tuning in audiences. A weekly music reality series featuring King, Astha Gill, Aditya Rikhari, and Parmish Verma, it brings together 12 contestants battling it out over six weeks. The series streams on Amazon MX Player, with Spotify and Warner Music as music partners. Scara Live acts as the culture partner for the IP, owned by Rusk Media.

    As Santosh P put it, “India’s creator and live entertainment economy is on the rise. Scara Live is designed to meet the craving for authenticity and interaction, helping brands not just participate in culture but shape it.”

    With a bold vision and a multi-disciplinary team, Scara Live is poised to redefine how India experiences live entertainment not as an event, but as a living, breathing story. For those tired of watching from behind the screen, Scara Live promises to make life itself the stage.

  • Hyderabad levels up as Comic Con and DreamHack unite for epic pop fest

    Hyderabad levels up as Comic Con and DreamHack unite for epic pop fest

    MUMBAI: Heroes, gamers, and dreamers assembled Hyderabad just turned into a real-life multiverse. The Maruti Suzuki Arena Hyderabad Comic Con, powered by Crunchyroll and paired with Dreamhack India, transformed Hitex Exhibition Centre into the capital of cool from 31 October to 2 November.

    Over 40,000 fans including 400-plus cosplayers descended on the venue for three packed days celebrating everything from anime and comics to esports and AR-fuelled fun. Organised by Comic Con India under Nodwin Gaming, the event fused nostalgia and next-gen tech in equal measure.

    Comic lovers geeked out with Mike Costa, writer and executive producer of Lucifer, and J. Gonzo, the artist behind striking covers for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Ghost Rider. Joining them were 17 homegrown comic creators, 9 performers, and 80 exhibitors, ensuring every corner buzzed with creative energy.

    Maruti Suzuki kept things fast and fun with a reflex challenge and display zone, while Crunchyroll’s booth had anime fans grooving to a non-stop playlist. Android Land’s Panfest drew BGMI warriors into live open lobbies, where digital battles matched the on-ground adrenaline.

    Meanwhile, Amar Chitra Katha and Tinkle blended the old with the new, offering fans a VR-powered dive into India’s mythological universes. The Running Man Rage Room let visitors smash their stress away, while the Predator Badlands Zone and Zootopia 2 Zone kept the high-octane vibes going.

    Adding star power, DreamHack India celebrated its sixth anniversary with a gamer’s paradise of retro titles, KO Fight Night, chess blitz tournaments, and BYOD arenas. KMR YoshiKiller claimed victory in Tekken 8, pocketing Rs 1 lakh, while JLQ Hallmark took home Rs 40,000 as the Super Smash Bros champ.

    The cosplay highlight came with the Hyderabad qualifiers for the Indian Championship of Cosplay 2026, where Pracheta Banerjee bagged the city crown and Rs 50,000, earning a spot in the national finals.

    Gaming icons like Scout, Kaashvi, Ghatak, and Trace God met fans at packed meet-and-greet zones powered by Revenant Esports, while Red Bull athletes and Godlike creators including Jonathan, V3nom, Zgod, Sharkshe, and Payal lit up the Red Bull Tetris National Finals. Even childhood favourite Rob (Harun Robert) of M.A.D. fame joined the party.

    Performers such as Syed Bashaar, Vivek Muralidharan, Karan Singh, Celinedee Matahari, and Kayden Sharma brought music, magic, and mischief to the stage, turning the convention into a festival of pure fandom.

    Reflecting on the success, Comic Con India CEO Shefali Johnson said, “Hyderabad’s energy was phenomenal, people of all ages came together to celebrate pop culture. From Shinchan to Ironman, fans showed up in full spirit.”

    Nodwin Gaming co-founder & MD Akshat Rathee added, “We’ve once again brought pop culture and gaming together like never before. The enthusiasm from Hyderabad fuels us to make every season bigger and bolder.”

