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Warner Bros. Discovery threatens legal action against NBA over media rights

Meta ordered to delete AI-generated photographs of public individuals

Esports industry divided over forming anti-poaching body

Representational image via Unsplash

Relief for advertisers as MIB restricts SDC for ads to food and health sectors only

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In conversation with VMLY&R’s Hari Ramanathan

Shekhar Kapur known for films such as ''Mr India'', ''Bandit Queen'', and ''Elizabeth'', has been appointed festival director for the International Film Festival of India.

Kapur will lead the 55th and 56th editions of the Goa-based festival, which is conducted yearly, according to a statement from the Information and Broadcasting Ministry.

"With the approval of the Competent Authority, it has been decided to appoint Shri Shekhar Kapur as the Festival Director for the 55th and 56th editions of the International Film Festival of India, Goa," the notification stated.

Kapur, 78, is an iconic name in Indian cinema and one of the first directors to make a name for himself in Hollywood with his films "Elizabeth" and "Elizabeth: The Golden Age."

He has directed films such as ''Masoom'', ''Mr India'', and ''Bandit Queen'' in India.

He most recently directed the British comedy ''What's Love Got to Do with It? Kapur was the chairperson of the International Competition Jury at the 54th IFFI.

He also chaired the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune from 2020 to 2023.

Shekhar Kapur appointed festival director for International Film Festival of India

Swiggy's quick commerce vertical, Swiggy Instamart has appointed Himavant Srikrishna Kurnala as Senior Vice President (SVP) and Head of Product. 

Before this Kurnala was Chief Product Officer for JioMart where he oversaw Product, Program, Design, Analytics, and Marketplace trust functions.

Kurnala has also worked with companies like Amazon and Microsoft in his more than 20-year-long career.

Separately, Mayank Rajvaidya has joined as the Vice President (VP) of Fruits & Vegetables at Swiggy Instamart. Rajvaidya previously led Amazon’s Consumables Private Brands in India, where he expanded Amazon Pantry to over 300 cities.

Additionally, Manu Sasidharan joined Swiggy Instamart as Associate Vice President (AVP) of the FMCG Category. He has over 12 years of experience, predominantly in the e-commerce sector. Previously with Flipkart and Clertrip, Sasidharan was responsible for business development, setting up businesses, PnL management, and customer demand management.

The online food delivery platform has also appointed Kumar Rahul as AVP of development for Lynk. Rahul previously worked at Google, Disney+Hotstar, and Flipkart.

Swiggy announces three appointments for Swiggy Instamart

Everstone Group on Wednesday appointed Sujoy Bose as Chief Executive Officer-Investment Management. According to the investment group, Bose will spearhead capital formation, deal sourcing, fund governance, and ESG and impact initiatives. Bose's responsibilities also include managing capital-raising efforts, strengthening relationships with Limited Partners (LPs), and enhancing the firm’s deal flow across various sectors. 

"I am delighted to join the Everstone Group, one of the few home-grown and resilient multi-asset class fund managers in Emerging Markets, at a moment when it is on the verge of a significant growth phase.  There are several aspects of Everstone’s investment approach that I find exciting, including, its focus on India".


"I look forward to contributing my global experience to make a meaningful impact and help take Everstone to the next level," Bose added.

Sameer Sain from Everstone Group said, "We are delighted to welcome Sujoy to the Everstone family. Sujoy brings a long and proven track record of leadership and success, both in India and globally".

Bose will play a role in shaping Everstone's strategic direction and investment decisions as part of the Investment Committees and Executive Committee, the investment group said.

Bose has three decades of experience in fund management, infrastructure investment, and strategic leadership. Before joining Everstone Group, he led India's National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) as Managing Director and CEO. Prior to NIIF, Sujoy Bose spent 23 years at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), where he held pivotal roles such as Global Co-Head of Infrastructure and Natural Resources and Chief Investment Officer of IFC Asset Management.

Everstone Group appoints Sujay Bose as CEO-Investment Management

Bajaj Electricals Ltd today announced the resignation of its Managing Director and CEO, Anuj Poddar, who shall be moving on to pursue an external opportunity. The Board has accepted his resignation while recognising and acknowledging Poddar's contributions in formulating the transformation and growth journey of the Company over the past five and a half years. His last date with the company is 30th September, 2024.

Poddar led the organisation through a tumultuous phase and has been the architect of its overhaul and turnaround, the company said. He also brought in a consumer-first approach, while driving a long-term growth strategy, it said, adding that the company achieved several significant milestones, notably becoming net-debt-free in March’22 (a first for the company), relaunching its flagship brand ‘BAJAJ’, establishing the ‘House of Brands’ architecture, expanding the portfolio with a new, premium brand (Nex), signing a long-term licensing agreement for the ‘Morphy Richards’ brand, reorganising the Lighting Solutions business, launching a slew of products to premiumise
the portfolio, rolling out a new ERP system, and attracting strong talent to the organisation.

Before joining Bajaj Electricals, Poddar was a member of the Leadership Team at Viacom18 Media Private Limited and one of its key founding team members. During his over 13 years with the company he played an integral role in the growth of the company including its foray into mass entertainment with Colors, its expansion into international territories, the acquisition and launch of its motion pictures business as well as its foray into the regional language networks business. He also led strategy for MTV Networks Asia, based out of Singapore. 

Prior to Viacom 18 Media, Poddar spent nearly a decade with Arthur Andersen and KPMG and was involved in a range of consulting, mergers & acquisitions and assurance services to a range of clients across financial services, consumer, IT & ITES and other sectors.

Bajaj Electricals Limited is a Indian Consumer Appliances and Lighting Solutions company headquartered in Mumbai with a turnover of Rs 4,641 crores (FY 24-25). It is a part of the $100 bn multinational conglomerate Bajaj Group founded by Shri Jamnalal Bajaj. The Company was established in 1938. 

Bajaj Electricals MD and CEO Anuj Poddar resigns

Founder of the stationery brand Camlin, Subash Dandekar, died at 86. Dandekar was serving as the chairman emeritus of the Kokuyo Camlin. He was ill for the past few days and took his last breath at Hinduja Hospital.

According to PTI news agency, citing family sources, Dandekar was cremated in central Mumbai on Monday, and a condolence meeting will be held on Thursday.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis paid his tribute to Subhash Dandekar and said that the state has lost a "grandfather figure" who has brought fame to the industries in Maharashtra.

“Subhash Dandekar not only built the Camlin industry but added colour to the lives of thousands of youths by providing employment. He gave great priority to the preservation of values,” he said.

