Pixel P&L: Bitkraft Ventures Bets Big on India Gaming Boom

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:

• Bitkraft Ventures, the $1B gaming VC, is betting big on India's "exponential growth.” Learn why below.

• Nintendo Switch 2 projected to sell 13 million units in 2025, could hit 104M by 2030.

• Max Level secures the communications mandate for Riot Games India, covering VALORANT and League of Legends across South Asia.

• Adidas partners with FIFA Rivals mobile game launching June 12th, bringing exclusive digital kits and jerseys.

• Google launches Diamond District in Roblox, connecting Play Points rewards with immersive gaming experiences. 

Let's get into it.

Gaming Investor Bitkraft Ventures Bets Big on India's Digital Entertainment Boom

U.S.-based gaming investor Bitkraft Ventures is accelerating its investment strategy in India, betting the world's most populous nation will experience "exponential growth" in gaming and interactive media over the next two to three years.

The venture capital firm, which manages over $1 billion across six funds, hired industry veteran Anuj Tandon as its India and UAE partner in December 2024 to spearhead the expansion. Bitkraft's portfolio spans more than 130 companies globally, including Indian mobile gaming studios Lila Games and Gamezop.

"We believe that many second-generation entrepreneurs in gaming and interactive media will be actively coming out and building new companies over the next two to three years," Tandon told Moneycontrol in an interview.

Tandon, who previously led more than $135 million in investments for South Korean gaming giant Krafton, sees artificial intelligence as a key catalyst. "AI is now democratizing a lot of these capabilities," he said, noting that high-quality concept art can now be produced within a day using AI tools.

The firm plans to target mobile and PC gaming studios, monetization tools, AI startups, and user-generated content platforms, while avoiding the mature esports sector. Bitkraft will approach real-money gaming cautiously due to regulatory uncertainties.

Tandon draws parallels to China's gaming evolution, which saw at least 20 companies go public after 2008. Recent validation includes Krafton's acquisition of Nautilus Mobile for 118 crore rupees. "That's a big sign that global companies are willing to buy Indian IPs," Tandon said.

Nintendo Switch 2 Expected to Sell 13 Million Units in 2025

Nintendo's upcoming Switch 2 console is projected to sell over 13 million units in 2025, with total sales reaching 104.3 million by 2030, according to Ampere Analysis (via GI.biz).

The data firm forecasts 32.2 million units will move next year, climbing to 51.2 million by 2027. Initial sales will benefit from pent-up demand among existing Switch users, though growth rates are expected to slow by decade's end due to potential U.S. tariffs and absence of pandemic-driven purchasing seen with the original Switch.

Nintendo's hardware market share is predicted to increase nearly 50% by 2027. Ampere dismissed competing handhelds like Steam Deck and PlayStation Portal as minimal threats, noting they remain niche products priced significantly higher than Nintendo's offering.

The firm projects Switch 2 software will generate $7-8 billion over two years, growing to $10 billion by 2028. Enhanced third-party support, including ports of major titles like Cyberpunk 2077, positions Nintendo in direct competition with Sony and Microsoft.

⚡Quick Bytes

Max Level Wins Riot Games India PR Mandate

Max Level, a gaming-focused marketing and public relations agency, has secured the communications mandate for Riot Games India and South Asia, the developer behind League of Legends and VALORANT. The agency will lead Riot's regional communication strategy across India, Bangladesh, Nepal and other South Asian markets, focusing on brand campaigns, esports initiatives and community engagement. Quick Bytes

Adidas Partners with FIFA Rivals Mobile Game

Adidas signed a multi-year licensing agreement with FIFA Rivals, the mobile football game from FIFA and Mythical Games launching globally June 12th. The partnership will feature exclusive digital items including kits, jerseys and shoes. FIFA Rivals has attracted 150,000 players during its soft launch in three countries.

Google Launches Play Points Experience in Roblox

Google launched Diamond District, a new Roblox experience tied to its Play Points rewards program, offering digital and physical prizes to premium members. The immersive obstacle course runs through July 2nd and targets Diamond, Gold and Platinum Play Points users who link their accounts with Roblox.

⚔️Side Quest

📺 Watch: Kojima's Summer Game Fest appearance caught our attention, particularly his post-pandemic design philosophy: "We hit the pandemic after we released DS1, everyone experienced the pandemic so I wanted to show something new connection after we face the pandemic." His Neil character replacing Cliff suggests he's doubling down on emotional storytelling that... actually sells games.

🎮 Play: Resident Evil Village is 75% off during Capcom's current Publisher Sale, making this one of the best horror games ever made an absolute steal. With memorably grotesque enemies, grimly beautiful set-pieces, and hefty combat that ranks among the series' finest, this discount transforms an already fantastic first-person horror experience into essential gaming.

📚 Read: The question of how Epic actually curates Fortnite's millions of user-generated islands has been answered by their 'How Discover Works' documentation, which reveals they're tracking everything from "builds per minute" to "structural damage" for their recommendation algorithms. Their 96-hour testing windows requiring 50,000 impressions also explain why viral UGC hits seem so coordinated. (Nothing says "organic discovery" like machine learning clustering on weapon spawn telemetry!)

💡Did You Know

Did you know that securing Tetris rights for the world required facing off against the KGB? Henk Rogers, founder of The Tetris Company, navigated dangerous corporate conflicts and Soviet-era politics to bring Alexey Pajitnov's 1984 creation to global audiences. His efforts were crucial to Nintendo's Game Boy success. Today, Tetris continues breaking boundaries—Red Bull's 2025 tournament finale in Dubai will feature the first-ever live, playable Tetris game in the sky using over 2,000 synchronized drones. With over 520 million units sold across four decades, this beloved iconic puzzle game clearly proves that simple elegance and timeless design creates lasting magic.

📜 Quote of the Day

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