Pixel P&L: India Ban Rollout, Industry Layoffs, Windows Gaming AI

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:

• India's gaming crackdown officially begins October 1, banning all online real-money games.

• Gameskraft cuts 120 jobs amid gaming ban fallout while battling a $32.5M fraud scandal.

• Sony slashes PlayStation 5 prices by INR 5,000 for India's festive season.

• Intel and Nvidia forge landmark partnership with GPU chiplets and $5B stock purchase.

• Microsoft embeds AI assistant into Windows gaming via Gaming Copilot.

Let's get into it.

India's Online Gaming Crackdown Set to Begin October 1

India's sweeping ban on online real-money gaming is scheduled to take effect October 1, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced, marking the country's first national crackdown on the burgeoning digital gaming sector.

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Games Act, passed by Parliament in August, outlaws all online real-money games regardless of whether they involve skill or chance. Violations carry criminal penalties including non-bailable offenses.

"We've been engaging with the industry for almost three years now," Vaishnaw said, adding that final stakeholder consultations would precede implementation. The government remains open to delays if industry players require additional preparation time.

The legislation, introduced and passed within two days in the Lok Sabha, represents a dramatic shift from previous state-level regulations that distinguished between skill-based games and gambling. Banks, gaming companies and other stakeholders have participated in ongoing discussions since the law's August 22 notification.

Gameskraft Cuts 120 Jobs as Gaming Ban Fallout Widens Amid Fraud Scandal

Real-money gaming company Gameskraft is laying off about 120 employees as fallout from India's month-old ban on online money gaming continues to devastate the industry, while the company simultaneously grapples with a massive fraud scandal involving its former chief financial officer.

The restructuring comes as Gameskraft faces allegations that ex-CFO Ramesh Prabhu siphoned off INR 270.43 crore ($32.5 million) over nearly five years, with police filing charges following the company's complaint.

"This has been one of the most difficult decisions in Gameskraft's journey," founder Prithvi Singh said, attributing the cuts to "external environment" pressures.

The company joins a wave of industry layoffs following last month's legislation prohibiting online real-money games. Competitors including A23 Rummy's parent Head Digital Works cut 500 jobs, while Zupee eliminated 170 positions.

⚡️Quick Bytes

Sony Cuts PlayStation 5 Prices for India's Festive Season

Sony's PlayStation India division is launching a strategic pricing initiative to capitalize on India's festive shopping season, offering INR 5,000 discounts on PlayStation 5 consoles from September 22 through October 19. The promotion spans both online platforms including Amazon, Flipkart, and quick-commerce players Blinkit and Zepto and traditional retail partners such as Croma and Reliance Digital, positioning the gaming giant to capture market share during peak consumer spending while managing inventory levels across multiple distribution channels.

Intel, Nvidia Forge Strategic Alliance in AI Computing Push

Intel and Nvidia announced a landmark partnership to integrate RTX GPU chiplets directly into Intel's x86 system-on-chips, targeting consumer PCs and enterprise AI servers. The deal includes Nvidia's $5 billion purchase of Intel common stock at $23.28 per share, strengthening their financial ties while enabling seamless CPU-GPU integration through Nvidia's NVLink technology across multiple product generations spanning gaming, AI, and creative applications.

Microsoft Embeds AI Assistant Into Windows Gaming Platform

Microsoft launched Gaming Copilot for Windows 11, integrating artificial intelligence directly into gaming experiences through the Windows Game Bar. The real-time assistant provides gameplay tips, recommendations and achievement tracking via voice commands, with mobile versions for iOS and Android arriving next month. The rollout expands Microsoft's AI integration strategy across its product ecosystem as it competes with rivals in consumer AI applications.

⚔️Side Quest

📺 Watch: AVV Gaming’s deep-dive examines why AAA game prices are soaring, whether increases are justified given development costs versus consumer purchasing power, and argues that only coordinated consumer action and not complaints, can effectively challenge unsustainable pricing trends in the gaming industry.

🎮 Play: Dying Light: The Beast is a brutal return to form that fixes Dying Light 2's mistakes. Kyle Crane's visceral zombie-slaying feels satisfyingly familiar yet fresh. Exceptional optimization, gorgeous graphics, and streamlined UI make this a standout release.

📚 Read: Is Chota Bheem Actually Anime? If you've ever wondered whether that beloved laddoo-loving boy from your childhood counts as anime, this thoughtful piece has answers. The author explores how Indian animation is evolving from simple cartoons to sophisticated storytelling, examining everything from Chota Bheem to Netflix's upcoming Kurukshetra. A fascinating read for anyone curious about India's animation renaissance.

💡Did You Know

In 2025, Roblox’s top ten highest-earning creators averaged $33.9 million each, rivaling major indie game revenues. The top 100 developers averaged $6 million annually, a staggering 450% increase since 2019. With over $1 billion paid out globally through their Developer Exchange program and more than 100 creators earning over $1 million, Roblox has transformed user-generated content into a legitimate career path for thousands of independent developers worldwide.

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