Pixel P&L: BGMI Masters Series 4 Finals Draws Record 10.5 Million Viewers Across India

Welcome to another Pixel P&L edition. This issue takes 4 minutes to read. If you only have one, here are the 5 most important things:

• BGMI Masters Series Season 4 finals drew 10.5 million viewers, becoming one of India's most-watched esports tournaments.

• Krafton opens its third India gaming incubator with $150k funding for developers — applications now open.

• Hike shuts down after 13 years following India's real-money gaming ban, despite $500M revenue.

• Rovio soft-launches Angry Birds Rush with social raiding features in the US.

• Indian player VRJ becomes first VR Tennis Esports World Champion, marking a historic win ahead of 2027 Olympic Esports Games.

Let's get into it.

BGMI Masters Series Season 4 Finals Draws 10.5 Million Viewers

The OnePlus Android Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series Season 4 finals attracted over 10.5 million viewers across digital and television platforms, making it one of the most watched Indian esports tournaments.

NODWIN Gaming's tournament generated more than 10 million YouTube views across three language broadcasts, while JioHotstar recorded 500,000 additional streams. The event also secured national television coverage through Star Sports Khel, a rarity for Indian esports competitions.

The tournament featured a 150 million rupee prize pool and attracted multiple sponsors. OnePlus served as title sponsor alongside Android as co-title sponsor. TVS Motor Company marked its third consecutive year of partnership, while Red Bull participated for the second year running.

New sponsors included Duolingo English Test as the official learning partner, Swiggy as food delivery partner, and Bisleri as hydration partner. Tesla made its Indian esports debut by showcasing Model Y vehicles at the finals venue in New Delhi.

The tournament's 28-day format and television distribution represent significant growth for mobile gaming's commercial appeal in India's entertainment market.

Krafton Opens Third Gaming Incubator Cohort in India

South Korean gaming giant Krafton has launched applications for the third cohort of its India gaming incubator, targeting developers across the country with up to $150,000 in funding and mentorship programs.

The Krafton India Gaming Incubator, established in 2023, has supported 10 studios across two previous cohorts in cities from Mumbai to Kohima. Studios receive grants ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 along with six to twelve months of mentorship from industry veterans.

First cohort teams have successfully launched games on official platforms, with one studio planning a PC release in 2026. The program received over 300 applications across its initial rounds, according to Anuj Sahani, head of Krafton's India incubator program.

The incubator provides technical infrastructure through partnerships with Google Cloud, AWS, AppMagic, and other platforms. Krafton CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn said the company aims to "empower the next generation of Indian game developers and shape India into a global creative force."

Applications opened September 20, 2025, for the April 2026 program start.

⚡️Quick Bytes

Hike Shuts Down After 13 Years Following India Gaming Ban

Kavin Bharti Mittal, son of Bharti Airtel chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, announced the complete shutdown of his tech startup Hike after 13 years of operations. The closure follows India's ban on real-money gaming, which disrupted Hike's pivot from messaging to cash-prize gaming through its Rush platform. Despite generating over $500 million in gross revenue and serving 10 million users, regulatory headwinds made the business unviable in India.

Rovio Soft-Launches New Angry Birds Game in US

Rovio has released Angry Birds Rush in early access on the US App Store, blending the franchise's signature slingshot mechanics with runner-style gameplay. The title incorporates social features similar to Coin Master and Monopoly Go, allowing players to raid other users' camps. This marks Rovio's latest use of the Angry Birds IP following July's Angry Birds Bounce on Apple Arcade.

Indian Player Wins First VR Tennis Esports World Championship

Vimalraj "VRJ" Jayachandran became the first VR Tennis Esports World Champion at the 2025 WTEC World Finals in Las Vegas, representing NoScope Gaming. The former professional tennis player leveraged his real-world experience to dominate the tournament, marking a historic victory for India in competitive VR sports. His win highlights India's growing presence in esports as VR gaming gains momentum ahead of the 2027 Olympic Esports Games.

⚔️Side Quest

📺 Watch: I'm already four hours into this epic oral history and absolutely captivated. Film Deck Miniatures has crafted something special here with authentic developer interviews revealing Morrowind's creation secrets. Hearing former Bethesda employees discuss art direction, technical struggles, and voice acting brings back memories of first exploring Vvardenfell. 

🎮 Play: Harold Halibut is a meditative cross between visual novel and walking simulator offers a uniquely calming experience aboard a spaceship. While light on traditional gameplay and puzzles, it excels through atmospheric storytelling, meaningful character relationships, and genuinely insightful narrative moments. The slow pace becomes intentional meditation rather than limitation. At half price, it's perfect for players seeking emotional depth over action-packed challenges.

📚 Read: HushCrasher’s data-driven study analyzed every Steam game since 2006 to create an objective classification system replacing vague "indie" terminology. Key finding: while small-scope games now represent 75% of releases, they capture only 25% of market revenue. AAA median budgets hit $53 million, six times AA costs.

💡Did You Know

Did you know that Netflix's "Squid Game" triggered a massive legal battle that ultimately transformed into a business partnership? In 2021, South Korean ISP SK Broadband sued Netflix for 27.2 billion won ($23 million) to cover network costs from the show's popularity surge. The dispute actually began in 2020 with competing lawsuits between the companies over network usage fees. However, this contentious relationship took a surprising turn when both sides dropped their lawsuits in favor of collaboration. Now Netflix and SK Broadband offer bundled streaming packages and are exploring AI technology partnerships

📜 Quote of the Day

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