Gaurav Raj Thakur

NODWIN Gaming has announced the acquisition of AFK Gaming Pvt. Ltd., a leading gaming and esports media company subject to closing formalities. Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder of NODWIN Gaming, commented, “I have known Nishant, Sid and Rakesh since the inception of AFK Gaming. We all started out at the same time, while the esports industry in India was just beginning to pick up. We have built respect for each other over time by butting heads, competing, collaborating and supporting each other when there was little hope. I have learnt to admire their ability to persevere, pivot and be true to the fan. This focus is to be treasured. Once you have that respect and understanding of our strengths and weaknesses, working together is a natural causality. As we come together as one group, I welcome them as shareholders of NODWIN Gaming and as leaders in our group. I look forward to the many missions we will pick up and go on together.” Nishant Patel, @Rakesh Ramchandran and Siddharth Nayyar, Co-Founders of AFK Gaming, said, “Joining the NODWIN group feels like a homecoming for us. When esports was barely a coined term, Akshat and us agreed to work to grow the market rather than compete in an industry that had yet to prove itself. This led to a long and trust-imbued relationship where Akshat watched over us as a friend, investor, mentor and board member. Now that the industry has matured a bit, our existing synergies with NODWIN allow us to hit the ground running and we’re confident in our ability to unlock the next level of growth for the group!” #SportsBusiness #SportsBiz #NODWINGaming #NODWIN #AFKGaming

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🚀 Former Unacademy CMO Karan Shroff Launches Gaming Studio ‘LightFury Games’. 📰 SUMMARY: Karan Shroff, former Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and Partner of Unacademy, ventures into the gaming industry with LightFury Games. Shroff collaborates with gaming industry veteran Anurag Banerjee, serving as co-founder and CPTO, and former Unacademy executive Tina Balachandran. The startup aims to develop high-quality AAA game titles initially for mobile platforms, with plans to expand to other gaming platforms gradually. 🔍 KEY DETAILS: - Karan Shroff announced the launch of LightFury Games, focusing on developing cutting-edge AAA game titles, on LinkedIn. - Anurag Banerjee, with over two decades of experience in game development, joins as co-founder and CPTO, bringing expertise from studios like Ubisoft and Rocksteady Studios. - LightFury Games aims to showcase India's talent globally by developing AAA titles, starting with mobile phone games and later expanding to consoles. - Shroff brings over 15 years of experience in event management and brand marketing, having previously worked with Xiaomi India before Unacademy. 💡 INSIGHTS: - LightFury Games' entry into the gaming industry signals the growing potential of Indian studios to develop AAA titles, addressing the gap in the market for high-budget games. - The collaboration between industry veterans like Shroff and Banerjee underscores the ambition to elevate India's gaming ecosystem on the global stage. 🚀 IMPACT: - With the launch of LightFury Games, India's gaming scene is poised for further expansion, tapping into the expertise of seasoned professionals to create world-class gaming experiences. - The startup's focus on AAA titles aligns with the evolving preferences of gamers and the increasing demand for immersive gaming content. 🔮 OUTLOOK: - As LightFury Games prepares to unveil its offerings, the gaming community eagerly anticipates the arrival of high-quality AAA titles from India, potentially reshaping the global gaming landscape. - With India's gaming market poised for continued growth, initiatives like LightFury Games contribute to positioning the country as a prominent player in the global gaming industry. LightFury Games #LightFuryGames #Gaming #AAA #Startups #KaranShroff #StartUpNews #BusinessNews #MicroShots #NewsUpdates

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#Update NODWIN Gaming has acquired Trinity Gaming for INR 24 crore. Trinity Gaming, a leading creator service provider, will become a fully-owned subsidiary of NODWIN Gaming. This acquisition will strengthen NODWIN Gaming's position in the Indian gaming and content ecosystem. The combined entity will offer enhanced services, including content creation, digital marketing, and event management. Both companies will continue to focus on expanding their reach and creating new opportunities for gamers and content creators. Read the story: https://ow.ly/QaQr50UhQVy Akshat Rathee (NODWIN Gaming & Abhishek Aggarwal (Trinity Gaming) #NODWINGaming #TrinityGaming #GamingNews #GameIndustry #ContentCreation #DigitalMarketing #Esports #GamingCommunity #IndianGaming #GamingAcquisition