“While growing the industry, they preserved value and people. He always insisted that labour should get dignity,” Fadnavis added.

Dandekar received several awards for his contribution to art, entrepreneurship, and social awareness. He was the recipient of the Game Changers of Maharashtra award Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dandekar is survived by his son Ashish and daughter Anagha.

Camlin founder Subash Dandekar dies at 86

Consumer appliances and lighting solutions company, Bajaj Electricals Ltd has appointed Vishal Chadha as chief operating officer of its Consumer Products Division. Chadha will join the Bajaj Group company on August 1. 

Chadha brings with him 28 years of experience across organizations like Britannia, Nokia, Snapdeal and Kohler, with functional experience in sales, category management and marketing,

An IIM-Lucknow alumnus, Chadha has been in General Management roles since 2016, first at Snapdeal where he was the Chief Business Officer, followed by a brief stint at Reliance Brands before joining Kohler as Managing Director - India and South Asia where he ran the entire India business. He has experience across FMCG, consumer devices, and e-commerce.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/bajaj-consumer-care-appoints-sanath-r-pulikkal-as-cmo-34515.htm">Read more: Bajaj Consumer Care appoints Sanath R. Pulikkal as CMO</a>

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Bajaj Electricals appoints Vishal Chadha as COO - Consumer Products Division

Meta has rolled back some restrictions that it had applied to former US President Donald Trump's accounts on Instagram and Facebook. The social media juggernaut had indefinitely suspended Trump's accounts following his praise of people who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. In January 2023, Meta ended the suspension of Trump’s accounts with new guardrails to deter repeat offenses. 

Former President Trump, as the nominee of the Republican Party, will no longer be subject to the heightened suspension penalties, Meta said in an updated blog post on July 12, 2024. 

The big tech firm said, "Today we are making a change to the updated protocol we announced in January 2023. To ensure people can hear from political candidates on our platforms, we will review accounts subject to this protocol on a periodic basis to determine whether heightened suspension penalties for Community Standards violations remain appropriate. We will make this determination by weighing our responsibility, as outlined by the Oversight Board, to “allow political expression” against our responsibility “to avoid serious risks to other human rights.”

It added in the blog post, "With the party conventions taking place shortly, including the Republican convention next week, the candidates for President of the United States will soon be formally nominated. In assessing our responsibility to allow political expression, we believe that the American people should be able to hear from the nominees for President on the same basis. As a result, former President Trump, as the nominee of the Republican Party, will no longer be subject to the heightened suspension penalties. In reaching this conclusion, we also considered that these penalties were a response to extreme and extraordinary circumstances, and have not had to be deployed. All US Presidential candidates remain subject to the same Community Standards as all Facebook and Instagram users, including those policies designed to prevent hate speech and incitement to violence." 

Meta rolls back restrictions applied on Donald Trump's Instagram and Facebook accounts

Billionaire Elon Musk has donated to a super political action committee working to elect Donald Trump to the White House, a Bloomberg report stated, claiming that the move is "a major gambit by the world’s richest person to make his imprint on the US political landscape." 

The report doesn't state the exact size of the contribution to the low-profile Super PAC called America PAC, except to say that it is sizeable. 

The Tesla boss and owner of X (formerly known as Twitter) has yet to publicly endorse a candidate in the 2024 US Presidential race. "...but his decision to open his pocketbook presents an opportunity for him to become a financial juggernaut for Republicans," the Bloomberg report stated.  

A political action committee (PAC) in the US is a tax-exempt 527 organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaigns for or against candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation. 

Super PACs (independent expenditure only political committees) are committees that may receive unlimited contributions from individuals, corporations, labor unions and other PACs for the purpose of financing independent expenditures and other independent political activity.

In May this year, Musk tweeted in support of Trump hours after he became the first US president to be convicted of a crime when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

“Indeed, great damage was done today to the public’s faith in the American legal system. If a former President can be criminally convicted over such a trivial matter – motivated by politics, rather than justice – then anyone is at risk of a similar fate,” Musk posted on X. 

Billionaire Elon Musk opens his wallet for Donald Trump's campaign in US prez race

Nikon India is planning to leverage the festive season in the country to enhance its revenue growth. The camera and imaging equipment maker expects a revenue growth of 10-12 percent compared to last year. India’s festive season generates around 35 percent of revenue for Nikon India due to high demand. Despite the growth, Nikon India has no plans to set up manufacturing units in India and will continue importing cameras and imaging equipment.

Nikon India recently expanded its mirrorless camera range with the launch of the latest Z6III full-frame mirrorless camera in India. Currently, mirrorless lenses and mirrorless bodies constitute 80 percent of Nikon India’s product sales. Against the backdrop of this launch, Sajjan Kumar, Managing Director of Nikon India, spoke to Storyboard18 and said, “We as a brand are looking at almost 10-12 percent growth in terms of absolute value. In our country, mainly winter weddings are the biggest seasonal period which starts just after Diwali. There is also festive demand by August which starts onwards from Onam.”

Nikon India generates around 35 percent of its revenue during festive seasons. Kumar said, “We see a lot of demand during Ganesh Chaturthi and Durga Puja as well. We see an upward tick during wildlife seasons and we are expecting that this coming wedding period will be really good."

Today multiple companies have set up manufacturing units in India while Nikon India continues to import camera and imaging equipment. When asked if Nikon India has any plans to set up manufacturing plants in India, Kumar said, “No, not at this stage. Currently, our absolute numbers or customer base is too small for this industry to set up a manufacturing unit."

He further said, “Looking at the demand in our country and our population I think this number is small. Yes, that offers a lot of opportunity but that I think we need to see. But currently we don't have any plans (to set up a manufacturing unit).”

According to a Mordor Intelligence report, the global digital camera market size is estimated at USD 5.39 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 6.83 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 4.85 percent during the forecast period (2024-2029). The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the fastest growth due to the current photography trend in Asia-Pacific which fuels the desire for digital cameras. Photography has grown more user-friendly and economical, supporting the region's demand for digital cameras.

India ranks number 4 in terms of revenue contribution to Nikon Corporation. Talking about the market share, Sajjan Kumar said, “Currently we have a 30 percent market share in India and we are expecting a growth of 2 percent. Nikon India achieved Rs 973 crore revenue last year and this year we are looking to clock around Rs 1050 crore.”

Elaborating on the global revenue contribution, Kumar said, “Globally, only in the imaging segment of Nikon, India is number 4. Our contribution should be around 4-5 percent to the global revenue contribution to Nikon Corporation. The major countries which contribute to Nikon are the US, China, Germany, and India. At times we are very close to the numbers with Germany.”

