Max Level, a leading marketing and PR agency built by gamers has been awarded the public relations and social media mandates for 88 Games, the newly announced game development division of 88 Pictures, the animation and VFX studio behind Emmy and Annie Award-winning show Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, as well as global hits like Gremlins: Secret of Mogwai, Transformers: The Earth Spark Season 2, Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight, and Fast & Furious: Spy Racers. The partnership marks a significant step in shaping the public presence of 88 Games as it aims to bring India’s cultural heritage to global gaming audiences.

The collaboration will see Max Level leveraging its deep expertise at the intersection of gaming and media landscape to highlight 88 Games’ initiatives in the international gaming industry. The mandate encompasses strategic outreach, storytelling, and other initiatives to build and support the studio’s ambitious game titles and vision of blending immersive gameplay with India’s rich storytelling traditions.

Commenting on the partnership, Milind D. Shinde, Founder & CEO of 88 Games, said “88 Games is a unique venture that blends our expertise in animation and VFX with our passion for telling stories, through an interactive medium. Our mission is to deliver culturally resonant, visually stunning and immersive stories through games for the global audiences. With Max Level’s proven track record in PR and social media, we’re excited to build a compelling brand narrative and connect with players and industry leaders worldwide.”

With a gamut of achievements under its belt, the launch of 88 Games further diversifies the company’s position as a leader in storytelling, expanding its portfolio to interactive experiences.

Siddharth Nayyar, Co-founder & Chief Revenue Officer of Max Level, shared his excitement about the collaboration, “Being gamers first, we were absolutely amazed by the projects that 88 Games is working on and we were eager to work alongside them. Hence, being entrusted with the PR and social media mandate of 88 Games is an incredible opportunity for us. 88 Games’ vision of creating culturally resonant games aligns perfectly with our passion for amplifying impactful stories. Together, we aim to position 88 Games as a leader in the Indian and global gaming industry, showcasing the untapped potential of Indian narratives in interactive entertainment.”

88 Games, led by industry veterans Milind D. Shinde and Shiben Bhattacharjee, is developing a lineup of games inspired by India’s folklore and history.

The collaboration reflects the rapid growth of India’s gaming market, which added 23 million new gamers in FY24, bringing the total to 590 million players. With the industry projected to exceed $9.2 billion by FY29, 88 Games aims to fill a crucial gap by offering premium, culturally significant PC and console games to a global audience.

The addition of 88 Games to its already diverse portfolio of brands underscores Max Level’s growing market share in the Indian gaming, esports and tech market.With a portfolio including brands like NODWIN Gaming, SuperGaming, CyberPowerPC India, KRAFTON, Saudi Esports Federation, ESL Faceit Group, The Esports World Cup, ASUS ROG, Jio Games, TVS, and HyperX, Max Level continues to grow its client base while maintaining a focus on delivering tailored PR and marketing services that resonate with gaming and esports audiences.

The PC Gaming Show Most Wanted took place today and counted down the 25 most anticipated PC games, as voted for by more than 80 panellists from across the gaming world. You can re-watch the show now on Twitch and YouTube, as well as wishlist the games on Steam.

The PC Gaming Show Most Wanted 25 are:

#1 Sid Meier’s Civilization VII 

Developer: Firaxis Games  | Release Date: February 11, 2025

The great-grandfather of 4X PC strategy games was revealed in June this year. The PC Gaming Show visited Firaxis Games in Sparks, Maryland to chat with creative director Ed Beach about the game.

#2 DOOM: The Dark Ages

Developer: id Software | Release Date: 2025

The Doom Slayer is getting an origin story, going all the way back to his time as a wee super weapon killing demons in hell, but no less terrifying.

#3 Monster Hunter Wilds 

Developer: Capcom | Release Date: February 28, 2025

The show featured an interview with monster-slaying RPG, Monster Hunter Wilds, Executive Director and Art Director, Kaname Fujioka.

#4 Slay the Spire 2

Developer: Mega Crit | Release Date: 2025

The second instalment of Mega Crit’s deckbuilding game is due in 2025.

#5 Grand Theft Auto VI

Developer: Rockstar Games | Release Date: 2025

Take-Two says Grand Theft Auto VI is on track for fall 2025 but it could be a much longer wait for the currently unconfirmed PC version.

#6 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Developer: Kojima Productions | Release Date: 2025

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is expected in 2025.

#7 Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Developer: Warhorse Studios | Release Date: February 4, 2025

The show revealed that Kingdom Come: Deliverance II will launch a whole week early on February 4 next year.

#8 Avowed

Developer: Obsidian Entertainment | Release Date: February 18, 2025

Carrie Patel, Game Director for Avowed at Obsidian answered 60 seconds of quick-fire questions on the upcoming first person fantasy RPG.