    With the capes folded and controllers powered down, Comic Con India now heads east with its first-ever Guwahati edition on 22–23 November 2025 proving that India’s pop culture universe is only getting larger, louder, and infinitely more legendary.

     

  • FAU-G Bharat League 2.0 Levels Up with Rs 1 Crore Prize and UK Upskilling Perks

    FAU-G Bharat League 2.0 Levels Up with Rs 1 Crore Prize and UK Upskilling Perks

     MUMBAI: Game on, India’s homegrown FAU-G esports universe just got a turbocharged upgrade. Today marks the launch of FAU-G Bharat League 2.0 (FBL 2.0), the highly anticipated skill-based competition, in partnership with NCore Games, Leverage, and Nodwin Gaming. The first phase kicks off with qualifiers leading to a grand offline LAN finale, spanning the next three months.

    Responding to soaring fan enthusiasm from the FAU-G: Domination community, the total prize pool has doubled from Rs 50 lakh to a staggering Rs 1 crore. And the rewards don’t stop at cash top players now have a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the UK for game development upskilling, courtesy of Leverage, turning high scores into high skills.

    FBL 2.0 culminates in a grand offline LAN showdown where India’s finest FAU-G: Domination players will battle it out for supremacy and the Rs 1 crore bounty. Details of the LAN finale will be revealed closer to the event, but anticipation is already peaking across the country.

    Coinciding with FBL 2.0, today’s game update brings a major revamp to gunplay, sound design, and overall gameplay immersion:

    Gunplay Upgrades include enhanced gun feel, muzzle effects, bullet trails, reworked recoil logic, improved sniper mechanics, organic camera shakes, and refined grenade gameplay with smoother crosshair animations.

    Sound Enhancements feature immersive shooting and ambient audio, new action cues, spatially accurate footsteps and gunfire, plus realistic bullet ricochets to deepen the battlefield experience.

    Other Improvements cover upgraded bullet impact particles, realistic bullet travel visuals, and smoother movement blending, all designed to make every match feel cinematic.

    Notably, FBL 2.0 is India’s first esports and upskilling platform to launch following the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 (PROGA). Fully compliant and free to enter, the competition prioritises skill over purchases, ensuring that players compete on merit rather than wallets.

    Players can dive in as soon as the update goes live today. For ongoing updates, announcements, and community engagement, participants can follow FAU-G: Domination on its official platforms:

       . X: x.com/faugdomination

       . Instagram: instagram.com/faugdomination

       . Discord: https://bit.ly/faugdomination

    With upgraded gameplay, a Rs 1 crore prize pool, and exclusive international learning opportunities, FBL 2.0 is setting a new benchmark for skill-driven esports in India proving that in the world of competitive gaming, it pays to play smart.
     

  • Playstation India Cup returns with EA Sports FC 26 and Rs 4 lakh prize pool

    Playstation India Cup returns with EA Sports FC 26 and Rs 4 lakh prize pool

    MUMBAI:  It’s game on for India’s football fans! Nodwin Gaming is bringing back the Playstation India Cup, this time featuring EA Sports FC 26 exclusively on the PS5. With a total prize pool of Rs 4,00,000, the tournament promises intense competition, exclusive Playstation merchandise, and a front-row seat to the country’s best console football action.

    The championship kicks off with daily online qualifiers from across India, running until 10th November 2025, with the top 8 players advancing to the grand finale at Delhi Comic Con, NSIC Grounds, Okhla, from 5th to 7th December 2025. Fans can expect high-octane matches, immersive gameplay, and live commentary in the festival’s 40,000 sq. ft. gaming arena.

    Players can register on PS5 starting 8th October 2025 via the “Events” or “Tournaments” section, ensuring they don’t miss a chance to battle it out on India’s only official console esports stage.

    Nodwin Gaming Co-Founder and MD Akshat Rathee said, “The Playstation India Cup perfectly blends competitive gaming and fan culture. Delhi Comic Con, where our journey began, provides the ideal stage to celebrate India’s growing console esports community. It’s a festival of football, gaming, and fandom all rolled into one.”

