Pixel P&L: Nazara Technologies Secures $60M Investment, Eyes Global Expansion

Today’s edition covers Nazara’s recent $60M raise, the upcoming Snapdragon Pro Series BGMI Finals, Krafton’s new global strategy, and more.

Nazara Technologies Grows War Chest with $60M Investment and New Game IPs

Nazara Technologies Limited has raised INR 495 crore (~$60 million) from existing investors, led by Arpit Khandelwal and Mithun Sacheti through their entity, Axana Estates LLP. This investment will see Axana Estates acquire a 5.4% stake in Nazara via a preferential issue of equity shares priced at INR 990 each.

The transaction, approved by Nazara's board, is pending shareholder and regulatory approvals. Following this stake increase, a mandatory public open offer will be launched to acquire an additional 26% stake in the company, potentially elevating the combined holdings of Khandelwal, Sacheti, and existing promoters to about 61.5%.

Nazara plans to utilize the funds to bolster its global presence in gaming and digital entertainment while pursuing strategic acquisitions. Additionally, the company announced its acquisition of two popular mobile game IPs from ZeptoLab for approximately INR 67 crore ($7.7 million), further expanding its gaming portfolio.?

ESL FACEIT and NODWIN Gaming Bring Snapdragon Pro Series BGMI Finals to Noida

The Snapdragon Pro Series (SPS) has announced the highly anticipated Mobile Challenge Finals for BGMI Season 6, scheduled to take place from January 31 to February 2, 2025, at the Noida Indoor Stadium. This event will feature 16 elite teams competing for a substantial prize pool of ?1 crore (approximately $120,000), with the champions set to receive ?50 lakh.

The Mobile Challenge Season, which ran from December 27, 2024, to January 19, 2025, attracted over 3,000 registrations and showcased intense competition among top teams. According to Esports Charts, last year’s tournament reached 210,790 peak viewers and averaged 48,280 viewers, with 3.63 million total hours watched.

Organized by ESL FACEIT Group - EFG and NODWIN Gaming in partnership with 高通 , the finals will be broadcast live on YouTube and Twitch.

Want these daily in your email? Sign up here.

?Quick Bytes

• Krafton Unveils Five-Year Strategy to Build Next ‘Big Franchise IP’: KRAFTON Inc. CEO CH Kim on Jan. 16 unveiled the company’s 2025 management strategy, focusing on building a new “Big Franchise IP” over the next five years. The company said it would increase investment in first-party production, expand publishing volume, and optimize resource allocation. KRAFTON aims to grow its pipeline of new releases through creative studios and plans titles on PC, mobile, console. “We are committed to securing a new Big Franchise IP that builds on PUBG’s success,” Kim told employees at a company-wide town hall. Kim said the first new releases are slated for launch later this year.
• Brawl Stars Unveils 2025 Esports Roadmap: There will be six monthly seasons and three major offline events across continents. The new format includes the Brawl Cup, offering players additional chances to qualify for the World Finals. Enhanced integration of ranked play into the competitive scene is also planned, aiming to elevate player engagement and performance recognition.

?? Did You Know?

Solid Snake’s inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Brawl came at the personal request of Metal Gear creator Hideo Kojima. He initially sought to add Snake to Melee but missed the deadline. Undeterred, Kojima requested Snake for ‘Brawl’, partly fueled by his son’s enthusiasm, marking the first time a third-party character joined the Smash roster.