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In the ever-evolving world of commerce, businesses are constantly seeking new strategies to expand their reach and cultivate deeper customer relationships. Traditional marketing channels, such as print and television advertising, are losing their effectiveness as consumers increasingly gravitate towards digital platforms.


Gaming, with its massive global audience, particularly among younger generations, presents a compelling opportunity for companies to engage with potential customers and drive sales.


The integration of blockchain technology into gaming opens up a new dimension for marketing and sales, enabling companies to harness the power of consumer reputation to establish trust and loyalty. Blockchain's inherent transparency and immutability provide a secure and verifiable platform for tracking and rewarding consumer actions, fostering a sense of community and engagement among players.


Consumer reputation plays a significant role in influencing purchasing decisions. In the gaming realm, players often rely on in-game reviews, ratings and recommendations from fellow gamers to make informed choices about which games to play and which products to purchase. This reliance on peer-to-peer feedback highlights the importance of cultivating a positive consumer reputation. Blockchain technology offers a unique solution for leveraging consumer reputation in gaming. By implementing blockchain-based reputation systems, companies can create a decentralised network where players can earn and share their opinions about various products and services. These reputation scores can then be utilised to influence in-game rewards, discounts and exclusive access to products or experiences.


How rewarding engagement and fostering trust can champion this


Gaming platforms provide a captivating environment for engaging consumers in interactive and immersive experiences. Blockchain technology can further enhance this engagement by rewarding players for their involvement, incentivising them to interact with products and services. For instance, players could earn tokens or rewards for completing in-game challenges, providing product reviews or participating in marketing campaigns. These rewards could be redeemed for in-game items, virtual goods or even real-world products. The open and fixed nature of blockchain plays a crucial role in fostering trust and loyalty among consumers. Players can easily track their reputation and rewards, ensuring that their contributions are recognised and valued. This transparency builds confidence in the system, encouraging players to actively participate and engage with products and services.


Blockchain-powered gaming platforms can create entirely new sales channels by leveraging consumer reputation and engagement. For example, companies can partner with game developers to integrate product placements, in-game advertising and branded experiences within the gaming environment. These integrations can be tailored to align with the game's narrative and gameplay, ensuring a seamless and non-intrusive experience for players. For example, a clothing brand could partner with a fashion-oriented game to offer in-game replicas of their apparel, allowing players to customise their avatars with real-world brands. 


The brand could also sponsor in-game events or challenges, rewarding players with exclusive discounts or limited-edition items.


The integration of blockchain technology into gaming presents a transformative opportunity for companies to create new sales channels, harness consumer reputation and foster trust and loyalty among players. By leveraging these innovative approaches, companies can reach a wider audience, enhance customer engagement and drive sales in a more effective and sustainable manner. 

As the gaming industry continues to evolve, blockchain technology will play an increasingly pivotal role in shaping the future of consumer marketing and sales.

Ishank Gupta is the co-founder of Kratos Studios. An IIT-Bombay and Wharton alum, Gupta has over the past decade has operated and advised consumer firms in China, the UK, South Africa and India. During his stints with AB InBev and BCG, he has built and led cross-functional and diverse teams. He actively mentors and invests in early-stage consumer and Web3 ventures. Ishank is currently building the world's largest Web3 gaming community centred around emerging markets, with the goal of onboarding over 1 billion gamers.

Blockchain in gaming opens up new dimension for marketing and sales

By Aruna Sharma


The Central and State Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Act, effective October 1, 2023, marks a significant shift, specifically addressing the taxation of casinos, horse racing, and online gaming. The amendments provide a framework for the taxation of 'online gaming' and 'online money gaming,' bringing clarity to the taxation of these activities.


In August 2023, the GST Council modified the law to specify that starting from October 1, all online games involving bets, regardless of whether they are games of skill or chance, will be subject to 28 percent GST on the entire value of the bets placed, rather than on the gross gaming revenue (GGR) which is the difference between the amount of money players bet minus the amount that they win. As a result, parliament amended the tax laws, startling the entire industry and its stakeholders.