    The tournament will also feature influencer-led content, live streams, and weekly updates to keep both players and fans engaged. With the combination of football fever, competitive spirit, and gaming prowess, this year’s edition is set to be bigger, bolder, and more thrilling than ever.

    Players and fans can stay updated through Nodwin Gaming’s official social handles and the Playstation India community.

  • Sarc Global teams up with Nodwin Gaming

    Sarc Global teams up with Nodwin Gaming

    MUMBAI: Level up and play big! India’s esports industry just got a power boost. Sarc Global, a strategic advisory and consulting firm, has joined forces with Nodwin Gaming, south Asia’s leading esports company, to turbocharge the country’s competitive gaming scene. The alliance is designed to push esports into the mainstream, with plans ranging from promoting tournaments and unlocking sponsorships to driving esports-friendly policies with government support.

    The move dovetails with prime minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat vision, giving esports a policy tailwind as states like Maharashtra, Bihar and Rajasthan draft pro-gaming frameworks. “This partnership is an important step towards unlocking the true potential of esports in India,” said Nodwin Gaming CEO Gautam Singh Virk. “We’re bridging the world of competitive gaming with the business and policy frameworks that will allow it to thrive.”

    Sarc Global will bring its expertise in investment facilitation and cross-border partnerships, while Nodwin leverages its deep roots in esports, youth culture and intellectual properties. Together, the duo aims to create a future-ready ecosystem that blends entertainment, regulation and opportunity.

    The timing couldn’t be sharper. The Online gaming act, 2025, now offers regulatory clarity, incentives for infrastructure and clear safeguards for young audiences. A recent FICCI-EY report notes that brand participation in esports will rise from 68 in 2024 to 75 in 2025, fuelled by bigger tournaments and growing youth engagement.

    As sponsorships, prize pools and large-scale youth campaigns gather momentum, the Sarc Global–Nodwin partnership is set to redefine India’s role in global esports. From boardrooms to battle arenas, the game has only just begun.

  • Bengaluru gears up for Comic Con 2025

    Bengaluru gears up for Comic Con 2025

    MUMBAI: Comic Con India is returning to Bengaluru on 20 and 21 December at KTPO, Whitefield, promising a weekend of cosplay, comics, gaming and immersive fan experiences.

    The 13th edition of Bengaluru Comic Con is set to unite cosplayers, gamers, artists and live performers, offering aspiring creators a platform to showcase their work and connect with fans and industry professionals. Highlights include the National Cosplay Championship, exclusive merchandise, interactive fan zones, gaming arenas and sessions with leading comic book creators, anime artists and directors.

    Nodwin Gaming co-founder and md, Akshat Rathee, said, “Bengaluru Comic Con has its own flavour. Only here can you find a coder debugging all week and then showing up on the weekend dressed as Darth Vader. The city’s fandom is restless and inventive. Every edition here feels electric, proof that pop culture runs deep in India’s tech capital.”

    Comic Con India, ceo, Shefali Johnson, added, “Fans here don’t just come to watch, they come to build, share and celebrate together. Bengaluru turns Comic Con into something bigger than the event itself, blending creativity, gaming and cosplay with the city’s culture of innovation.”

    Last year’s edition drew over 50,000 attendees, with more than 5,000 cosplayers. International guests included American comic creators Ron Marz and Jamal Igle, while Indian studios such as Tadam Gyadu, Raj Comics, Indusverse, Sufi Comics and Amar Chitra Katha showcased their work. The event also featured stand-up performances, a 40,000 sq. ft. gaming zone with tournaments and VR experiences, alongside themed attractions like the Superman Zone and Minecraft Movie booths.

    Tickets for Bengaluru Comic Con 2025-26 are now live exclusively on the District app.