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₹22,400 Crore ($2.7 Billion) Lost to Piracy in India’s Entertainment Industry 1. Rising Piracy: A Growing Concern for Content Creators 51% of Indian consumers access content through pirated sources, posing a significant challenge to the entertainment industry’s revenue streams. 2. Streaming Dominates Piracy Landscape 63% of pirated content comes from streaming platforms, with mobile apps following closely behind as a major channel for illicit content distribution. 3. Massive GST Revenue Losses Up to INR 43 billion in GST revenues may have been lost due to piracy in India, underscoring the financial impact of unauthorised content consumption on the economy. 4. Post-Pandemic Surge in Subscription Revenue Subscription revenue has surged by 150% since the pandemic, signalling a strong rebound for OTT services, but piracy continues to hinder further growth. 5. Filmed Entertainment Industry Poised for Growth. India’s filmed entertainment sector is projected to reach INR 146 billion by 2026, signalling significant opportunity—but piracy remains a critical hurdle. 6. Pirates Don’t Want Paid Subscriptions 70% of pirated content consumers report no interest in purchasing OTT subscriptions, highlighting a major gap in monetisation strategies for streaming services. 7. Young Demographics Driving Piracy A significant 6% of pirated content users are aged between 19-34 years, suggesting that younger audiences are more likely to engage with unauthorized content. 8. Language Preferences in Pirated Content 40% of pirated content is consumed in Hindi, with 31% opting for English content, reflecting language preferences and potential areas for localisation. 9. Consumer Willingness to Switch to Legal Platforms 64% of pirated content users would prefer accessing content via authorized channels, even with ads, if offered for free—indicating potential for ad-supported business models. 10. Resistance to Paying for Movie Tickets A strong 84% of pirated content consumers report that they have no intention of purchasing movie tickets, pointing to the need for more affordable or flexible viewing options.

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The Disney Star India and Reliance Viacom merger is set to redefine India’s OTT landscape! 🎬 The new platform, 'Jio Star,' will combine Disney+ Hotstar and JioCinema, launching on November 14. A game-changer for streaming in India! 🚀 #JioStar #OTT #Streaming #Merger #DigitalTransformation #IndianEntertainment

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Sidharth Kedia joins JioGames as Senior Vice President and Head to scale India's gaming landscape with innovation and strategic initiatives in cloud gaming and esports. Sidharth Kedia said, “Over the last decade, D2C businesses focused on lifestyle, social and entertainment have been the biggest beneficiaries of internet democratizarion by Jio. Infact they exist today because Jio changed the way India accessed data. A decade later, I feel pretty stoked to be called back in the RIL family and be entrusted with the opportunity to scale Jiogames and build a gaming behemoth that India awaits.” https://lnkd.in/dwdg25Cz #Gaming #Esports #CloudGaming #Innovation #Adtechtoday

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@ National Broadcasting Bill Should be Enact &: All the Content On Cable tv / Hits / DTH / Free Dish / IPTV / OTT / mobile TV / Broadband Should be Regulated. "MIB" Should control OTT Platform's Content and" MeitY" Should Take Care Of Social Media and User-Generated Content.Then only Level Playing Field will Exist in Indian Broadcasting Industry

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Some thoughts on Airtel’s recent announcement regarding wynk shutdown: When we at Gaana had shut down free music streaming [Sep 2022], leaving 50M free users, a lot of questions were asked. Is this the right move? No one else in the industry had chosen this route. We had done our maths. To survive, we had to shut down free music, otherwise we would run out of cash and perish soon. At that time there were 5 players offering free music: Us [Gaana], Spotify, Wynk, JioSaavn and Resso. We shifted to a paid only app, the FIRST to do so in India.  We survived and Gaana is thriving under Mirchi now. Resso shut down its operations a few months ago [Jan 2024] and Wynk just announced to shut down. If we had not shifted to paid only at the right time,  we would not have survived. Providing free music to users never made any business sense because of label commercials. For every free song heard, music streaming companies would lose a lot of money, as they had to pay a hefty amount to labels. From 5 players offering free music we are down to 2. Who is next? JioSaavn? Spotify? Yatish Mehrishi Udit Tyagi Sahil Kapoor Rakesh R Sony vineet jain adarsh nair Hari Nair https://lnkd.in/dm3JwyR2 https://lnkd.in/dbdkBhHG