Since the council's decision, online gaming companies stand accused of tax evasion and short payment of taxes from 2018. Consequently, Directorate General of GST Intelligence (DGGI) served tax notices retrospectively to reclaim pending taxes. Experts believe this move could potentially spell the demise of the entire industry.


In the ongoing legal feud between the government and industry stakeholders regarding legitimacy of the current taxation framework, the apex court is expected to announce its long-awaited verdict on the Gameskraft v/s DGGI case on 15th December 2023. The judgment will decide the legality of the tax notices served on iGaming companies, claiming over Rs1 trillion in unpaid dues. iGaming companies have filed petitions calling these claims illegal and arbitrary.


Balancing taxation and growth


The silver lining for the iGaming industry is that the MeiTY (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) has clearly defined rules for distinguishing online games of skill from those of chance. Accordingly, the Self-Regulatory Bodies (SRBs) to be set-up by iGaming companies can decide which category a specific game falls under. These bodies should be in constant dialogue with iGame developers for peer group reviews and consultations, adding to the credibility of the iGaming industry.


A key aspect of this debate is that games of skill do not metamorphose into games of chance if played online. Thus, the criteria for distinguishing between games of skills and chance should be pondered upon at the earliest as not differentiating between the two can give rise to problems.

The points to consider in deciding whether a game is a game of skill (or not) can be as follows:


Is there a correlation between experience and success? A study has revealed that experienced players consistently outperformed their less-experienced counterparts, suggesting a strong correlation between experience and skill.


Do skills improve over time? The study also found that a user’s skill improves over time as they play more skill-based games. This translated into more wins.


Sensory motor control: This includes critical aspects such as hand-eye coordination, balance, reaction time, rhythm, and the proficiency with which players handle their input devices, such as a mouse and keyboard. This also improved with experience in skill-based games.


Cognition: Does the game require planning, memory, problem-solving skills, and the ability to manage challenges to perform consistently.


Social competence: in games of skill, players who actively engage with their teammates and offer mutual support tend to do better.


Personal competence: players who recognise their strengths and weaknesses and adapt their gameplay accordingly have an advantage in skill-based games.


Knowledge of the game: Understanding the game's design, its mechanics, and the ability to optimise the gaming device or interface are key to performance in skill-based games.


The industry is expected to grow at a higher CAGR , but retrospective taxation on all skilled-based games will badly hit the iGaming ecosystem.


Additionally, a poor tax policy shall result in the development of grey markets and a shift to other geographical zones with more sustainable policies. Therefore, to help ensure the Indian iGaming industry becomes the second-largest in the world, we need to revisit the applicable GST. 
 

Aruna Sharma is a practitioner development economist and retired secretary who worked with the Ministry of Electronics and IT and Ministry of Steel, Government of India.

Games of skill do not metamorphose into games of chance if played online

Neela Mediatech’s gaming platform TMKOC PLAY, built on the IP, Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah has announced a strategic partnership with JioGames. With this partnership, the company aims to roll out 50+ games on the JioGames platform targeting a significant base of Indian mobile and cloud gaming users.

 

Jio platform users will now have the opportunity to enjoy a diverse selection of games centred on the theme of 'TMKOC' and immerse themselves in the roles of their cherished characters from the series. This partnership will enable JioGames to welcome fresh users from the existing audience of over 60 million captivated by the 'TMKOC' intellectual property.

 

Announcing this partnership, Asit Modi, creator, producer and managing director of Neela Film Production and Neela Mediatech, said, “TMKOC and Jio are familiar names in households nationwide, and their user base extends even to the remote corners of cities and towns. Therefore, it's a strategic move to capitalize on each other's strengths. This partnership will facilitate an expansion of our user base, providing an exceptional digital entertainment experience.”