Nikon India entered the healthcare segment which contributes around 5 percent of its revenue. Kumar said, “We are looking at almost 20 percent growth in the healthcare segment in this fiscal year and we have just entered this category a year and a half back. We are seeing the focus and spending from the government towards healthcare as a segment. The conducive environment and efforts by the government are offering us more opportunities as a brand as we operate in a niche segment of just the biological range of microscopes when it comes to healthcare in India, catering to research institutes, educational institutes, or even IVF labs. For our healthcare division, we are investing in teams to meet the consumer's requirements and expectations from us in sales and service.”

With a footprint of 1500 stores across retail, Large Format Retailers, and experience zones, Nikon India says that their intent is to make their products widely available. Kumar said, “Nowadays, when a customer is buying a camera or lenses, they are either a serious hobbyist or a professional. For offline, in our 140 Experience Zones, we offer varied services to our customers. We do 700 plus workshops across 250 plus cities.”

Our advertising and marketing strategies are a mix of online and offline. We have understood that now, a good mix of online and offline activities will help. We are not into outdoor or TV in a big way. He added.

Nikon India sticks to imports amid growth, aims to cross Rs 1000 crore revenue mark

HCLTech, global technology company, announced that Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson, HCLTech has been conferred the "Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur" (Knight of the Legion of Honour) by France. The award recognises her contributions to the business world, constant endeavor to promote economic ties between France and India, as well as her unwavering commitment to social and environmental causes.


Instituted in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur is the highest civilian award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France, regardless of the nationality of the recipients. The President of the French Republic is the Grand Master of the Order of the Legion of Honour. 

The award was conferred on the HCLTech Chairperson by H.E. Mr Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, on behalf of the President of the French Republic, during a special ceremony at the Residence of France in Delhi.


Malhotra said, “It is my privilege to receive this honor and it underscores the strategic relationship between India and France. HCLTech has a longstanding presence in France, which is a strategic market for us. We are committed to scaling our operations in the country and supporting the digital transformation of French businesses through our differentiated portfolio of services.”


Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, said: “I am delighted to confer the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur on Ms Roshni Nadar Malhotra whose exceptional leadership qualities have helped her carve her own niche in both the corporate and the philanthropic worlds. Under her forward-thinking mindset focused on emerging technologies as AI and cybersecurity, HCL has remained at the cutting-edge of the industry, and has been recognized as an active promoter of business relations between France and India. The French Republic acknowledges today not only Ms Nadar Malhotra’s professional achievements but also her impact on society and her commitment to strengthening bilateral relations between our two countries.”


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/cxo-moves-exec-movements-across-intel-groupm-unilever-adobe-and-more-36402.htm">CXO Moves: Exec movements across Intel, GroupM, Unilever, Adobe and more</a>

HCLTech's chairperson Roshni Nadar Malhotra conferred with the 'Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur'

Junglee Games India has onboarded Anil Kapoor for Junglee Poker’s new campaign ‘Apne type ke log’.
 

The campaign, aims to break stereotypes surrounding poker by showcasing it as a game accessible to everyone, irrespective of age, gender, or background. 

“We are thrilled to partner with Anil Kapoor and launch the ‘Apne type ke log’ campaign. We are confident that his involvement will lend unparalleled credibility, a lively, charismatic energy, and his trademark ‘Jhakaas’ attitude to deliver our messaging. The idea is to show the audience how Junglee Poker is an inclusive game, built for people from all walks of life and skill sets in a healthy environment. We will continue to amplify our values of trust and responsible gaming, with an aim to make a significant impact in the gaming industry,” said Bharat Bhatia, chief marketing officer at Junglee Games.


“I am eager to be part of this journey and showcase how it is an all-embracing gaming adventure for players of every stripe. The tagline ‘Apne Type Ke Log’ resonates with me as well and this collaboration promises to be a blast. It’s commendable to see how Junglee Poker aims to redefine the perception of poker and promote responsible gaming,” said the actor.

The TVC has been conceptualised by Junglee Games and directed by Abhinay Deo. Production for the same has been done by Ramesh Deo Productions.

Junglee Poker partners with Anil Kapoor for new campaign

The TVC has been conceptualised by Junglee Games and directed by Abhinay Deo. Production for the same has been done by Ramesh Deo Productions.

In the recent past, esports organizations in India have faced multiple challenges in maintaining their rosters. There have been several instances of contract breaches and poaching of esports athletes, leading to an imbalance in the ecosystem. Many organizations believe that the ego battles between team owners have contributed to the poaching of athletes within the industry.

Recently, esports team owners have raised concerns about the poaching of esports athletes by other organizations offering higher salaries, which violates existing contracts between team owners and players. Dr. Rushindra Sinha, Co-founder and CEO of Global Esports, previously called out a rival esports organization for attempting to poach one of Global Esports' athletes.

When asked if similar incidents of contract violations and player poaching continue, Sinha said, "I believe that no governing body or group of organizations can stop the poaching of players. This should be the direct responsibility of publishers. Publishers should put some guidelines in place."

Global Esports is one of the franchise teams for Riot’s game title Valorant. Sinha noted, "Riot has all the anti-poaching rules and legalities in place, which are signed directly between the players and Riot. So, players or any organization do not violate those mandates. This can only happen if the teams are in a franchise-based model with the publishers."

He further explained, "Honestly, we don’t often fall prey to such situations due to our relationships with other teams and our players. But other organizations do not have this leverage, and players get swayed by offers from other organizations."

When asked about a recent joint meeting by team owners regarding the issues in the esports industry, Sinha said, "Many people have tried to form such organizations earlier but have failed. Now, many of us have lost hope. Like any other sport, esports is an ego contest between team owners who like to flex their power, money, and audience reach. There are various ways team owners try to showcase their strength."

Sinha explained, "A few teams have mutual understanding and relationships with each other, while others, lacking such relations, end up trying to outbid each other, pay exorbitant salaries to their players, and breach contracts. Such incidents continue, and many team owners violate contracts and try to poach players from rival organizations."

It should be noted that team owners had come together to resolve the issue of inflated salaries of esports players in the country. Today, multiple organizations have adjusted the salaries of esports athletes to market standards.

Sharang Naicker, CEO and Founder of Yuvin Esports (Reckoning Esports), said, "We definitely need an association and an anti-poaching body to stop these activities. We have ourselves been victims of such things. Honestly, if all team owners unite, be professional, and respect other competitors, we will see a decline in these activities."

He added, "But unfortunately, everyone wants to do what they feel will benefit them and resort to unprofessional antics. Game developers also need to create proper rules and regulations that protect the organizations as well. The industry will only grow if there is a push and pull effect from the game developers/publishers."

