Pixel P&L 12 October

Pixel P&L: The Week Gone By

October 12, 2024

It’s Saturday October 12th. Missed out on the action? We’ve got you covered with this week’s most insightful and important stories across the gaming and entertainment spectrum.

The Week Gone By

Krafton India’s Playbook: Strategic Collaborations, Esports Success, and Future Vision

Krafton India is doubling down on its presence with strategic collaborations and a strong esports roadmap. Fresh off the record-breaking 2024 BGMI Pro Series, which drew nearly half a million viewers, Krafton is now looking to expand its reach beyond gaming.

In exclusive interviews, Seddharth Merrotra, Head of Business Development, and Karan Pathak, Associate Director of Esports, shared insights into Krafton's plans. High-profile partnerships with Bollywood stars like Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh aim to broaden their audience while enhancing player engagement with fresh, innovative content.

We explore Krafton's vision for esports growth and its broader ambitions for India.

We’re Told Esports Is Becoming Sustainable – So Why Does It Look the Same?

Despite claims that esports is finally stabilizing, the industry seems stuck in old patterns. Major tournaments for games like Dota 2 and Counter-Strike are back, and surprise support for Overwatch and StarCraft in 2024 has sparked optimism. But beneath the hype, many of the same structures remain, relying heavily on developer funding and external investments.

Is esports really changing, or are we just seeing the same issues with a fresh coat of paint? Our feature digs into whether sustainability is within reach or if the industry remains trapped in familiar cycles.

Is Gaming’s Obsession with Graphics Leaving Players Behind?

In the race to deliver stunning visuals, game studios are pushing hardware to its breaking point. Titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Immortals of Aveum wowed with impressive trailers, but players soon faced performance issues—frame rate drops, stuttering, and sluggish gameplay—due to the strain on their systems.

This trend raises a big question: are developers relying too much on AI-driven tools like Nvidia’s DLSS to compensate for poor optimization? As games become more demanding, is the industry catering only to those with the most powerful systems, leaving everyday players behind? We explore this growing issue in our feature.

As Nintendo Fights Palworld in Court, Pokémon May Have the Most to Learn

In the race to deliver stunning visuals, game studios are pushing hardware to its breaking point. Titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Immortals of Aveum wowed with impressive trailers, but players soon faced performance issues—frame rate drops, stuttering, and sluggish gameplay—due to the strain on their systems.

This trend raises a big question: are developers relying too much on AI-driven tools like Nvidia’s DLSS to compensate for poor optimization? As games become more demanding, is the industry catering only to those with the most powerful systems, leaving everyday players behind? We explore this growing issue in our feature.

Void Interactive’s Ready Or Not Pushes Boundaries—But Is It Too Much?

Void Interactive’s Ready Or Not isn’t just another shooter—it dives into the moral gray areas and harrowing realities of law enforcement. With high-stakes missions based on real-world tragedies, including human trafficking and mass shootings, the game has sparked fierce debate. One mission, “Elephant,” plunges players into a school shooting, a bold and unsettling choice that has both captivated and disturbed audiences.

In our feature, we explore the game’s gritty realism and the ethical questions it raises. Is Ready Or Not a groundbreaking exploration of tough issues, or does it risk trivializing real-world trauma?

⭐ Indian Gaming Convention (IGC) 2024 – Mark Your Calendars!

The 2nd Edition of the Indian Gaming Convention (IGC 2024) will take place on October 14-15 at the Taj Palace, New Delhi, featuring speakers from Meta, Google, Lumikai, Nodwin Gaming, JioGames, and a Secretary from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting amongst other prominent stakeholders. The event will include a Main Stage Arena with curated content, live masterclasses, an exhibition arena, networking opportunities, and the launch of a gaming report with industry statistics.

Interested in attending? We are giving away a limited number of Silver Passes—reply to this email to secure yours.

⚡ Quick Bytes

• Gujarat Titans Enters Esports with BGMI Tournament

Gujarat Titans, an IPL franchise, has become the first in the league to venture into esports, launching a Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) tournament called "Titans Rising." With a prize pool of Rs. 22 lakh, the tournament features a mix of professional teams and newcomers who earned their spots through open qualifiers. Notable esports teams like Revenant Esports and individual players like Sc0utOp are participating, with all matches from the pre-quarters onward streaming live on the Titans' YouTube channel.

• 2024 Honor of Kings Championship Details Announced

The 2024 Honor of Kings Championship, set to begin on October 12th, will feature 16 teams competing for a $1 million prize pool. Teams are divided into four groups, with the top two from each advancing to knockout rounds starting October 18th, culminating in a best-of-seven Grand Final on October 27th. Organizers have also introduced interactive elements, offering viewers in-game rewards for watching matches and players the chance to earn prizes through in-game tasks, enhancing fan engagement throughout the tournament.

• Steam Clarifies Game Licenses, GOG Takes a Jab

Steam has introduced a new disclaimer, stating that purchasing a game grants only a license, not full ownership. The change appears to align with an upcoming California law requiring digital storefronts to clarify purchase terms. GOG, known for its DRM-free games and offline installers, responded on social media with a tongue-in-cheek tweet: “Since checkout banners are trending, we’re thinking of putting one up ourselves,” suggesting, “A purchase on GOG grants you its Offline Installers, which cannot be taken away from you.”

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