Pixel P&L: Is Cloud Gaming the Solution to High-End Gaming Accessibility?

Good morning. It's Tuesday, June 25. In today's edition, we delve into whether cloud gaming truly is the game-changer it's touted to be. We also cover The Finals' inaugural esports tournament in India and BGMI's collaboration with the upcoming film "Kalki 2898 AD." Plus, more updates from the world of esports and gaming.

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Imagine a young gamer exploring the dystopian streets of "Cyberpunk 2077" or the eerie landscapes of "Alan Wake 2" on a budget-friendly phone costing less than INR 20,000. Envision a professional navigating Mumbai's bustling streets, playing "Red Dead Redemption 2" on their mobile during a crowded train commute, transported to a world of cowboys. Or picture college students in Bangalore, diving into "Dota 2" on old laptops between classes.

This is the promise of Cloud Gaming in India: instant access to high-end titles without downloads or updates, making top-tier gaming more inclusive. With India's improving internet infrastructure and the growing reach of 5G, cloud gaming could redefine the gaming landscape, offering unprecedented immersion for millions.

Global giants like Microsoft Xbox Cloud Gaming, NVIDIA GeForce Now, and PlayStation Now dominate the market but haven't entered India, leaving a gap for local services to fill. These innovators are shaping the market, bringing premium gaming experiences to the masses.

As India's internet connectivity strengthens, cloud gaming could democratize access to AAA games, eliminating the need for expensive hardware. However, challenges remain, from DRM concerns, to data costs and infrastructure reliability. Abhimannu’s latest feature explores if cloud gaming’s pioneers can meet these challenges and lead a gaming revolution?

Skyesports is set to launch India's inaugural tournament for The Finals, an up-and-coming first-person shooter game. Dubbed the FINALS Esports Revolution Showdown, the event will take place in Chennai on July 7, bringing together the country’s top gamers for a LAN event with a $5,000 prize pool at stake.

The tournament will feature four teams, each led by prominent figures in the Indian gaming community, such as Scout, Mortal, Sentinel, and Binks. These teams, composed of notable gaming creators and esports athletes, will compete in a double-elimination bracket. Matches will be streamed live on Skyesports' YouTube channel and THE FINALS India YouTube channel, allowing fans to witness the intense competition firsthand.

Shiva Nandy, Skyesports’ Founder and CEO, emphasized the significance of the event: “With the new Terminal Attack mode, we aim to showcase a more competitive aspect of The Finals to Indian gamers.” This mode pits two teams of five against each other, with the tournament culminating in a best-of-three Grand Finals.

BGMI Announces Collaboration with Upcoming Film Kalki 2898 AD

Krafton has announced a new collaboration between Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and the upcoming Tollywood film Kalki 2898 AD. The teaser for the event features actor Prabhas as Bhairava with the BGMI mascot, hinting at an exclusive in-game event. While specifics are yet to be disclosed, players can anticipate character-specific skins, voice pack emotes, and crates, similar to previous collaborations. The futuristic theme of Kalki 2898 AD suggests possible map updates and new weapons in BGMI.

Report: Manga Boom in Hyderabad

The influence of Japanese culture in Hyderabad extends beyond anime and K-pop, with Japanese manga comics experiencing a surge in popularity. According to Deccan Chronicle, the Abids second-hand book bazaar has seen unprecedented demand for manga, with enthusiasts favoring hard copies over e-books. "Manga books are our fastest-selling items," said Mohamed Farooq, a book stall owner. Popular titles include ‘Professor Ashwatthama’ and ‘The Adventures of Chahal Pahal’. 

Ani-One Asia to Stream Suicide Squad ISEKAI Anime in India

Ani-One Asia will stream Wit Studio's original Suicide Squad ISEKAI anime on June 27 at 12:31 p.m. IST, exclusively for Ultra subscribers in India and other Asian countries. The series features Anna Nagase as Harley Quinn and Yūichirō Umehara as The Joker. Directed by Eri Osada with character designs by Akira Amano, the anime blends Gotham's crime with a fantasy realm. 

FIFA Partners with Rocket League for Esports World Cup

FIFA has announced a partnership with Rocket League for the upcoming Esports World Cup, revealed during the Rocket League Championship Series on Sunday. Sixteen countries, represented by three players and one substitute, will participate, selected based on their involvement in previous Rocket League Major events. Christian Volk, FIFA's director of eFootball and gaming, stated, "The FIFAe World Cup featuring Rocket League marks a new era for FIFAe." This tournament is the first esports event for FIFA since it ended its partnership with EA in 2022.

Apple Becomes First Company Charged With Violating EU’s DMA Rules

The European Commission has officially informed Apple that its App Store rules breach the Digital Markets Act (DMA), following an investigation. Apple’s regulations restrict app developers from directing consumers to alternative purchasing channels, contrary to DMA requirements. Apple’s initial compliance involved introducing new regulations and fees, which complicated rather than embraced the DMA's intent. These measures, including the Core Technology Fee, were seen as attempts to maintain revenue while technically adhering to the law. The Commission's preliminary findings state Apple’s business terms hinder developers from providing pricing information and restrict external purchasing links. As a result, the EU has opened a non-compliance procedure against Apple, pushing for straightforward adherence to the DMA’s original vision.

Did you know that the groundbreaking 1993 video game DOOM was installed on more computers than Microsoft's Windows 95 operating system at its peak? This phenomenon is a testament to DOOM's influence on both gaming and computing culture.

When Windows 95 launched in August 1995, it was heralded as a revolutionary operating system. However, the viral success of DOOM, developed by id Software, overshadowed even Microsoft's flagship product. By 1995, DOOM was installed on an estimated 10 million computers, a figure that surpassed the number of computers running Windows 95 at the time.

DOOM's widespread installation was fueled by its revolutionary shareware distribution model. The first episode of the game was freely available, encouraging users to share copies. This viral approach allowed DOOM to infiltrate workplaces and homes alike, sometimes to the chagrin of IT departments.

Microsoft recognized DOOM's impact on the gaming community and its potential to drive software and hardware sales. To leverage this, Microsoft showcased DOOM running on Windows 95 during its promotional campaign, emphasizing the operating system's compatibility with popular games.