Naicker said, "There have been multiple such initiatives in the past, but unfortunately, people love to talk about professionalism and then falter on the most basic things. Some of these individuals themselves resort to such antics. We have seen enough examples in the industry."

Elaborating on the issue, Naicker said, "Poaching of esports players is an equally big issue, and the players are also at fault. There has to be a uniform contract that every team must follow, and the players themselves need to vet the organizations they are signing with. Don’t just run to the teams offering absurd amounts of money; be smart about whom you sign with."

The mobile and computer game industry’s growth in six ASEAN countries (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, and Vietnam) is reportedly forecast to reach $7.2 billion by 2027, with an estimated compound annual growth rate of 5.4 percent from 2023 to 2027, according to Niko Partners.

Jai Shah, Founder of Orangutan, said, "When we look at the contractual bindings between organizations and esports players, there are often multiple loopholes that both parties exploit. We have often seen esports organizations never getting into contracts, leaving players vulnerable to being fired from the roster at times without paying their salaries."

Shah added, "One good thing is that team owners have a similar mindset of growing the ecosystem. When esports team owners have built good relationships, they never indulge in poaching players. There are a handful of teams that have mutual unwritten pacts with each other."

Shah said, "The situation is completely different in other countries such as Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam, or other regions globally. There are much stricter norms for esports compared to India. There is still room to grow in the country for both players and organizations, which will slowly and steadily evolve as the industry adheres to professionalism."

Indian gaming and sports company Nazara Technologies faces a potential tax bill of Rs 1,120 crore after its subsidiaries, Openplay Technologies and Halaplay Technologies, received show cause notices from the Director General of GST Intelligence in Kolkata. The notices, issued on July 16, allege GST liabilities of Rs 845.72 crore and Rs 274.21 crore respectively, for the period 2017-18 to 2022-23.

The dispute revolves around calculating Goods and Services Tax (GST). Nazara believes GST should be based on "pooled player sums" rather than total gaming revenue. The company is consulting legal and tax advisors to determine their next move. Financially, the impact seems minimal, with the affected subsidiaries contributing less than 2% of Nazara's revenue and 1% of its profit in the last quarter (January-March 2024).

These claims are in relation to the calculation of GST based on the sums pooled by players as opposed to gross gaming revenues, the company filing said in response to the show cause notices sent to its subsidiaries. "Both subsidiaries are reviewing the notices with their legal counsels and tax advisors to determine their future course of action," it said further. 

Nazara Technologies faces a potential tax bill of Rs 1,120 crore

Mobile gaming firm Nazara Technologies on Friday acquired an additional 48.42% stake in Paper Boat Apps from its promoters Anupam and Anshu Dhanuka for Rs 300 crore. 


In a BSE filing on Friday, Nazara Technologies said that Rs 300 amount will be paid by the company in cash in tranches to take 100% ownership of the Paper Boats Apps. 

Paper Boat Apps is the developer and publisher of the children's digital gamified learning app 'Kiddopia'.

Nazara had acquired a 50.01% stake in Kiddopia in 2019. 

Nitish Mittersain, CEO and Joint Managing Director of Nazara Technologies said, “At Nazara, we believe an IP such as Kiddopia has immense potential that can be unlocked through several new initiatives and acquiring full ownership underscores our commitment to intensifying our efforts in the gamified learning sector.”

"Following the majority acquisition by Nazara, Kiddopia has scaled tremendously, and we are pleased to see it find a permanent home within Nazara. We believe that Kiddopia has significant potential for future growth, and Nazara is well-positioned to elevate it to the next level," Anupam Dhanuka, Promoter of Paper Boat Apps said.

Paper Boat Apps posted a consolidated revenue of Rs 219.4 crore and an EBITDA of Rs 56.1 crore in FY2024, with a net cash balance of Rs 155.74 crore as of March 2024.

Gaming firm Nazara acquires 100% stake in Kiddopia's Paper Boat Apps with Rs 300 cr investment

Streaming giant Netflix Inc, in its 2nd Quarter result of 2023, revealed that India has emerged as its second-largest market in terms of "paid net subscribers additions". Additionally, India is its third-largest market in terms of "revenue percent growth".

The American streaming platform, on Thursday, posted its quarterly result, recording 17% revenue growth to $9.56 billion. The OTT platform's operating margin was up by 27% in Q2 2024 as against 22% last year in the same period.

The global streaming paid membership surged by 16.5% to 277.65 million in Q2 2024 from 269.60 million in Q1 2024.

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In the APAC region (Asia-Pacific region, including India), the paid membership of Netflix increased to 50.32 million (Q2 2024) from 47.50 million (Q1 of 2024). The paid net additions also increased to 2.83 million (Q2 2024) as against 2.16 million (in Q1 2024). The company's revenue grew to $1.05 billion in Q2 2024.

"In Q2 India was out No.2 and No.3 country in terms of paid net subscribers additions and revenue percent growth, respectively," Theodore A. Sarandos, Co-CEO, President & Director said in a media conference. "There's certainly plenty of room to grow in India as long as we keep thrilling our audiences there," Sarandos added.

Netflix President also lauded Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his show "Heeramandi" for the company's success in India in the Q2 of the current calendar year. "SLB is one of the most celebrated filmmakers in India, and he took on this incredibly ambitious series and brought it to screen on Netflix, directed every episode, and it's our biggest drama series to date in India," he said. 

Netflix, in the stock exchange filing, said that in terms of Indian shows and films, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar show massed 15 million views globally, followed by Diljeet Dosanjh starrer Amar Singh Chamkila (8.3 million views), as well as, licensed films such as Laapataa Ladies and Shaitaan.


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Other popular shows in Q2 on Netflix were The Great Indian Kapil Show, Bridgerton S3, Baby Reindeer, Queen of Tears, and films such as e Under Paris, Atlas Hit Man, and The Roast of Tom Brad. 

About the advertisement, Netflix's Chief Financial Officer Spencer Adam Neumann said that the revenue portion of ads is growing "nicely". "The rate of growth, it just happens to be growing off of a relatively small base because we're starting from only 18 months into the ad," Neumann said.


"We've been scaling our ads member base very quickly from 0-2 years ago to where we are today. And we're excited to say that we're on track to achieve our critical scale goals for all of our ads countries in 2025," Gregory K Peters, Co-CEO, president and Director said.

The streaming company also revealed that it is hiring people for sales and operations to meet advertisers. Besides, the company will be launching its own ads server in Canada this year and the rest of its ads market in 2025.