 

Neela Films, the production house recently invested INR 24cr into Neela Mediatech, the gaming, animation and e-commerce business as an extension to Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chasmah IP. The company has recorded 5 million game downloads, and their YouTube rhymes channel has expanded its subscriber base from 1.5 million to 3 million in a brief span. This growth encompasses multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Marathi, Punjabi, Bengali, Bhojpuri and Gujarati.

 

The platform will host free-to-play games and cloud-based adventures, for both single-playe and multiplayer gamers. Bhide Scooter Race, TMKOC Air Hockey, Bhide Pickle Delivery, Gokuldham Kite Flying and Tapu Skating Adventure are the first of many games that are available on the platform.

 

Neela Mediatech’s gaming platform TMKOC PLAY partners with Jio games

A staggering 90 percent of gaming enthusiasts expressed the desire to experience gaming on a laptop or desktop before making a purchase decision.

 

To bridge this gap and revolutionize the gaming experience for amateur gamers, Dentsu Gaming - the gaming practice from dentsu India, in association with Intel, collaborated with Digit- one of the technology media portals in India, to execute a campaign harnessing the potential of SKOAR! College Gaming Club (SCGC) - India's amateur college gaming program.

 

The campaign commenced with SCGC appointing campus ambassadors across 35 colleges in India. Leveraging platforms like Discord and WhatsApp, the ambassadors interacted with gamers, organizing online playoffs and setting the stage for the subsequent phases of the campaign.
 

Over 10,000+ amateur gamers from 50+ colleges were exposed to the campaign. Gamers also got their hands on PCs with powerful Intel ARC GPUs, giving them a taste of Intel's latest GPU line-up that packs some serious firepower with built-in machine learning, graphics acceleration, and hardware-based ray tracing.

 

Apurva Jani, marketing director, sales, marketing and communications group, Intel India said, “Denstu has been an integral part of all our gaming activations for Intel, they help us identify the right media-led activations which drive reach and efficiency for Intel. SKOAR! College Gaming Club (SCGC) is a unique initiative from Digit that is on a mission to build college-level gaming communities at the grassroots level across the country. The objective for this association was to enhance Intel's brand resonance among college amateur gamers by facilitating hands-on trials of its personal computers across various colleges over 3 months.”

 

Anita Kotwani, CEO, Media South Asia, dentsu added, “The strategy adopted by dentsu gaming through this partnership was built on engagement, education, experience, and empowerment. The collaboration has undeniably heralded a game-changing victory in the gaming arena, setting new benchmarks within the gaming community.”

 

Arun Yadav, head, SCGC commented, “At SKOAR! College Gaming, we are relentlessly pushing the boundaries of what's possible in the world of grassroots gaming and esports. Our unwavering commitment is to provide students with the support and tools they need to level up their gaming. Collaborating with industry leaders like Dentsu Gaming and Intel, we are poised to shape the future of esports and ignite a transformative era for the next generation of gamers.”

Dentsu Gaming and Intel collaborate with tech media portal Digit for SKOAR! College Gaming Club campaign

The Madras high court overturned the government's ban on online rummy and poker. According to the court, the ban can still be enforced for games of chance, but it should not apply to rummy and poker, which are considered games of skill. The All India Gaming Federation, Gameskraft, Games24x7, Junglee Rummy, and A23 were among the petitioners who argued that while the game is legally permissible when played physically, it becomes illegal when played online. They cited a Supreme Court judgment that recognizes rummy as a game of skill.


Supporting the decision, Roland Landers, chief executive officer, All India Gaming Federation, said, “We are truly grateful for this landmark decision by the Hon’ble Madras High Court upholding the difference between games of skill and chance in line with over six decades of jurisprudence on the subject.


"Being the apex industry body for online skill gaming and the voice of the MSME gaming start- ups, we at AIGF believe that this decision will be a great boost for this sunrise sector and generate more certainty among investors and the gaming community at large, and is a step in the right direction for this sunrise sector.” Landers added.


Madras High Court reverses government ban on online rummy and poker

Nithin Kamath's Rainmatter backed Game Theory has taken a step forward to bolster its core technology with a strategic acquisition of Matchday.ai (‘Matchday’), a sports analytics startup. The acquisition will be effective as of October 28, 2023. This marks Game Theory's first acquisition.


