Pixel P&L: NODWIN Launches BGMI Masters Season 4 With Focus on Inclusion, Grassroots Growth

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

• NODWIN Gaming launches historic BGMI Masters Series with all-women teams and prime-time TV coverage.

• Dream Sports and WinZO pivot from banned real money gaming to fintech and entertainment.

• Saudi firm Impact46 drops $53 million into mobile game developer Kammelna as the Kingdom doubles down on Vision 2030 gaming goals.

• Fortnite dominates July charts while EA Sports College Football 26 debuts strong in second place.

• Guild Esports, once backed by David Beckham, shuts down after financial struggles.

Let's get into it.

NODWIN Gaming Expands BGMI Masters Series With All-Women Teams, Higher Prize Pool

NODWIN Gaming launched the fourth season of its flagship Battlegrounds Mobile India Masters Series with an emphasis on gender inclusivity and grassroots development.

The tournament, featuring a prize pool of INR 1.5 crore ($180,000), introduces the Battlegrounds Mobile India Challenger Series as an official amateur feeder league. Among its 24 teams are four all-women squads, marking the first time female competitors will appear on Indian national television during prime-time esports coverage.

"BGMS has grown into the marquee esports tournament of India and is now a cultural movement," said Akshat Rathee, NODWIN Gaming's co-founder and managing director. The company positions the tournament as a pathway for gamers "regardless of background" to achieve professional status.

The series airs live on Star Sports Khel and JioHotstar from 5-8 PM through September 14, making it India's only prime-time televised esports event. OnePlus continues as title sponsor, while Android returns as co-title sponsor alongside partners including Duolingo, Swiggy, Red Bull, Bisleri, and TVS Motor Company.

Gaming Giants Dream Sports, WinZO Pivot to Fintech, Entertainment After India Ban

India's leading online money gaming companies are rapidly diversifying into new sectors following the country's prohibition on real money gaming, with several firms launching fintech and entertainment platforms to retain their massive user bases.

Dream Sports, parent of fantasy platform Dream11, introduced Dream Money, a personal finance application allowing its users to invest in digital gold, fixed deposits, and systematic investment plans.

On the other hand, WinZO launched ZO TV, an in-app short-video platform featuring "micro dramas" in romance and fantasy genres. The service offers free initial episodes with a pay-per-episode model for additional content, targeting India's growing short-form video market. WinZO is simultaneously expanding into Brazil and the United States with subscription-based offerings.

The pivots reflect efforts to preserve jobs and leverage existing technology infrastructure amid regulatory changes.

⚡️Quick Bytes

Saudi Investment Firm Impact46 Commits $53 Million to Mobile Game Developer Kammelna

Saudi-based Impact46 invested over 200 million riyals ($53 million) in Kammelna, the Dammam-based developer behind the mobile adaptation of traditional card game Baloot. The game has surpassed 6 million downloads with over 1 million monthly active users, making Kammelna Saudi Arabia's largest independent gaming employer with 40 staff members. The investment, announced during Riyadh's Esports World Cup, supports Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 gaming strategy under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Fortnite Tops July Gaming Charts as EA Sports College Football 26 Debuts Strong

Fortnite led July gaming charts in both revenue and monthly active users across PC and console platforms, according to Newzoo data. EA Sports College Football 26 debuted at second place by revenue, while Void Interactive's Ready or Not jumped over 100 spots to third after its console launch. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 ranked second by monthly active users, followed by Roblox in third place.

Guild Esports, Once Backed by David Beckham, Ceases Operations After Financial Struggles

UK esports organization Guild Esports announced its closure, citing financial challenges and economic conditions. The company, formerly backed by David Beckham and once the first esports firm listed on the London Stock Exchange, was acquired by DCB Sports LLC for £100,000 ($127,000) plus £2 million ($2.5 million) in liabilities in October 2024 after struggling financially despite raising various funding rounds.

⚔️Side Quest

📺 Watch: Keith Caswell, a 20-year HR veteran from Microsoft, EA, and Wizards of the Coast, offers essential career navigation strategies for gaming professionals facing industry layoffs, AI disruption, and hiring challenges in this practical GameMakers Podcast episode.

🎮 Play: Mafia: The Old Country delivers a visually stunning, narrative-driven experience with compelling storytelling and exceptional music. Despite simplistic combat and AI issues, it's a solid entry for fans who appreciate cinematic, story-focused gameplay over GTA-style action. Expect 11 hours of beautiful brutality at INR 2899.

📚 Read: Fergus Halliday traces the evolution of video game guides from Nintendo's 1987 hotline through Prima's million-selling strategy books to today's SEO-driven content farms. This Aftermath article reveals how AI overviews now threaten the human expertise behind guides, while exploring the economic pressures and creative challenges facing writers who've kept gamers unstuck for decades.

💡Did You Know

Electronic Arts holds over 20 patents covering gaming accessibility technologies including color correction for colorblind players, haptic feedback for hearing-impaired gamers, and adaptive controls for motor disabilities. Rather than monetizing these innovations, EA has made a legally binding pledge not to enforce these patents against any developer, allowing the entire gaming industry to freely implement accessibility features without fear of lawsuits or licensing fees. This revolutionary approach treats accessibility as a fundamental right rather than a competitive advantage, enabling developers worldwide to create more inclusive gaming experiences for disabled players.

📜 Quote of the Day

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