On gaming initiative, Peters said Netflix has launched over 100 games so far, and 80+ games are in development. In Q2, Netflix launched Virgin River and Perfect Match. Starting in July, the OTT platform said it will be launching one new title per month into Netflix Stories.

India emerges as 2nd-largest market for Netflix

In a major setback for the esports industry, female esports in India is officially dead. Global Esports, the last organization with a female roster for the game Valorant, recently shut it down. The slowdown in India's esports ecosystem has significantly impacted female athletes.

The future of female esports in India appears bleak, as female players now lack the salaries and sponsors needed to sustain themselves while at the same time are trying to pursue their passion for gaming and esports. Many female esports athletes have shifted to content creation instead of focusing on competitive skill growth. However, the slowdown has not affected existing male rosters for prominent esports organizations.

Organizations like Global Esports, Orangutan, and Velocity Gaming managed to sustain their female rosters for a longer period. However, due to a lack of tournaments and brand interest, they were forced to shut down these rosters. While these organizations today continue with their male esports rosters. 

Female esports officially dead?

Jai Shah, Co-founder of Orangutan, said, “One can easily say that the female esports scene is currently dead in India. We had to shut down our female Valorant roster because the ecosystem is not big in India. We were burning a lot of money without any returns. The publishers and game developers should take the initiative to organize tournaments for female athletes in India.”

He further added, “Comparing it to cricket, the Women’s Premier League (WPL) has become huge with a lot of efforts and investments. The stakeholders from the industry should similarly come forward for female esports in India. Currently, there are a couple of female teams who play casually without any salaries or sponsors.”

Dr. Rushindra Sinha, CEO and Co-founder of Global Esports, confirmed that they have shut down their female roster for Valorant. He said, “Apart from our female roster, we have dropped all other rosters. Currently, we only have our VCT and BGMI rosters in place. It did not make sense for us to have additional rosters. But we are actively looking to have one in place for female esports, considering the current situation and the esports roadmap of Riot Games as a publisher.”

He further said, “There was an artificial push to the gaming and esports ecosystem during and post-COVID. We expected inflation in the market for esports, but that did not happen, and the market corrected itself. This affects not only female esports but male esports as well. Now we have 4-5 events in a quarter, unlike earlier when we used to play 4-5 events every month.”

Elaborating on why female athletes are moving away from esports in India, Sinha said, “I have recently seen female esports athletes choosing content creation as a lucrative opportunity. Esports requires a lot of effort, but in content creation, the chances of success are higher compared to esports in India. Many females are choosing content creation as a sustainable and lucrative career over esports.”

Sharang Naicker, CEO and Founder of Yuvin Esports (Reckoning Esports), said, “Honestly, there are a lot of factors contributing to the lack of tournaments. Majorly, there is no incentive for an esports organization to field a women’s team. Additionally, there is a massive lack of top-tier athletes committing to being the best in the region. Those who are competing are doing it part-time, and they are not wrong because the industry itself is still in its nascent stage.”

He further added, “It might be a few more years until we see a stable esports ecosystem in India for female gamers.”

Devam Vyas, Vice President of Esports at Gods Reign, called the decline very concerning for the esports ecosystem. He said, “After the pandemic, there was a noticeable increase in women-led esports tournaments in India, which was a promising development. This isn’t due to a lack of interest or talent among female gamers but rather a lack of sustained support and investment. We need more consistent efforts to keep the momentum going.”

Are Female Esports Players Afraid?

Skyesports hosted an exclusive all-female esports event, the Skyesports Luna, attended by President Draupadi Murmu last year in Delhi. The event returned this year with the Skyesports Luna taking place in Pune in March 2024.

Shiva Nandy, CEO and Co-founder of Skyesports, said, “Female-led esports tournaments are important for supporting women gamers. Over the past few years, we have seen several all-female esports tournaments pop up, but most of these haven’t become recurring competitions.”

Nandy further said, “The number of participants for these tournaments, as well as our other open-for-all tournaments that have no restrictions on female gamers, remains low. There are many reasons for this, including female gamers being afraid to openly reveal their identity.”

Suggesting a solution to the lack of inclusion of female esports players in India, Nandy said, “Working with popular women gaming personalities and understanding the needs and challenges that female gamers face is crucial. Only then can we develop strategies to overcome these challenges.”

Huge Pay Disparity

Apart from issues such as lack of interest from brands and publisher support, female esports players also face significant pay disparities compared to their male counterparts.

Elaborating on the same, Shah of Orangutan said, “If a male esports player receives around Rs 2-3 Lakhs per month as salary, female counterparts are paid around Rs 30k-40k per month. That’s the harsh reality, but esports organizations are left with no choice as the number of tournaments and brand sponsorships for female athletes are less compared to male counterparts.”

Naicker explained, “There is a pay disparity between male and female esports athletes. We have not seen any female athlete outperforming their counterparts. It will take a lot of time and massive support from all elements in the esports industry for the level to match or even come close.”

Vyas said, “There is a pay disparity between male and female esports players in India. This reflects the broader societal inequities we see in many fields. Male players often get higher compensation due to greater visibility and more sponsorship opportunities. To address this, the industry needs to consciously promote and support female talent, ensuring they have equal opportunities and recognition.”

A senior female esports player, speaking anonymously, said, “After our team was shut, we decided to play tournaments hosted by publishers. We do not get salaries or any amount until we qualify or win the tournament. We have a passion for esports, and this keeps us going. When we talk about pay disparity, it is a huge gap. I believe that female esports was booming post-COVID, but now it has died down.”

She further added, “No esports organization is willing to form female rosters, but we will continue to play the game and hopefully represent India on an international stage and win the coveted title in esports.”

Despite years of dedication towards esports game titles, female esports athletes continue to face uncertain future towards their passion to represent India at an international stage and clutch victory. It is important for the stakeholders to encourage female participation by recognizing their talent which is crucial for building a diverse and inclusive esports ecosystem in the country.

Female Esports in India hits a dead end, India’s last female esports roster shut

Loco, a gaming-focused streaming platform, is encountering significant challenges with its monetization model. Sources have indicated that over the past month and a half, the platform has seen a drastic decline in its Daily Active Users (DAUs) and a reduced number of streamers. Storyboard18 has learnt that Loco is aiming to recover from this situation in the coming months, the platform’s team is currently reassessing its monetization strategies as their Advertising Video On Demand (AVOD) model failed drastically. 