#9 Wanderstop 

Developer: Ivy Road | Release Date: March 2025

Wanderstop creator Davey Wreden chatted with the show about how his project morphed into something both comforting and complicated.

#10 The Thing: Remastered 

Developer: Nightdive Studios | Release Date: Today

You can play The Thing Remastered, a fresh makeover for the 2002 horror classic, right now.

#11 Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater

Developer: Konami | Release Date: TBD

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater looks phenomenal from what Konami has shown.

#12 Light No Fire

Developer: Hello Games | Release Date: TBD

The creative force behind No Man’s Sky, Hello Games, is headed back into the survival game arena with Light No Fire, but this time, your massive sandbox will take place on a single fantasy planet.

#13 Atomfall

Developer: Rebellion | Release Date: March 27, 2025

Atomfall looks like it has all the hallmarks of a great survival game, but instead of just any old post-nuclear disaster, it’s a British nuclear disaster.

#14 Project 007

Developer: IO Interactive | Release Date: TBD

“Project 007” isn’t even the game’s final name and for now all we know is that it’s from the Hitman developers, IO Interactive.

#15 Skate.

Developer: Full Circle | Release Date: 2025

The series is coming back as simply “Skate.” in early access next year as a free-to-play game from some of the same folks who created the original.

#16 Witchbrook

Developer: Chucklefish | Release Date: TBD

There’s something about 2D pixel art that’s just good for the soul, and just based on the screenshots, Witchbrook has the formula perfected.

#17 Dune: Awakening 

Developer: Funcom | Release Date: Early 2025

Dune: Awakening is an open world survival MMO from Funcom, the same studio behind Conan Exiles, and that’s reason enough to keep it on the radar.

#18 Mafia: The Old Country

Developer: Hangar 13 | Release Date: 2025

Hangar 13 is taking its series way back to the Mafia’s beginnings in Sicily, and here’s hoping it delivers another memorable PC gaming city.

#19 Menace 

Developer: Overhype Studios | Release Date: 2025

Menace is from Overhype Studios, the same developer behind Battle Brothers. Overhype confirmed Menace is out next year and shared a new trailer to detail its sci-fi skirmishes.

#20 Perfect Dark

Developer: The Initiative | Release Date: TBD

The sequel to Rare’s original N64 game popped up earlier this year during the Xbox Showcase. Here’s hoping this one squeezes into a 2025 window.

#21 Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector 

Developer: Jump Over the Age | Release Date: January 2025

The next Citizen Sleeper is just around the corner, launching sometime next month. The Jump Over the Age developer sat down to chat with the show about some of the new features in Citizen Sleeper 2.

#22 Crescent County 

Developer: Electric Saint | Release Date: TBD

“Witch tech” looks as cool as it sounds, and Crescent County is all about it with tricked out brooms and fancy, witchy time powers. Toss that in with a bit of flirting, racing, and decorating more cozy dwellings, and it’s easy to see why this one makes the cut.

#23 Control 2

Developer: Remedy Entertainment | Release Date: TBD

Knowledge of Control 2 begins and ends with “Control 2 is happening,” but Remedy’s pedigree is more than enough to land it on a 25 Most Wanted list any year.

#24 Killing Floor

Developer: Tripwire Interactive | Release Date: Early 2025

The next Killing Floor takes its hellish co-op horde shooter to 2091. During the show developer Tripwire Interactive shared a little news regarding some old friends, the Husks.

#25 Judas

Developer: Ghost Story Games | Release Date: TBD

Ken Levine, the creative director on BioShock and BioShock Infinite, has another narrative FPS in the works with his team at Ghost Story Games. Judas is a story of forging new alliances or enemies, but it’s all happening within a doomed starship.

The PC Gaming Show Most Wanted is voted for by a group of more than 80 industry luminaries including Abubakar Salim (Surgent Studios), Anna Hollinrake (Electric Saint), Brenda and John Romero (Romero Games), Brian Fargo (InXile Entertainment), Cuddle_Core (professional esports player), Dave Oshry (New Blood Interactive), Dean Hall (RocketWerkz), Devora Wilde (actor), Tanya DePass (Monolith Productions) and Tanya X. Short (Kitfox Games); alongside content creators AnnieFuchsia, CohhCarnage, DansGaming, DieHardDiva, Esfand, Day[9]TV and MissMikkaa.

The 120-minute show also featured new trailers, announcements, and behind the scenes visits to studios around the world, including:

• A new trailer from The Game Bakers for their survival climber, Cairn

• More on genre-defying atmospheric puzzle adventure, Blue Prince from Dogubomb and Raw Fury

• A new trailer for epic magical adventure Eternal Strands from Yellow Brick Games

• Ex Kindred Aerospace CEO Martin Tweed will share an important announcement about Revenge of the Savage Planet

• Something special from breakout indie developer Strange Scaffold, creators of El Paso, Elsewhere and CLICKOLDING and I am Your Beast

• A special look at EVE Frontier, a new space survival simulation.

