Pixel P&L: 2026 Asian Games Esports Roster Grows to 11 Titles

In today’s Pixel P&L, we report on the full lineup of 11 esports titles set for competition at the 2026 Asian Games. We also cover Hasbro’s Gaming division’s 2024 growth, SuperGaming’s new partnership with a blockchain gaming firm, and Meta’s $50 million investment in its VR game’s creator fund.

/ 2026 Asian Games Expands Esports Medal Events

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has unveiled an expanded esports lineup for the 2026 Asian Games, increasing the number of titles from seven to 11. The decision, made at the OCA Executive Board Meeting in Harbin, China, introduces a mix of mobile, PC, and console games. The selected titles include Street Fighter 6, Pokémon Unite, Honor of Kings, League of Legends (Asian Games Version), PUBG (Asian Games Version), Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Dreams of 3 Kingdoms, Naraka: Bladepoint, Gran Turismo 7, eFootball Series, and Puyo Puyo Champions.

India had fielded players/teams in four esports events at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games but failed to secure a medal. The nation’s best result came in League of Legends, where its squad reached the quarterfinals. More recently, Pavan Kampelli earned a bronze in eFootball at the Asian Esports Games in Bangkok, fueling optimism about India’s chances in 2026.

Industry executives see the expanded lineup as an opportunity for India’s esports ecosystem. As India cements its dominance in mobile gaming and makes inroads in PC esports, stakeholders anticipate a stronger showing on the international stage.

Hasbro Doubles Down on Gaming After Monopoly Go, BG3 Surpass Expectations

Hasbro aims to become “one of the most profitable” game companies as its Wizards of the Coast and Digital Gaming division posted record-breaking results in 2024. Despite a 17% year-over-year overall revenue decline to $4.13 billion, gaming was a bright spot, growing 4% to $1.51 billion.

Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3) licensing revenue nearly doubled expectations, exceeding $35 million, while Monopoly Go! contributed $112 million—both surpassing initial projections. CEO Chris Cocks credited Larian Studios’ “long tail” sales model for BG3’s sustained success.

The company’s new “Playing to Win” strategy targets $1 billion in cost savings and revenue growth by 2027. Hasbro plans to expand first-party gaming efforts, including a AAA title with Saber Interactive and a self-publishing pipeline featuring G.I. Joe and Dungeons & Dragons projects. With its gaming division fueling profits, Hasbro is betting big on digital expansion to drive long-term growth.

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SuperGaming Partners With Blockchain Gaming Ecosystem B3

SuperGaming has partnered with blockchain gaming ecosystem B3 to launch its own dedicated GameChain. The Pune-based studio, best known for Indo-futuristic battle royale Indus and titles like MaskGun and Tower Conquest, aims to scale its gaming ecosystem on blockchain and open doors to new collaborations with Web3 developers. B3, built by former Coinbase employees, offers a unified platform that enables seamless game-to-game transitions and revenue sharing. This move marks a significant pivot for SuperGaming, which previously denied any immediate Web3 plans for Indus, signaling a broader strategic shift into blockchain territory.

Meta Unveils $50 Million Creator Fund to Boost Horizon Worlds

The primary goal of this initiative is to incentivize innovation and monetization in its online VR title Horizon Worlds, reinforcing its metaverse ambitions despite a stronger focus on AI. The fund offers financial support through monthly bonuses, digital item sales, and cash prizes. Meta has also expanded early access to its Horizon Worlds desktop editor, introducing advanced tools like TypeScript support and AI-powered features to accelerate development. Additionally, a $1 million mobile creator competition launches in March, aiming to drive engagement across mobile and mixed-reality platforms as Meta continues to push for broader adoption of its virtual world ecosystem.

💡 Did You Know?

In 2009, artist and developer Zach Gage created Lose/Lose, a controversial experimental game that blended gameplay with real-world consequences. Designed as a statement on the thoughtless destruction in video games, Lose/Lose played like a typical shoot-'em-up—except every time you killed an alien, the game permanently deleted a random file from your computer. There was no way to recover the lost data, making every action carry a real risk. Gage described it as a "game with real stakes," but many saw it as malware disguised as art. 

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