Anirudh Pandita and Ashwin Suresh, founders of Pocket Aces, acquired Loco in 2018 which was earlier known as the Showtime App, originally a live trivia game show app. In 2020, Loco transitioned into a game streaming platform. The platform has raised a total of $51 million in funding, including a $42 million Series A round in 2022 led by Hashed, with participation from Makers Fund, Catamaran Ventures, and Korea Investment Partners. Investors from the company’s seed round, such as Krafton, Lumikai, and Hiro Capital, also participated in this funding round.

In November 2023, Loco laid off 40 employees out of its 110-member team. A senior gaming and esports stakeholder, speaking anonymously, remarked, “This marked a critical juncture for Loco. The absence of a robust monetization model led to substantial expenditures on established YouTube streamers, whose audiences did not migrate permanently to Loco's platform as anticipated.”

He further added, “Their AVOD strategy failed and they struggled to establish a sustainable revenue model. Despite heavy investments in user acquisition, Loco currently finds itself with only a handful of streamers, predominantly broadcasting games like BGMI and GTA V to an audience of 30-40 viewers.”

Players from top esports teams in India, such as S8UL, Godlike, XO, Revenant Esports, Global Esports, 7Sea esports, Skylightz Gaming, Hyderabad Hydras, and Orangutan Gaming, have streamed on Loco. The platform has also hosted major tournaments in collaboration with global publishers like Krafton, Activision, Ubisoft, and Riot Games. Today, the platform does not have any popular streamer. 

Another gaming industry source commented, “It's a straightforward calculation—Loco invested heavily in streaming rights for major tournaments but failed to see corresponding financial returns. They struggled with user retention and competing with established players like Twitch or Kick requires huge investments.”

However, a source familiar with Loco's operations told Storyboard18 that the platform plans to bounce back in the near future, emphasizing a reassessment of their monetization approach.

The source within Loco stated, “We don't view our investment in acquiring streamers from the gaming community as a failure. While our AVOD model failed, our subscription-based offerings received positive response. Furthermore, there is low traffic and handful of streamers on the platform currently as we are also testing new features which cannot be done when the app or website is in its full potential.”

When questioned about potential shutdown plans, the source clarified, “Currently, we are experiencing a slowdown, but there are no plans to cease operations.”

RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group-owned music label Saregama had recently acquired a majority stake in digital entertainment company Pocket Aces Pictures Pvt Ltd, parent company of Loco. Saregama acquired 51.8 percent shares for Rs 174 crore and will look forward to acquire another 41 percent stake in the next 15 months. It was an all-cash deal. 
However, the source close to the development has said that Loco is a complete different entity and this acquisition does not impact Loco’s structuring. 

Storyboard18 attempted to contact Anirudh Pandita, Founder of Loco, for comments on potential fundraising efforts to sustain the platform or the current state of affairs at Loco. As of now, there has been no official response from Loco. The story will be updated if Loco issues an official statement.


Loco’s AVOD model fails, will it bounce back?

In the recent past, very few legacy brands have ventured into the gaming and esports space in India. With the increasing popularity and user base of gaming and esports IPs, Godrej Consumer Products Limited (GCPL) is now planning to invest in gaming and esports soon. Philips, TVS, Airtel, and Coca-Cola have shown eager interest in gaming and esports IPs in India. Additionally, GCPL is ramping up investments in recently acquired Raymond Consumer Care Limited (RCCL) products like Park Avenue and Kamasutra deodorants.

During the launch of India’s first indigenous mosquito repellent molecule, Renofluthrin based product - GoodKnight Vaporizer, Ashwin Moorthy, Chief Marketing Officer of GCPL, spoke to Storyboard18 about the brand's plan to invest in gaming and esports as a segment and GCPL’s marketing and advertising strategy for recently acquired RCCL products.

When asked if GCPL will explore gaming and esports as part of their media mix, Moorthy said, “We don't take a position on either content or media. Under Godrej, we have a set of brands in GCPL, ranging from Park Avenue deodorants and Kamasutra condoms to GoodKnight insecticides and Cinthol soap. We serve a range of consumers, from young men making their first decision about deodorant to older people who want to protect their homes from mosquitoes.”

He further said, “We cover a wide range of audiences with varied purchasing decisions and remain open to media opportunities as they arise. We believe the time has come in India where gaming can become one of the cheapest, most cost-effective, and efficient ways to reach young consumers, and you will soon find us advertising there.”

When asked about the timeline for Godrej entering the gaming and esports space, Moorthy said, “When it becomes cheaper to reach consumers through gaming than through other methods, it will naturally become part of our media mix. That time is not far off.”

Talking about advertising spending, Moorthy said, “We have increased our ad spends by roughly 30 percent each year over the last three to four years. We moved from roughly Rs 300-400 crore to about Rs 800-900 crore. We are among the top advertisers in India. In FMCG, we rank around third or fourth. Our major spending is on TV, but we don't have a fixed position on media.”

He added, “Our philosophy of marketing is to use media to reach as many consumers as possible at the cheapest cost per consumer. TV continues to be one of the best scalable marketing mediums in India for high-quality advertising. However, we see digital expanding at both the top and bottom ends of the pyramid.”

Moorthy elaborated, “At the top end of the pyramid, many consumers with TV sets and cable connections are moving towards smart TVs because internet data is cheaper and Wi-Fi accessibility and speed is high. They are watching YouTube and OTT platforms on connected TVs, so our ad spends are directed there as well.”

Talking about reaching bottom-end customers, Moorthy said, “We see that bottom-end consumers who may not have adequate cable TV connections but are accessing a lot of their video content through smartphones, so spending there is also increasing. While TV remains a bulk of our media mix, these trends are driving additional spending.”

Explaining the bifurcation in advertising spends for GCPL, Moorthy said, “We are among the highest TV spenders among big advertisers, with roughly 80 percent of our spending on TV and the rest on digital.”

Godrej Consumer Products (GCPL) acquired the consumer products business of Raymond Consumer Care (RCCL), a subsidiary of BSE-listed Raymond, in an all-cash deal worth Rs 2,825 crore. The FMCG business includes brands such as Park Avenue Deo, KS Deo, Kamasutra, and Premium.

When asked if GCPL is adopting aggressive advertising and marketing strategies for RCCL products, Moorthy said, “We brought these brands on air after quite some time. They were not heavily invested in media or advertising before. We recently launched two new films for Park Avenue and Kamasutra deodorants. The Park Avenue Deodorants campaign, shot in New York, celebrates the rise of the Indian CEO.”

He added, “These brands need a strong marketing strategy, which we hope we are deploying, with competitive media investments. We have continuously been on air with Park Avenue, Kamasutra Deo, and Kamasutra condoms since the acquisition. There hasn’t been a month without these campaigns airing.”