PC Gaming Show Most Wanted was presented in partnership with PC Game Pass, 2K, Midwest Games, CCP Games, Robot Entertainment, Big Blue Sky Games, Shiro Games, Secret Mode, Can Can Can a Man, Playstack, Fall Damage, Raw Fury, PLAYERUNKNOWN Productions, Nordcurrent Labs, Hawkswell, Pahdo Labs, Raccoon Logic, Joystick Ventures, VOID Interactive, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Yellow Brick Games, Irregular Shapes, Humble Games, Triple Espresso, Red Barrels, PlaySide Studios, Ancient Machine, Digital Sun, Embark Studios, Saber Interactive, ESDigital Games and Intel.  

Summoners War, a popular mobile role-playing game, has captivated millions with its turn-based monster battles. Boasting over 220 million total downloads across platforms, Summoners War has cultivated a loyal and passionate fanbase.

To celebrate this dedicated community, the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 in Hamburg on 30^th November invites fans to engage in exciting activities and connect with the community, with top players NEF and ISMOO headlining this sold-out event. We caught up with NEF, ISMOO and STARTIIK, the top three winners of the SWC 2024 Europe Cup, to dive into their strategies, the influence of AppGallery, and the upcoming meetup.

What key strategies helped you win the Europe Cup and advance to the World Finals’ Semi-Finals match?

NEF: A lot of preparation involved strategizing with my friends and anticipating my opponents’ moves. Additionally, having favourable RNG in critical moments played a crucial role in my success.

What was your turning point in Summoners War that influenced you to start competing professionally?

NEF: Throughout my Summoners War journey, I have met so many incredible people who have really helped shape my experience and push me to grow. Watching ISMOO’s energetic performance on the big stage, gave me the motivation to chase my own dreams and got me to where I am today!

How does it feel to be part of the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 and what are your thoughts on AppGallery’s Summoners War campaigns and offline events?

NEF: I am thrilled to be a part of meetup! Being involved in this vibrant community has been such a rewarding experience. I appreciate the variety of Summoners War campaigns that AppGallery offers, catering to all kinds of gamers, regardless of budget. Attending Gamescom last year was a phenomenal experience. The energy was electrifying, and it was amazing connecting with fellow gamers who share the same passion!

What key lessons from your past World Finals experiences have contributed to your success in reaching the World Finals’ Semi-Finals again?

ISMOO: Competing in past World Finals has been a crucial step towards my success in the Semi-Finals. It has taught me to stay composed and avoid costly misplays, even when the stakes are high. I have also learned to better analyse and adapt to opponents’ strategies, enabling me to make smarter decisions and perform more consistently under stress.

Reflecting on your 8-year journey, what key moments shaped your path in Summoners War?

ISMOO: One of the highlights was meeting all my in-game friends from Summoners War, including NEF, that I had only interacted with online. It was incredible to finally meet them in person and getting to know each other better!

Another unforgettable moment was competing in SWC World Finals 2022 in Korea. It was my first time traveling to Asia, and playing live on stage was such an exhilarating and surreal experience.

How does it feel to be part of the Summoners War X AppGallery Meetup 2024 and what are your thoughts on AppGallery’s Summoners War campaigns and offline events?

ISMOO: It feels amazing to be part of this meetup. Reconnecting with the community and meeting so many new people has been a blast! Incredibly grateful for the multiple events that AppGallery has hosted and invited me – It is truly an honour and excited for future events!

What key lessons helped you win second-place at the Europe Cup and advance to the World Finals’ Quarter-Finals match?

STARTIIK: I spent a year focusing on mastering drafts and learning which monsters counter certain meta picks. My Europe Cup preparation involved studying my opponents and analysing their playstyles. However, the World Finals demanded a completely different approach. Preparing for LADRILLO-OS was manageable while LEST’s unpredictability made it more challenging.

As a first-time Europe Cup player, what elements of your gameplay surprise opponents, and does their underestimation give you an edge?

STARTIIK: As a first-timer competitor on stage, many opponents underestimated me despite having experienced my strengths in previous matches. The real challenge lies in proving yourself as a worthy competitor who can handle pressure and deliver consistent results. My fast-paced cleaving strategy has always been my focus but the addition of Lora to my roster this year has strengthened my second-turn gameplay, allowing me to explore new strategies.

How has your AppGallery experience been, and how do its Summoners War campaigns and cashback benefits enhance your gameplay?

STARTIIK: My experience with AppGallery has been great! Installing it on my Android device was a breeze, and navigating the app is intuitive and straightforward. The enticing campaigns and cashback deals have been a great bonus, enabling me to grab some excellent discounts on in-game packs.