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Brilliant start indeed! “Geet” Avatars from the iconic Jab We Met sold out completely. Marks a new beginning to our Web 3 initiatives in terms of real Monetisation of our digital IP, making India and the world Khush in the process #IndiaKhushHua Strong partnership with The Sandbox /BharatBox .. delivering a transformational inititaive. Keep tuned in for more exciting announcements going forward. #Shemaroo #Web3 #Metaverse Hiren Gada Anuja Trivedi

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In today's Streaming in India newsletter we cover Loco and the rise and rise of e-sports and gaming. Link to the newsletter in the first comment of this post! The Integral Role of Gaming and Esports in the OTT Landscape In today's rapidly evolving entertainment ecosystem, gaming and esports have emerged as crucial elements that OTT platforms can no longer afford to overlook. Here are some key takeaways from our analysis: > "Gaming and esports introduce a new dimension to the OTT model, catering to an audience that seeks engagement, interaction, and community." > "Unlike passive content consumption, gaming and esports offer an active and immersive experience, particularly appealing to younger demographics who are digital natives." > The integration of gaming and esports into the OTT world broadens the scope of entertainment, attracting a wider audience base and increasing user engagement and retention." > 📈 "The inclusion of gaming and esports presents new monetization opportunities, such as direct transactions, subscriptions, and exclusive content, supporting sustainable financial models." > 🔮 "Embracing gaming and esports is a strategic move that future-proofs the OTT industry, meeting current audience demands and preparing for the changing tides of content consumption." Incorporating gaming and esports into the OTT landscape is not just an option but a necessity. These forms of entertainment are key to engaging younger audiences, diversifying content offerings, and building robust, sustainable business models. As platforms like Loco continue to innovate and integrate these elements, they set the stage for a more interactive, engaging, and future-ready entertainment ecosystem. What are your thoughts on the future of OTT platforms and gaming? 🎮📺 #OTT #Streaming #Gaming #Esports #DigitalMarketing #EntertainmentIndustry #Innovation #FutureReady

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NODWIN Gaming has successfully raised ₹64 crore in funding, further strengthening its position as a prominent player in India's esports and gaming ecosystem. This capital will support Nodwin’s expansion, innovation in gaming events, and broader engagement with the growing gaming community in India and beyond. - Nodwin Gaming secures ₹64 crore in funding. - Funds to drive growth in esports and gaming events. - Aimed at expanding India’s gaming ecosystem. - Focus on global community engagement and innovation. #NodwinGaming #Esports #GamingIndustry #StartupFunding #Zedvox #ZedvoxNews #EsportsIndia #FundingAlert #GamingInnovation #InvestmentNews #IndianStartups #StartupEcosystem #GamingCommunity #TechFunding #EsportsEvents #GameDevelopers #EsportsGrowth #InvestmentOpportunity #FundingSuccess #DigitalEntertainment #TechStartup #GamingTech #GlobalGaming #InvestorNews #StartupGrowth #GamingExpansion #StartupIndia #TechInvestment #IndianGaming #BusinessFunding #GameChangers

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Google's arbitrary decision to pause the expansion of Pay-to-Play skill games on the Play Store, gatekeeping gaming apps, and picking market winners reinforces the immediate need for ex-ante antitrust regulations. All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) has been at the forefront, advocating for ex-ante regulations since the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance first examined the issue of Anti-Competitive Practices by Big Tech Companies. We look forward to working with the broader Indian startup ecosystem and engaging with the Government on this issue. AIGF has always advocated for a fair and open market that provides equitable opportunities for everyone. In this market, consumers decide who wins and who loses, not private entities, and we will continue to fight for the same. Sunil Krishnamurthy | Dhruv Garg | Soumya AK | Dedipyaman Shukla | Shreyasi Tripathi

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