Moorthy concluded, “We have not introduced new creative advertising, everything is designed by Lightbox, our in-house agency. We remain committed, continuously invested, and creative in presenting these brands to consumers.”

GCPL looks at gaming and esports IPs for advertising opportunities: EXCLUSIVE

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced on Friday that Saudi Arabia will host the first-ever Olympic Esports Games in 2025.

The IOC revealed that it will enter into a 12-year partnership with the Saudi National Olympic Committee. This decision is set to be ratified at the upcoming IOC session on the eve of the Olympic Games in Paris, after which the selection process for the host city will commence.

"We are very fortunate to work with the Saudi NOC on the Olympic Esports Games. Saudi Arabia has significant expertise in esports, which will be invaluable," said IOC President Thomas Bach in a statement. "The Olympic Esports Games will greatly benefit from this experience."

The IOC has been exploring the potential of esports for several years and has established a dedicated commission to identify opportunities. In 2021, the IOC launched the Olympic Virtual Series, a pilot venture in esports.

"We are a youthful nation, with over 23 million gamers," said Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, the Saudi Minister of Sport. "Our kingdom has become a global hub for professional esports. This is a natural next step for our young athletes, our country, and the global esports community."

Last year, Saudi Arabia launched an annual Esports World Cup, with the first edition currently taking place in Riyadh from July 3 to August 25.

The IOC has been striving to engage a younger generation of potential fans, as its traditional audience base ages. The committee mentioned that a new dedicated structure would need to be created within the organization, separate from the organizational and financial model for the Olympic Games.

The IOC launched its first esports pilot, the Olympic Virtual Series, in 2021 followed by the Olympic Esports Week in Singapore in June 2023. This event brought together over 130 players from around the world, competing in 10 mixed-gender categories, attracting over 500,000 unique participants and six million views, with 75% of the audience aged 13 to 34.

Indian esports industry stands to gain significantly from this development. Following a bronze medal win in DOTA 2 at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and competing in five titles at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the ground breaking development, Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and MD of NODWIN Gaming, said, “NODWIN Gaming is thrilled that esports has earned its place in the Olympics with its own standalone event, akin to the Summer, Winter, and Paralympics. This recognition allows countries to develop independent esports programs. Together with our partners in the GEF and the EWC, NODWIN Gaming is eager to build esports in our core growth markets, seizing this opportunity for hope and glory.”

Lokesh Suji, the Director of the ESFI, and the Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation (AESF), expressed his excitement at the development: “This decision marks a significant milestone in the global recognition and growth of esports, providing a prestigious platform for athletes from around the world to showcase their skills on an unparalleled stage. Finally, esports at the Olympics—this is the news we have all been waiting for. We thank the leadership and the entire IOC for transforming our dreams into reality.”

Saudi Arabia to host first ever Olympic Esports Games in 2025

This year, instead of a single title sponsor, Nodwin Gaming is partnering with a team of key collaborators for the upcoming BGMS tournament. "This approach, similar to esports and the Olympics, allows us to work with a diverse group of valued partners like Philips and TVS, says Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming."

Gaming’s mainstream adoption is similar to how politicians engage with sports like football or cricket. In Europe, football is life, especially with events like the EUROS where even presidents are talking to each other about the matches. Cricket has become ubiquitous in India and gaming is now reaching the same level of prominence, states Rathee.

In a chat with Storyboard18, Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming discusses the vision for NODWIN's global expansion and the unique challenges and opportunities presented by different markets, mainstream adoption and its impact on the industry and more.

NODWIN Gaming's expansion from esports to acquiring entities like Comic Con India and Planet Superheroes hints at a larger vision. Can you elaborate on how NODWIN Gaming is transforming into a holistic youth entertainment company? 

There was a time when gamers were a small subset of youth. However, with the advent of COVID-19, gaming has become a superset. It is now rare to find a young person with a smartphone who doesn’t have a game on it. This shift means that youth culture and gaming have become almost synonymous. NODWIN Gaming operates on the theory of 'timeshare of mindshare.' 

This concept is about capturing more of our target audience's time through various activities. We engage them through influencers on Instagram, the Playground IP’s content on Amazon mini TV, performances at the NH7 Music Festival, events like Comic-Con, and watching BGMS on Star Sports. Since NODWIN Gaming is not a destination, our assets—our influencers, content, music, events, and IPs—serve as our destinations, ensuring we capture the youth's attention across multiple platforms.

Can you share your vision for NODWIN's global expansion and the unique challenges and opportunities presented by different markets? 

Our theory of 'timeshare of mindshare' applies globally wherever there is youth. At the G20 Summit, our Prime Minister frequently emphasized on the term the 'global south' which includes countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Turkey, and Mexico. All of these places have burgeoning youth populations and growing economies. These emerging markets present the most potential for growth and engagement, and they are where we are most interested in focusing our efforts.

With PM Modi and celebrities leveraging gaming, can you explain this mainstream adoption and its impact on the industry? 

Gaming’s mainstream adoption is similar to how politicians engage with sports like football or cricket. In Europe, football is life, especially with events like the EUROS where even presidents are talking to each other about the matches. Cricket has become ubiquitous in India and gaming is now reaching the same level of prominence.

In a country with a population of 1.4 billion, having around 500-600 million gamers makes gaming significant enough to warrant mainstream attention. If we were to count these gamers as a population, 500-600 million would be the third or fourth largest country in the world. This vast number makes the gaming community impossible to ignore. Like Bollywood or cricket, gaming has now gained a similar level of mainstream importance and recognition,
becoming a superset.

From Netflix to LinkedIn, gamification is a growing trend. Can you discuss how NODWIN Gaming views this trend and the potential for collaboration with established platforms to enhance user engagement through gamified experiences?

Whether it be Netflix, Amazon mini TV, YouTube, or Star Sports, these are all different distribution platforms that excel in their own audiences and experiences. They will all continue to incorporate gamification because gamification involves creating engaging experiences that release dopamine through achievements and goals.

This concept can be applied across various platforms, from Excel screen competitions to Excel modelling competitions. You can have kids engaging with it through Minecraft or corporate finance executives using it for business modelling. Even rocket scientists could use it to play rocket ship against each other.

Gamification can also be applied to matchmaking in dating, where you match two players of similar ranks, say one at rank 20 and another at rank 25, to play chess or Counter-Strike and perhaps even go on a date. This underlying tech and understanding of what people like, why they like it, and their characteristics allow for extensive matchmaking in various spheres of life.

Esports gaining recognition in major international tournaments opens doors for Indian athletes. How is NODWIN Gaming fostering esports talent and preparing India for this global stage?

