Chirag Chopra

​Lately, I've seen several game studios claiming the title of "India's first AAA game studio." This has me contemplating: what truly defines a studio as AAA? ​Is it determined solely by the final product, or is it a reflection of the entire ecosystem behind it? ​Does it simply boil down to the "AAA quality" of a single game? ​How much does the talent pool matter? Is it about building a diverse, multi-faceted, and multi-cultural team? ​Should an environment that fosters continuous growth and innovation be considered a key part of the definition? ​My take is that while creating a AAA game without mature processes is difficult but not impossible, a studio that aims for both a AAA product and a AAA work environment is planting a seed for the future. That is the foundation that will truly grow and, in time, bear fruit. ​Ultimately, is "AAA" a label for the game, or for the studio that creates it? ​Would love to hear your thoughts. ​#GameDev #IndianGaming #AAA #StudioCulture #GameDevelopment

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I guess India is finally finding its Missing Link—Publishing. For years, India has had incredible talent in game development, art, and engineering, but one major gap kept us from breaking into the global scene—publishing. Without strong local publishers, many studios were forced to either self-publish with limited resources or rely on global publishers who often saw India as just another outsourcing hub. China and Japan figured out the publishing game early, and the numbers prove it. China: The $45B Gaming Market Tencent dominates with $25B+ in annual gaming revenue, owning stakes in global hits like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Honor of Kings, and Riot Games (League of Legends). NetEase follows with $13B+ in gaming revenue, successfully launching titles like Identity V, Knives Out, and Naraka: Bladepoint, while also publishing Blizzard titles in China. The Chinese mobile gaming market alone is worth $31B, with publishers leveraging aggressive UA strategies, live ops, and international expansions to grow beyond their domestic market. Japan: The $22B Gaming Market Home to Capcom, Square Enix, Bandai Namco, and Nintendo, Japan’s gaming revenue hit $22B+, with 40% coming from mobile games. Nintendo leads with $13B in annual revenue, fueled by Switch game sales and mobile titles like Fire Emblem Heroes. Sony PlayStation, with $35B+ in total revenue, still heavily relies on publishing, owning IPs like God of War, The Last of Us, and Gran Turismo to drive long-term engagement. Gacha games like Genshin Impact & Fate/Grand Order dominate the mobile space, with Japan’s top 10 mobile games generating over $6B annually. India: Finally Bridging the Publishing Gap India's gaming industry has historically been rich in development talent but lacked dedicated publishing support. However, recent developments indicate a positive shift:​ Felicity Games: Funding: Raised $3 million in seed funding to enhance its publishing infrastructure. ​ Performance: Achieved over 1 million downloads across leading titles like Seek & Find and Nova Solitaire, surpassing $1 million in annual recurring revenue. ​ Anurag Choudhary 1312 Interactive: Launch: Established as India's first dedicated PC and console game publishing house. ​(Recently announced their round too) Upcoming Titles: Set to release three games in 2025, including Winds of Arcana, Palm Sugar: A Village Story, and Souls of Bombarika, with plans for six to eight additional titles annually. ​ Mantena Raviteja 🔜 GDC Deepak Gurijala 🔜 GDC Why is this important? Because publishing isn’t just about funding. Strategic market positioning to compete globally User acquisition & live ops expertise for long-term success Platform relationships that determine visibility and growth Monetization playbooks to optimize revenue across markets India is at a pivotal moment. The talent & audience is growing, and now, with publishing being built, we might finally see an Indian-made game break into the global top charts.

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