The primary objective behind this strategic move is clear: to accelerate the technology roadmap of AI capabilities and computer vision.



Game Theory’s founder, Sudeep Kulkarni, expressed his excitement, saying, “Matchday has developed incredible computer vision technology. The world’s top athletes have used it to help improve their game. Game Theory will now bring this technology to everyday players. The sheer number of data points from actual gameplay that will now feed into this tech will be game-changing. This will also help us be able to deliver tech-enabled coaching, which was so far only for pro-sports. We can now not just identify micro improvements for casual real sports players but also function as a tech-first scout for building India’s future athletes.”


The driving force behind this acquisition was Matchday.ai's tech stack, which employs computer vision and AI capabilities, already being used in pro-sports. This technology stack significantly shortens Game Theory's time to market and brings in the key talent that built it from the ground up. The shared vision and passion for making real sports more enjoyable made the partnership between Game Theory and Matchday.ai a natural fit.


Speaking about the latest development, co-founders of Matchday.AI, Ganesh Yaparla and Harsha Vardhan Komanna, said “From our initial engagement with the Game Theory team, it was striking how harmoniously our visions aligned, in wanting to make sports more engaging through the use of technology. While addressing the same challenge from distinct perspectives, we specialized in pioneering state-of-the-art technology and building world-class products that are embraced by elite athletes and organizations. Conversely, Game Theory’s proficiency in operational strategy and a robust business model resonated across a broad market landscape. Recognising our complementary strengths, we were all able to agree that working together gave us the best chance of realizing our shared vision.”


Rakesh Bordia, partner at Prequate Advisory who leads the M&A, shared his insights on the acquisition said, “This acquisition has immense significance in the largely untapped opportunity of using the current state of technology in real sports. With this acquisition, Game Theory has further bolstered its moat and can now drive an extremely sticky experience for its user-players. The acquisition underscores Sudeep and his team’s commitment to driving innovation and growth in real sports and we have one of best seats in the house to witness this growth story.”

 

Nithin Kamath's Rainmatter-backed Game Theory acquires Matchday.ai

It's been just over a month since the implementation of the new 28 percent tax slab on gaming, and businesses are grappling with assessing its impact.


The ongoing festive season further complicates the analysis, as it remains unclear whether players are avoiding participation due to the higher GST or are simply preoccupied with the festivities.


In an exclusive conversation with Storyboard18, Gunnidhi Sareen, VP Marketing, Head Digital Works provides insights into industry adaptations, ongoing experimentation, and the brand's commitment to responsible gaming. Sareen also sheds light on the transformative impact of their ambassador SRK on the brand. SRK has single-handedly propelled brand awareness, seeing a remarkable 25 percent surge since his association.

Excerpts


How has the implementation of changes in GST since October 1 affected the dynamics of the industry?

It's been about a month now, and I believe every day brings new learning. We are still in the observation phase as an industry. I notice that every player is experimenting with new things, such as the offerings provided to customers and the type of engagement we drive on the platform. It continues to be a dynamic environment, playing a vital role in addressing biases and staying competitive with other players.

While it's too soon to draw definitive conclusions, we are navigating through the ongoing festival season and shopping festival, making it challenging to assess the impact accurately. However, one clear point is that we are committed to ensuring our customers receive what they deserve, emphasising on great gameplay and value. Our daily endeavour is to provide consumers with the best possible experience.

it will likely take a couple more months to gain real insights, stability, and a clearer understanding of what's truly happening in the market.


A recent Lumina report says government regulations are shaping the gaming industry. Do you agree?


Government regulation plays a significant role in shaping any industry, and the gaming industry is no exception. When the government provides input and regulates certain aspects, it instills a sense of trust and credibility in the industry. This trust is essential for the growth and acceptance of platforms within the market.

For instance, the deduction of TDS on withdrawals is a direct result of government taxation. This not only ensures compliance but also adds credibility to the industry. As a consequence, people tend to trust platforms more when they see government involvement in regulation.