There are two main aspects to consider: traditional esports and their integration into systems like the Olympics. Traditional esports include titles like Counter-Strike, DOTA 2, League of Legends, BGMI, and PUBG Mobile. The Olympics, unfortunately, is not designed to include private games owned by corporations because it operates through an elected system. Due to its structure, it requires sports to be represented by existing
international federations.

For example, FIFA must choose the closest esports title that represents their sport; it could be the old FIFA game developed by EA, but they have now chosen Rocket League as the game best represented by FIFA. Similarly, every other international federation, whether it is Kabaddi, boxing, sailing, or shooting, selects different games that represent their communities.

Control has shifted from private corporations to elected systems, and these elected systems choose which titles belong to them. These federations now choose esports titles that best represent their sport. This shift allows Indian athletes to participate on a global stage under the guidance of these federations, thus opening new opportunities.

What are your predictions for the future of eSports when it comes to opportunities and challenges, both for NODWIN and for the broader industry?

One of the things we will see is a growing competition between mainstream sports and esports. We have yet to see cricket and esports come together, whether as a cricket esports title or involving cricketers or IPL cricket teams. Cricket will inevitably get involved in esports in some form, both domestically and internationally.

I think Bollywood will also play a role. Typically, Bollywood stars engage in endorsements, but as they grow older, they will seek to connect with younger audiences. This need to reach a new, younger audience base will become increasingly important and you see this with actors like Tiger Shroff and Hrithik Roshan. Music esports and music gaming will also grow as a phenomenon in the country. If you look at the three or four biggest cultural sectors in
India, they will all intersect because their influence is so significant.

Can you shed light on current trends, emerging technologies, and the unique marketing strategies needed to tap into the growing esports audience in India?

Augmented reality (AR) and technology-assisted games will start becoming increasingly important. There is a game called HADO which is doing really well. In
marketing, one of the biggest examples is Liberty Media’s strategy of producing ‘Drive To Survive’ for Formula One. The ability to create engaging storylines is very important. 

The mixed use of media between sports, content, influencers, and storytelling can elevate esports. To treat esports like sports, you have to give it the same respect and storyline as traditional sports. Similar to Drive to Survive, League of Legends and certain Chinese games are also adopting this approach, and it will only get bigger and bigger.

Now, India has finally found its voice in gaming and esports. When it was just PC gaming, India was very far behind because Europe, North America, and Korea were much ahead, as they were a decade ahead in technology. But with mobile gaming and the size and enthusiasm of our following, it has become much easier to catch up. We have even seen this with a country like Nepal; the PUBG Mobile team in Nepal is so loved that there are more watchers
of PUBG Mobile in Nepal than there are players.

Star Sports and NODWIN Gaming recently extended their media rights deal for the third edition of BGMS. Could you give us an idea about who are the sponsors here?

We have moved away from the traditional &#39;title sponsors; concept and now refer to our sponsors as key partners. Similar to the approach taken in sports and the Olympics, we have multiple key partners who are equivalent to each other. For the upcoming BGMS tournament, we have several key partners, including Philips and TVS, among others. We will soon be announcing more details about these partnerships.

Cricket will inevitably get involved in esports in some form: Nodwin Gaming's Akshat Rathee

Video games and magic


Since its inception, video games have brought joy to millions worldwide. Be it ‘Tennis for Two’ or the classic Super Mario Bros, or contemporary hits like DOTA 2 and PUBG Mobile, gaming has always united people and created connections that few other activities can match, and almost all of it, from the comfort of our homes.


As we celebrate National Video Game Day in 2024, it seems like the perfect moment to reflect on the profound impact of video games on our culture, society, and personal lives. For people of all ages and backgrounds, this day serves as a reminder of the limitless potential of gaming to inspire, entertain, and innovate. 


It has been decades since the first video game was built and played and we’ve come a long way since then in our quest to push the boundaries of how video games look, feel, play, and act as. Video games provide us with a medium to express our creativity, sometimes to build social connections, and establish lifelong friendships across continents. The positive effects of gaming, such as enhanced brain activity and improved decision-making skills, are well documented. 


However, gaming has expanded beyond just modes of entertainment. While they are still excellent mediums of interactive storytelling and entertainment, multiple branches have blossomed providing creative ways to utilise video games. For example, online games have become a social platform for a lot of people, where they catch up with friends and hang out while playing games. Serious Games, or gamification of multiple aspects have had significant impact in many fields like medical training, defence, and more. 


Competitive gaming, or esports, takes these benefits up a notch by teaching players team bonding, strategic thinking, and the ability to perform well under pressure. These efforts and attributes are now being widely recognised globally. Being competitive in nature, esports titles are now being inducted into prestigious sports events across the world like the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games.


Evolution of the industry


National Video Game Day highlights how much the gaming industry has evolved, transforming from mere entertainment to an integral part of modern culture. What began on computers and consoles now spans mobiles, consoles, laptops, and advanced technological experiences that consistently push the boundaries of possibility. 


Gaming now allows individuals to represent their nations and compete for medals at major multi-sport tournaments such as the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games in the form of esports. Not only has it cemented its status as a traditional sport, but it has also achieved the once unthinkable feat of being broadcast on mainstream television.


Tournament prize pools have grown significantly, and more people now consider gaming a viable career option, not just as players but as developers, team managers, coaches, journalists, casters, analysts, and more. 


The influence of gaming has extended to movies and TV show adaptations. Pokemon, The Last of Us, Sonic The Hedgehog, Resident Evil, and The Angry Birds exemplify not only the rich storytelling, character building and narrative depth that video games can provide, but also the allure it has over its existing and potentially new audiences.


Numerous platforms such as Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, YouTube, Google Pay, and even LinkedIn have ventured into gaming, recognizing its vast potential. Despite being leading names in their respective sectors, these companies have turned to the phenomenon of gaming to tap into its endless possibilities of interactions and engagement.


National Video Game Day also encourages us to recognize the industry's innovation and economic influence. From indie developers redefining artistic capabilities to AAA studios delivering blockbuster experiences, gaming drives technological advancement and economic growth.


What the future holds


With the introduction of new technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI), and cloud gaming, video games are poised to reach new heights. The advancements in graphics and storytelling continue to create immersive experiences that blur the line between fiction and reality, making the future of gaming incredibly bright.


Whether you're reliving nostalgic moments with classic titles or exploring groundbreaking innovations in gaming technology, National Video Game Day invites us all to embrace the magic of gaming and envision a future where interactive entertainment continues to enrich lives and inspire generations to come.


Siddharth Nayyar is the co-founder and CRO of Max Level.

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