In India’s rapidly expanding gaming market, piracy has emerged as a widespread alternative for players unable to afford costly AAA titles. For our latest feature, we surveyed Indian gamers to understand their motivations for turning to pirated games.
We also report on Comic Con India’s expansion to three new cities, Indian game publisher Deftouch’s latest investment round that attracted the likes of Krafton, T-Accelerate Capital, and Lumikai, and more.
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India's Gaming Piracy Dilemma: Why High Prices Fuel an Underground Market
In India's rapidly expanding gaming industry, millions of new players are flocking to virtual worlds, but not all through legitimate channels. Gaming piracy, fueled by cracked games and torrents, has become a widespread alternative for many who can't afford the steep prices of AAA titles. For these players, piracy isn't just rebellion—it's often a necessity.
To better understand this trend, we surveyed our Indian fans, delving into why they pirate games and what they'd be willing to pay for legitimate copies. Our findings reveal deep frustrations with the high costs of games and highlight a critical gap between what gamers can afford and what’s being offered.
Our latest feature takes a closer look at the motivations behind video game piracy, the ethical dilemmas it presents, and what the gaming industry must do to adapt. From rising game prices to the cultural nuances driving piracy, we explore how India’s unique market dynamics are shaping this underground gaming scene.
Comic Con India Expands to Kolkata, Pune, and Ahmedabad
Comic Con India is set to expand its footprint in 2025, with new events planned in Kolkata, Pune, and Ahmedabad. This marks a significant growth for the pop culture convention, which has already established itself in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai.
Founder Jatin Varma expressed long-held anticipation for the move into Kolkata, noting, “Every few years we’d try and have a false start, but it didn’t happen. Well, it’s finally happening.” The event in Kolkata is scheduled for February 22-23, 2025, followed by Pune on March 8-9 and Ahmedabad on March 22-23, 2025.
Varma highlighted the unique challenges of expanding into three new cities simultaneously but emphasized that fan enthusiasm had driven this decision. “This is the biggest growth spurt we have ever attempted,” he said, while also acknowledging the role of Nodwin Gaming, which acquired Comic Con India earlier this year.
The expansion reflects both the growing demand for pop culture events in India and the strategic vision of its organizers. For fans, it’s a long-awaited opportunity to participate in the convention, with Varma remarking, “Your passion drives us to keep growing and improving.” Comic Con India’s growth signals a broader trend in India’s rising pop culture market.
Quick Bytes
Deftouch Secures Investment to Expand Game Development and Talent
Indian game publisher Deftouch (best known for the King of Cricket game) has secured an undisclosed investment to expand its game portfolio and hire new talent. The funding round was co-led by Krafton, T-Accelerate Capital, and Lumikai, with participation from Visceral Capital and Play Ventures. CEO Ninad Bhagwat, in an interview with Inc42, emphasized the company's focus on experimenting with bold concepts, particularly in the development of a cricket game with innovative monetization features. Founded in 2017, Deftouch aims to use the investment to reach its next milestones and plans to raise its Series A round by the end of 2025.
SuperGaming Officially Launches ‘Indus’
SuperGaming has officially launched Indus, the battle royale game developed in India, now available on Android and iOS platforms. With over 14 million pre-registrations, Indus debuted at the top of the free-to-play charts on the iOS App Store. The game, which blends Indian cultural elements with futuristic themes, is expected to reshape the local gaming and esports landscape. Its release also signals the start of a competitive esports season, featuring INR 2.5 Crores as the total prize pool.
KRAFTON India Brings Deepika Padukone to BGMI as Playable Character
KRAFTON India has announced its highly anticipated collaboration with Bollywood superstar Deepika Padukone, who will debut as a playable character in Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) starting October 17. Players can embody Padukone’s signature style through two new avatars and unlock exclusive in-game cosmetics, including weapon skins and vehicle cosmetics. The collaboration also introduces special events and rewards for players participating in a themed contest running until November 4. This move marks a significant step for KRAFTON India, blending Bollywood and gaming culture, and enhancing BGMI's immersive experience for its Indian player base.
Riot Games Announces New Wave of Job Cuts
Riot Games, the studio behind League of Legends, announced another round of layoffs, marking its second workforce reduction this year. Chairman Marc Merrill revealed the decision, affecting 32 employees, in a statement yesterday, framing it as an "evolution" of the game rather than a cost-cutting measure. The January layoffs cut 530 jobs, or 11% of Riot's global staff. Merrill emphasized this move was to align the company’s expertise with long-term goals for League. Impacted workers will receive severance and six months of health coverage. Riot previously also trimmed staff in January 2023 as part of routine operations.
Did You Know
Obsidian Entertainment, the developers behind Fallout: New Vegas, were offered a lucrative deal by publisher Bethesda: a bonus payment if the game achieved a Metascore of 85 or higher on Metacritic. Despite its critical acclaim and strong sales, the game scored an 84—just one point shy of unlocking the bonus. As a result, Obsidian received no additional payment for their work.
Chris Avellone, a key designer on Fallout: New Vegas, confirmed the situation via Twitter, explaining, "FNV was a straight payment, no royalties, only a bonus if we got an 85+ on Metacritic, which we didn't."
By November 2010, Bethesda had shipped five million copies of the game, generating over $300 million in sales, boosted by a strong volume of digital downloads. Despite the financial success, Obsidian’s deal highlighted the intense pressure developers face to meet arbitrary review score thresholds.
The missed bonus came at a challenging time for Obsidian. Shortly after, the studio experienced layoffs following the cancellation of a Microsoft-published project.
Quote of the Day
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Hello, my name is Jack Sparrow. I'm a 50 year old self-employed Pirate from the Caribbean.
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