In the long run, the establishment of trust and credibility is beneficial for the gaming industry. It encourages more individuals to choose these platforms for leisure activities, contributing to the overall growth of the industry. As trust is built, we can anticipate an increase in the number of customers engaging with the platform during their leisure time throughout the day.


You have had an interesting strategy for your campaigns by always running two campaigns simultaneously, one on your offerings and the other on responsible gaming. How has it helped?


Responsible gaming is a cornerstone of our marketing strategy, designed for long-term success and positive brand positioning.

We believe that emphasising on responsible gaming not only benefits us as a brand but also contributes to setting the right standards for the entire industry. Our commitment extends beyond mere statements; we actively position ourselves as a responsible platform, fostering trust through realistic and relevant communication.

In contrast to advertisements predominantly focused on winnings, we prioritise on highlighting the gameplay experience. Our goal is to establish our platform as a multi-gaming destination that values skill and professionalism. When selecting a brand ambassador, we chose someone who embodies the values of our brand—self-made champions who epitomise professionalism and skill.

This long-term strategy aligns with our broader brand interests. Recognizing the importance of regulations, we actively support measures that align with our values. We aim to position the gaming sector as one that sends out positive messages beyond just celebrating winnings.


How has having SRK as brand ambassador helped in this endeavour and in achieving your overall marketing targets?


Inclusion of SRK in our campaigns, urging players to 'play responsibly,' adds a layer of credibility and resonates with our audience. People tend to trust and believe in celebrities like Shahrukh Khan, whose popularity transcends regions. Since the launch of our first awareness campaign, we've witnessed a significant uptick in consumer engagement, with our brand gaining a 25 percent increase in overall awareness.


Alongside engaging SRK, what are the other key marketing strategies that have worked for your brand, especially in the post pandemic era where interest in gaming has gone up manifold?


A critical aspect of our marketing strategy of course, is having a robust brand ambassador, someone like Shahrukh Khan, whose popularity spans across regions. While his appeal is broad, it's equally vital to establish local connections. We regularly engage with influencers on a quarterly basis, ensuring a diverse set of voices that resonate locally. When we initially launched the SRK campaign, we collaborated with influencers, including actors from the south, who actively promoted responsible gaming on their social media platforms.

Connecting at a local and regional level remains a priority, and we continue to tie up with influencers at local events. This approach, combined with influencers who can communicate in the local language, strengthens the brand's connection with the audience.

Videos featuring influencers from different regions are a significant part of our social media strategy. By collaborating with influencers from states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Delhi, we aim to reach a wider audience and create a strong brand affinity.

As you rightly pointed out, the online gaming industry witnessed solid growth post-pandemic, with more people turning to online platforms for entertainment. To ensure our brand preference continues to grow, we recently tied up with a few CCL (Celebrity Cricket League) celebrities, recognizing the importance of staying relevant and engaging with a diverse audience. We also engaged with Pro Kabaddi League, Pro Volleyball League, Big Boss Marathi and Kannada, South Indian International Movie Awards (SIIMA), Premier Hockey League (Telugu Talons Sponsorship) and in Ghoomer in the form of in-movie branding. All of these helped. 

We observed a substantial improvement in our brand scores and organic searches in the recent fiscal year.


You recently launched a poker app. Is marketing poker any different from marketing real money games or rummy?

Poker stands out as a unique and niche game, with a market that is still in the process of growth. While our goal is to expand the market and grow our business, poker remains highly targeted. For high-value poker players, we strategically choose specific channels to reach out to them. On the other hand, for low to mid-value players, we actively engage with poker communities on platforms like Facebook and Discord.

Being part of these communities allows us to promote our features and create awareness about our offerings. Targeted campaigns, such as running ads on high-value CTV or online platforms, help us reach our specific customer base. Although the funnel for poker may be narrower compared to other games, the precision of targeting ensures a more effective approach.

