Xsolla, a global video game commerce company, will showcase its cutting-edge solutions at Hall 4, Booth #04-C48, during the Tokyo Game Show 2024, which will take place from September 26-27, 2024, at the Makuhari Messe Convention Center in Tokyo, Japan. Xsolla’s booth will feature live demonstrations of its latest solutions aimed at helping game developers and publishers succeed in expanding to international markets.

During the event, Jin Jeong, Regional Vice President of Xsolla Japan, will deliver a keynote session focusing on the critical role of Xsolla’s Merchant of Record (MoR) solutions in transforming the way game companies handle cross-border transactions, taxes, and regulatory complexities. This session will offer developers and publishers a comprehensive look into how Xsollasimplifies global operations, allowing studios to focus on creating games while Xsolla handles the business side.

In addition to showcasing their MoR solutions, Xsolla will demonstrate how their payment systems and cross-play/cross-pay features enhance global reach for game developers of all sizes and across all platforms. Xsolla will also showcase how they help video game companies integrate with various payment methods worldwide, allowing developers to monetize their games across different regions easily.

David Stelzer, President of Xsolla, emphasized the significance of this event for the company: “We’re thrilled to be part of the Tokyo Game Show and to present our latest solutions designed to empower game developers and publishers to expand globally. Our mission is to support the gaming industry with the tools they need to thrive in international markets, and we are eager to showcase how Xsolla can make global expansion easier and more effective.”

Attendees are invited to visit Xsolla’s booth to meet with the team of experts, who will be available to provide insights, answer questions, and discuss how their tailored solutions can help game developers and publishers grow their businesses. For those interested in more in-depth discussions, Xsolla also offers one-on-one meetings to explore specific solutions for global market expansion.

DeVC led Felicity Games, a casual game developer and publisher, today announced a partnership with AbhiTech Games, a leading game developing studio, to launch and publish two games viz: Warbound and Laser Tanks. With this partnership AbhiTech Games will gain access to Felicity’s 1 million users while Felicity will aim to grow by 3x and almost double their monthly unique users by Q2 of 2025.

AbhiTech Games is a gaming studio founded in 2018 by Abhishek Singh Rana, a two-time winner of Indian Game Developer Conference (IGDC) ‘Student Game of the Year Award’. It is an independent game studio known for creating titles like Paperly: Paper Plane Adventure and Laser Tanks. Currently, they are working on Warbound, a strategic deck-building game that challenges players to lead armies and conquer kingdoms.

Felicity secured a $700K pre-seed funding from marquee angel investors Kunal Shah of CRED, former Nazara CEO, Manish Agarwal, Sriharsha Majety, Nandan Reddy of Swiggy and Sameer Pittalwala, Head of Gaming, Google Cloud (APAC) among key investors including DeVC and Visceral Capital. The company has already generated an increase in revenue by six times and plans to hit USD 1 million ARR in the next 6 months.

Felicity will gain the rights to publish Laser Tanks, with 20,000 downloads on Google Play, and will also launch and publish Warbound, the latest game project from AbhiTech Games. Laser Tanks is a fast-paced top-down shooter game where you battle against alien monsters using weapons and laser-equipped tanks. Warbound is about building your ultimate battle deck and leading your armies in epic strategic warfare. Collect powerful cards & conquering rival kingdoms.

The studio will aim to scale the games with the help of ‘Pokhran’ a proprietary framework which rapidly prototypes and tests casual games in partnership with Indian game developers for commercial viability.

Anurag Choudhary, Founder & CEO of Felicity Games stated, “Through this partnership combining our expertise in casual game publishing with AbhiTech Games’s award-winning game development, we aim to not only expand our audience but also carry forward a shared vision. The innovative Pokhran framework will surely enhance our growth and create unforgettable experiences for players everywhere.”

Abhishek Singh Rana, Indie Developer and Founder at AbhiTechGames also stated that “The Pokhran framework will be a game-changer for us, helping us reach more players, achieve more downloads, and most importantly deliver memorable gaming experiences. Partnering with Felicity Games will allow us to take our games to the next level and grow alongside a company that shares our passion for innovation.”

Beyond game development and publishing, Felicity Games distinguishes itself through strategic partnerships with studios and brands to co-create compelling intellectual properties (IPs). This collaborative approach not only enriches the gaming ecosystem but also expands the company’s reach and influence within the industry.

As AbhiTech Games and Felicity Games come together to bring Warbound to life, Indian gamers and the global gaming community can look forward to an experience that promises to be both innovative and engaging.

KGeN, a community led gaming platform and Riot Games have partnered for the launch of LIFT//OFF, a community-led & data-driven online training academy to forge the next set of professional VALORANT athletes. This program will allow everyday gamers to make a mark, whether it is through their in-game achievements or showing off their skills at a global stage. 

The program sets a new standard as a community-driven program by strategically selecting gaming content creators as ‘creators’ and seasoned competitive gamers as ‘trainers’, from the VALORANT community to lead this training academy. They will select 20 creators from a pool of applicants, these creators will then form their own teams from within their communities. Each creator will either select 5 players for their team or play alongside 4 players, forming a total of 60 to 80 players. Additionally, 20 trainers will be selected, with each assigned to one of the 20 creator-led teams.

A gamer’s in-game VALORANT performance, including stats like hours played, win rates, successful kills, headshot percentage, and KDR, combined with their social standing in the community, such as tournament wins, content creation skills, and positive feedback, will be the foundation for selecting the first group of Trainers, Creators, and esports recruits for LIFT//OFF.

LIFT//OFF will offer all participants a first of its kind opportunity to connect with the global esports community. Top-performing teams will have the chance to showcase their skills in official VALORANT tournaments. Additionally, creators and trainers will receive official VALORANT merchandise, highlighting their involvement in shaping this program and contributing to the growth of the esports community in India. The program will include a mentor cohort which will captivate and engage a diverse audience.

The program aims to not only elevate the skills of esports recruits but also cultivate the next generation of esports idols. The program’s teachings extend beyond in-game strategies to encompass the broader aspects of life as an esports professional. By mentoring participants in every facet of the player’s social persona, KGeN seeks to use data to build the reputation and “gamer cred” of everyone involved, ensuring they are well-rounded individuals ready for the spotlight. Data-driven insights will be used to tailor tutorials and challenges, helping each participant address specific areas where they need help.

LIFT//OFF Roadmap

1. Launch (Sep 18) – Applications for Creators, Trainers & Recruits go live.

2. Last Date to Apply (Oct 10) – Last date for Creators, Trainers & Recruits to apply.

3. Weekly & Daily Challenges Leaderboard (Nov 4 – 26) – In this period, players can take part in-game challenges to test their learning and also win rewards from the leaderboard.

4. Finale (Nov 30 – Dec 3) – LIFT//OFF will feature a final tournament, to assess the learnings of the Recruits and the teaching effectiveness of Trainers.

How To Apply?

To join the LIFT//OFF program, select the role that best suits you and fill out the required details in the application form. A KGeN representative will reach out to you shortly to guide you through the next steps.