Pixel P&L: India's New Gaming Laws Draw Cautious Support from Industry Leaders

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 government officially recognizes esports as legitimate sport while restricting real-money games — industry leaders react.

• Entertainment startup Mythik hires former NODWIN CEO as they build the "Disney from the East".

• Netflix's "KPop Demon Hunters" becomes only the second film to hit 200M views with the fictional K-pop group also topping real billboard charts.

• Microsoft considers cheaper Xbox Cloud Gaming service while Sony raises PS5 prices by $50 amid economic pressures.

• Did you know that Ubisoft funded the exhumation of an 18th-century corsair for Assassin's Creed research — wild story below. 

Let's get into it.

Gaming Industry Leaders Applaud India's Esports Recognition Amid New Regulations

India's gaming industry offered cautiously optimistic reactions to the government's sweeping gaming legislation, which restricts real-money games while explicitly recognizing esports as a legitimate sport.

NODWIN Gaming's Akshat Rathee welcomed the esports recognition but stressed the need for regulatory clarity. "It is critical that the terminology used in the bill, particularly the distinctions between esports, online gaming, online social gaming, and online money gaming be clearly defined," he said, warning that blurred definitions create confusion for regulators, players, and investors alike.

S8UL's Animesh Agarwal called it a "historic turning point," praising the bill for drawing clear lines between skill-based competitive gaming and betting. Game developers like Ncore's Vishal Gondal backed the real-money gaming restrictions, citing youth protection from addiction and debt.

Aftermath Ventures' Mansoor Ahmed praised the legitimacy the bill brings to esports as a profession. The legislation promises government support for esports infrastructure and original game development, with industry leaders seeing opportunities to build culturally representative Indian games for global markets.

Tech Startup Mythik Hires Former NODWIN CEO

Entertainment startup Mythik has hired Sidharth Kedia as Chief Operating Officer as the company seeks to commercialize Eastern mythology for global markets.

Kedia previously headed JioGames at Reliance Industries' digital arm and ran NODWIN Gaming, which operates across eight countries. Before that, he held strategy roles at Viacom18 and worked directly under billionaire Mukesh Ambani during Reliance Jio's telecommunications rollout.

The appointment signals Mythik's ambitions to compete with established entertainment giants. The company, which describes itself as building the "Disney from the East," faces the challenge of adapting regional mythological content for international audiences, a market largely dominated by Western franchises.

Kedia's background spans traditional media, gaming, and private equity. At NODWIN, he oversaw a business expansion that the company says increased revenue tenfold. His hiring suggests Mythik is prioritizing operational expertise as it moves beyond the startup phase.

⚡️Quick Bytes

'KPop Demon Hunters' Becomes Netflix's Second-Most Watched Film

Netflix's animated film "KPop Demon Hunters" has reached 210 million views, making it only the second Netflix movie to surpass 200 million views after 2021's "Red Notice." The June release follows fictional K-pop group HUNTR/X as demon-fighting pop stars. The soundtrack's lead single "Golden" topped Billboard's global charts, marking the first time a fictional act achieved this milestone. 

Microsoft Eyes Cheaper Xbox Cloud Gaming Service

Microsoft is considering a "more affordable" version of its Xbox Cloud Gaming service to expand accessibility, Xbox vice president Jason Ronald hinted on the Official Xbox Podcast. The move could bring cloud gaming to new regions and users who currently access it through Game Pass Ultimate. Ronald also highlighted Microsoft's partnership with AMD to develop dedicated silicon for next-generation gaming experiences and AI capabilities across consoles, handhelds, and cloud infrastructure.

Sony Raises PlayStation 5 Prices by $50 Amid Economic Pressures

Sony Corp. increased PlayStation 5 console prices by $50 across all models effective Thursday, citing challenging economic conditions. The base PS5 now costs $549.99, up from $499.99, while the digital edition rises to $499.99 and the Pro model to $749.99. The Japanese gaming giant announced the price adjustment during Europe's Gamescom conference, affecting only U.S. markets currently.

⚔️Side Quest

📺 Watch: You should watch this official Valve Q&A to understand how NextFest visibility actually works. Games display randomly the first two days, giving you equal opportunity regardless of your existing wishlists. Starting Wednesday, Steam switches to personalized recommendations based on player behavior. These insights will help you maximize your demo's reach.

🎮 Play: You should play The Rogue Prince of Persia if you love fluid platforming and Dead Cells-style roguelites. The movement feels exceptional with separate dash and wall-run mechanics creating clever environmental interactions. The Persian-electronic soundtrack perfectly complements the fast-paced action, making each run feel dynamic and engaging despite the early access content limitations.

📚 Read: You should read this beautifully written reflection that weaves together the author's real life struggles with work and freedom alongside their experience playing Final Fantasy XV. It captures something profound about how we compartmentalize our lives between authentic moments and obligatory duties, using the game's structure as a perfect metaphor for growing up.

💡Did You Know

Ubisoft developers stumbled upon 18th-century Spanish corsair Amaro Pargo while researching Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, comparing their discovery to "finding a message in a bottle on the coast." This legendary figure was as renowned as Blackbeard but virtually unknown to modern audiences. To give him proper historical recognition, Ubisoft funded the exhumation of Pargo's remains from Santo Domingo church in La Laguna, Tenerife. Scientists conducted DNA analysis to complete his genealogical tree and created an accurate facial reconstruction. The corsair, who amassed a fortune worth millions in today's currency, was known for his strict shipboard rules: no drinking, no women aboard, no gambling, and no fighting among crew members.

📜 Quote of the Day

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