In terms of marketing strategy, running a big bang ATL (Above The Line) campaign for poker might be perceived as less effective than for fantasy markets, considering the unique nature of the poker market.


You mentioned actively working with influencers? Since this is a new space all together what are the kinds of checks and balances in place while you work with these influencers?

When considering partnerships with finance influencers, we adhere to a set of guidelines that prioritise transparency and responsible messaging. Initially, we assess their existing engagements and the kind of audience engagement they garner. Subsequently, we work on building content that aligns with our values—content that is relevant, realistic, and transparent to the consumer, conveying the right messages.

Our influencers focus on discussing the gaming experience, showcasing different formats, and consistently emphasizing responsible gaming practices. Regardless of the content, they always conclude with a message about responsible gaming, reinforcing the importance of playing responsibly. This self-regulation approach is tailored region-wise, ensuring that the chosen influencers align with our messaging strategy.

Moreover, our influencers are required to clearly announce any paid promotions, reinforcing transparency in their collaborations with our brand. This direct and straightforward approach ensures that the messaging is in line with our brand values and resonates well with our target audience.


Lastly, what are the key focus areas for A23 in the coming months?

One of the most important aspects of our strategy is responsible gaming, encompassed under the umbrella of 'A23 Cares.' Our commitment extends beyond marketing communication. For instance, our app incorporates a section that empowers users to set limits, providing them with a tool for self-management.

We are continuously enhancing our features to fortify our commitment to responsible gaming. This isn't just a short-term strategy; it's a long-term commitment that we plan to uphold for years to come. Our goal is not only to promote responsible gaming among our customers but also to set a strong example for the entire industry.

In addition to our focus on responsible gaming, we have recently launched a new product, poker, which is poised to become our second-largest revenue stream. This strategic move aligns with our ongoing efforts to diversify and grow in the market.

Government regulation instills trust and credibility: Head Digital Work’s Gunnidhi Sareen

Troubles do not seem to be ending for the online real-money gaming industry. According to sources, the sector continues to be on the government’s radar.

“Government agencies including ED, I-T & GST departments are currently closely analysing money movement through online gaming companies,” sources told CNBC-TV18.

The top government has conducted a detailed analysis of the sector highlighting, “money laundering, tax evasion and terror financing being reported in the garb of online real money gaming in the country,” sources added.

Noting this, the government agencies are currently on a high alert, sources added.

The analysis conducted by the government shows “High possibility online gaming companies being used to launder money. The government has identified instances where online gaming companies restructured themselves to evade GST & income tax. The analysis further states that online gaming companies may be using off-shore subsidiaries to evade taxes while operating in India,” sources added.


It is also understood that online gaming companies in “some cases may have restructured to move ownership abroad. There are also instances which shared that companies brought in cosmetic changes to names of games to enable money laundering,” sources added.
Soon more action by agencies such as Income Tax, Enforcement Directorate and GST department is expected, sources shared.
To be seen is further tightening of norms and policies to ensure the least possible tax evasion.

Online gaming companies continue to be on India's radar: Sources

The Indian gaming industry achieved a staggering $3.1 billion in the fiscal year 2023, signaling a robust growth trajectory. Projections as per Lumikai’s recent gaming report indicate projections soaring to $7.5 billion by the fiscal year 2028.

Driving this rise are the dynamics of in-app purchases and ad revenues, anticipated to be the mainstay contributors to the industry’s growth, the report said.

Structural shifts toward a higher propensity to pay for in-game features and the burgeoning popularity of casual and midcore games are poised to play pivotal roles in shaping the landscape by FY28.

Real Money Gaming (RMG) witnessed a notable 33 percent revenue surge in FY23. However, a cloud of uncertainty looms as recent taxation policies threaten to apply brakes to this growth, with heavy tax liabilities and industry consolidation expected to slow down RMG's upward trajectory.

The Indian gaming community has seen a remarkable surge in engagement, with the total number of gamers witnessing a robust 12 percent growth in FY23. This surge is underlined by the average time spent per user per week, indicating a growing propensity among users to delve into the gaming experience. Impressively, India has secured its place among the top countries globally for mobile game downloads, boasting a staggering 15.4 billion downloads.

