Mumbai: 88 Pictures, a leading Indian animation and VFX studio known for its work on Emmy and Annie Award-winning shows like Trollhunters and Gremlins: Secret of Mogwai, has announced the launch of its new gaming division, 88Games. The move marks the studio’s entry into game development, with a focus on creating world-class indie games for PC and console platforms. 88Games aims to offer fresh, high-quality visuals and storytelling inspired by India’s rich history and culture.
88 Pictures has made a name for itself globally, contributing to popular series like Transformers: The Earth Spark and Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight. Building on this legacy, 88Games plans to create interactive experiences that entertain, educate, and inspire by blending Indian folklore and mythology with gaming.
The division will be led by industry veterans Milind D. Shinde, Founder & CEO of 88Games, and Shiben Bhattacharjee, Game Director. Both bring extensive experience from leading global studios.
Milind D. Shinde, Founder & CEO of 88 Games said, “India, being one of the oldest civilizations in the world, has legends, stories, cultures, and art that have existed for thousands of years, forming a unique kaleidoscope that needs to be showcased to the world. It is an exciting challenge to translate the heritage of India into this new medium, with our mission to narrate stories based on this immense cultural capital through video games for the global audience.”
88Games aims to release titles that offer gamers a unique glimpse into India’s myths and legends. With intricate art designs and immersive soundscapes, the games will highlight the country’s cultural stories and characters in an engaging way.
“As India’s gaming market expands, there is a growing demand for high-quality PC and console games that reflect our unique identity,” said Bhattacharjee. “88Games aims to fill this gap, offering exceptional gameplay and contributing to the industry’s growth.”
The studio has three games in development, with the first set to be revealed at the India Game Developers Conference (IGDC) 2024. The game will be launched on Xbox and PlayStation platforms.
According to the Levelling Up: State of India Interactive Media & Gaming Research FY’24 report, India’s gaming market is rapidly growing, adding 23 million new gamers in FY24 and expected to reach $9.2 billion by FY29. The government has also taken steps to support the sector, including the approval of the National Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality).