  • Game of cons Dreamhack x Comic Con 2025 powers up in Hyderabad

    Game of cons Dreamhack x Comic Con 2025 powers up in Hyderabad

    MUMBAI: Grab your capes, consoles and comic books Hyderabad is about to become the nerdiest city in India. Dreamhack India 2025 is teaming up with Hyderabad Comic Con for a three-day pop culture takeover from 31 October to 2 November, promising a mash-up of esports battles, cosplay showdowns, comic book launches and retro gaming nostalgia.

    The festival, celebrating Dreamhack’s sixth anniversary in India, lands at a time when fandom culture is booming. Last year, Comic Con Hyderabad drew over 40,000 fans, and organisers expect to top that number this year as gamers, cosplayers and comic collectors converge for what’s being billed as India’s ultimate geek carnival.

    The line-up is stacked: Pan Fest (BGMI) brings daily lobbies for fans to squad up, KO Fight Night revives arcade rivalries with Tekken 8, Super Smash Bros and Street Fighter VI, while Chess at Dreamhack adds cerebral fireworks with Rapid and Blitz formats. The iconic Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) zone returns, letting fans lug in their PCs, consoles or mobiles (or rent high-performance rigs on-site) to play non-stop across the weekend.

    And it’s not all about pixels and joysticks the Retro & Board Games Zone will tug at nostalgia with Contra, Pac-Man, Tetris and good old-fashioned Carrom and Ludo. Throw in comic launches, cosplay showcases, music gigs and shopping alleys, and the festival promises to be a sensory overload of fandom culture.

    Nodwin Gaming co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee called it “a one-of-a-kind celebration where gaming meets pop culture,” while Comic Con India CEO Shefali Johnson said the partnership takes Hyderabad Comic Con’s magic “to the next level.”

    With tickets now live on District App and official websites, Hyderabad is gearing up for three days of caffeine, costumes and controllers proving once again that when it comes to fandom, the more, the merrier.

  • Battle royale hits prime time as BGMS Season 4 Grand Finals go live

    Battle royale hits prime time as BGMS Season 4 Grand Finals go live

    MUMBAI: The battleground has shifted from mobile screens to the big stage, literally. The Oneplus Android Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series (BGMS) Season 4 Grand Finals fire up today at the Nodwin Gaming Arena in Delhi, where 16 of India’s finest esports teams will fight it out across 12 matches from 12–14 September for the championship crown and a cool Rs 1.5 crore prize pool.

    This isn’t just another LAN event; it’s India’s only esports tournament with national TV presence, beaming live on Star Sports Khel and JioHotstar from 5 pm to 8 pm. For fans, that means three days of adrenaline-fuelled prime-time action.

    The star-studded line-up includes league toppers Revenant Xspark, Team SouL, Gods Reign, and Nonx Esports, who qualified directly, joined by 12 hungry challengers from the semi-finals among them Godlike Esports, K9 Esports, Medal Esports, Phoenix Esports, Nebula Esports, and Sinewy Esports. Phoenix stole the show in the Playoffs with 58 points, while Godlike led the semi-finals with 92, setting up a tantalising clash of momentum and pedigree.

    The season has been equally dramatic off the battleground. Oneplus returns as title sponsor and official smartphone partner, Android steps in as co-title sponsor, TVS Motor revs into its third consecutive year, while Red Bull, Swiggy, and Bisleri keep players fuelled. Duolingo English Test makes its debut as official learning partner, and Tesla will showcase its Model Y at the finals because why not add some horsepower to the firepower?

    Nodwin Gaming co-founder and MD Akshat Rathee framed it as a milestone moment: “The fact that teams from the BGMI Challenger Series made it to the Grand Finals is proof that our grassroots-to-pro vision is working. Now, it’s time to see the very best of Indian esports on the biggest stage.”

    With legacy orgs, rising stars, and the world watching, BGMS Season 4 is more than a tournament, it’s proof that Indian esports has levelled up. The only question is: who will drop in, loot up, and walk away with the crown?