Notably, in-game monetization demonstrated resilience in FY23, defying odds amidst the suspension of popular games such as BGMI and Free Fire. In-app revenue outside of these suspended titles recorded a commendable 37percent year-on-year growth. This signifies a noteworthy trend of increasing monetization across other casual and midcore games, highlighting Indian gamers' experimentation with newer Intellectual Properties (IPs).

To gain a comprehensive understanding of gamer and non-gamer motivations, behaviors, preferences, and monetization propensities, a survey was conducted involving 2,317 respondents across diverse demographics. The findings revealed a gaming community dominated by men, constituting 59 percent, while women accounted for 41 percent. Half of the gamers fell within the age group of 18-30 years, portraying a youthful demographic at the forefront of the industry's growth.


Moreover, the gaming landscape is witnessing a geographic shift, with a notable increase in gamers from non-metro cities. This share has surged from 57 percent in 2022 to an impressive 66 percent in 2023, showcasing the industry's expanding reach beyond the confines of major metropolitan areas.

The Indian gaming industry's remarkable ascent, driven by diverse factors, sets the stage for an exciting future, promising continued innovation and economic contributions on an unprecedented scale.

Indian gaming industry expected to touch $7.5 billion by FY28

Kratos Studios, owner of the IndiGG IP, announces the ‘Kratos Games Network’ program which will allocate a grant of INR 50 cr towards gaming studios. The company will aim to target the first set of 10-15 studios by March 2024. Kratos has already enabled monetization for 1.5 lakh gamers, amounting to INR 5 crore, and is expected to see a 100X increase in the number of gamers with this move.



The ‘Kratos Games Network’ will extend the grant to web2 gaming development studios and will transition their games to blockchain gaming. The program aims to build a strong game developer community across the world and create a pipeline of the top games that cut across genres, languages and cultural sensitivities and make the same available on the Kratos platform.

 

The shortlisted gaming studios will get the benefit of the Kratos proprietary blockchain tech stack giving them access to the 10 lakh user base of the on-chain global gamer community. The integration of blockchain will enable these studios to monetize and build revenue for developers and gamers alike.

 

The Kratos gamer community is already present in multiple geographies and will target gaming studios beyond India, including LATAM, East Asia, and SE Asia.

 

The rigorous selection process will focus on factors based on profitability spanning 2-3 years, game studios with a minimum daily active user count of 500,000.

 

The Kratos Games Network will offer a multitude of benefits, including access to a large number of gamer communities. Being a part of Kratos Games Network, the partner developers will also have an economic value-sharing model with their gamers, leading to enhanced user retention and increased monetization for individual gamers.

 

Elaborating on this, Manish Agarwal, Founder of Kratos Studios, stated, “Kratos Studios stands for the gamer community. This initiative will bring high quality games and hence more gamers to blockchain gaming. We are on our way to becoming the largest network of gamers on the blockchain, globally.”

GAMING

Quantum Brief

Blockchain in gaming opens up new dimension for marketing and sales

Quantum Brief

Games of skill do not metamorphose into games of chance if played online

Quantum Brief

Neela Mediatech’s gaming platform TMKOC PLAY partners with Jio games

Quantum Brief

Dentsu Gaming and Intel collaborate with tech media portal Digit for SKOAR! College Gaming Club campaign

Quantum Brief

Madras High Court reverses government ban on online rummy and poker

Quantum Brief

Nithin Kamath's Rainmatter-backed Game Theory acquires Matchday.ai

Quantum Brief

Government regulation instills trust and credibility: Head Digital Work’s Gunnidhi Sareen

How it Works

Online gaming companies continue to be on India's radar: Sources

Quantum Brief

Indian gaming industry expected to touch $7.5 billion by FY28

Quantum Brief

IndiGG IP's Kratos Studios rolls out ‘Kratos Games Network’ program