  • Gujarati gamers get their lingo fix as BGMS streams in local style

    Gujarati gamers get their lingo fix as BGMS streams in local style

    MUMBAI: When Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series (BGMS) Season 4 kicked off this week, it wasn’t just the 48 teams vying for a share of the Rs 1.5 crore prize pool that had fans buzzing, it was the voice. For the first time, the action came alive in Gujarati, with a co-produced feed by Nodwin Gaming and the Duolingo English Test (DET), opening to a roaring 165,000 views on Day 1.

    Running from 18 August to 14 September, the season features 164 matches streamed with Gujarati commentary from popular casters Jayesh Prajapati (Engineer The Gamer), Vinod Keshwala (Firestar) and Jitendra Patel. Fans can also dive deeper through exclusive watch parties hosted by Gujarati streamers, adding local flavour to the high-stakes drama. The initiative signals a big leap in esports’ regional push, making the digital battlefield more relatable for Gujarat’s swelling community of players and spectators.

    DET’s role in the collaboration reflects its knack for speaking the language of Gen Z literally and figuratively. With its English proficiency test already accepted by nearly 6,000 universities worldwide, DET has become a go-to for Gujarat’s study-abroad aspirants. Now, by stepping into esports, it taps into a state that is both a powerhouse of gaming viewership and one of India’s top markets for global education. By blending entertainment and opportunity, BGMS and DET are proving that whether it’s cracking headshots or cracking admissions, Gujarat’s youth like to play and win in their own language.

  • Game on as Parliament clears Bill giving esports its sporting stripes

    Game on as Parliament clears Bill giving esports its sporting stripes

    MUMBAI: India just hit “start” on a new sporting era. On 21 August, Parliament passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, a landmark move that bans all online money games but officially elevates esports to the league of legitimate competitive sport. For the first time, esports has been uncoupled from gambling, betting, and fantasy money play, and placed firmly under the ministry of youth affairs and sports, which will set tournament standards, support academies, and weave esports into India’s sporting fabric.

    The timing was pixel-perfect. Days earlier, 19-year-old Ved Bamb, better known by his gamer tag Beelzeboy, became India’s first esports World Champion by defeating Spain’s Leo Marin at the Pokémon Go Worlds. Esports has been steadily climbing the podium: officially recognised by India in 2022, it debuted as a medal sport at the Asian Games in Hangzhou and snagged a historic bronze in DOTA 2 at the 2022 Commonwealth Esports Championships. Next year, it returns to the Asian Games medal tally and will also feature at the 3rd Asian Youth Games in October.

    Back home, esports is levelling up from grassroots to glory. This year’s Khelo India Youth Games in Bihar featured esports as a demo sport, with states like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland, and Bihar championing tournaments. Nationally, the Waves Esports Championships, backed by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, signalled that esports is no longer niche, but mainstream. Nodwin Gaming’s flagship Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series (BGMS), with a Rs 1.5 crore prize pool in its fourth season and female athletes competing for the first time, shows the professional rigour that mirrors cricket or football.

    “The Bill unlocks a zero-to-hero pipeline from state-level championships to global majors,” said Nodwin Gaming cxo-founder & MD Akshat Rathee which is grooming players for EVO, Esports Nations Cup, and even Counter-Strike Majors. S8ul, India’s most celebrated esports org, has its athletes training in Navi Mumbai bootcamps and recently competed at the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, where the prize pool crossed Rs 600 crore. Nodwin Gaming co-founder Animesh Agarwal called the government’s clarity a “game-changer” that will win parents’ trust and bring more young talent into the fold.

    The ecosystem’s growth isn’t just about skill but also kit. With PC and console titles set to feature in the 2026 Asian Games and possibly the Olympic Esports Games in 2027, high-performance gear is becoming non-negotiable. Cyberpowerpc India COO Vishal Parekh noted: “If cricket needs pitches, esports needs world-class rigs.” His company has donated PCs worth lakhs to bridge the infrastructure gap and prepare India’s next champions.

    As India marks National Sports Day, esports now stands shoulder to shoulder with traditional sports. With structured training, global tournaments, and government backing, the nation’s gamers are no longer just chasing high scores, they’re chasing history.