Gaming
Lightfury hits it out of the park with e-cricket reveal at GDC 2025
MUMBAI: Lightfury Games is taking India’s gaming industry global, announcing its highly anticipated AAA title E-Cricket at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2025 in San Francisco. The teaser and demo, unveiled today, showcase a groundbreaking, high-fidelity cricket gaming experience built on Unreal Engine 5, with next-gen visuals and AI-powered mechanics.
Developed in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), E-Cricket leverages Amazon Gamelift Streams to bring console-quality gameplay to virtually any device with a browser with no high-end hardware required. Designed for both Esports athletes and cricket lovers, the game promises a competitive multiplayer ecosystem with live tournaments, immersive gameplay, and innovative mechanics that redefine the sport in a virtual arena.
“AWS is proud to support LightFury Games as they showcase their ground-breaking work on this new title at GDC,” said AWS head of immersive technologies Chris Lee. “Amazon GameLift Streams empowers studios like LightFury Games to deliver exceptional experiences without hardware limitations and unlocks new opportunities for game developers worldwide.”
“It’s an impactful opportunity for an Indian AAA game studio to showcase at GDC, marking an incredible milestone for the industry,” said Lightfury Games CPTO and co-founder Anurag Banerjee. “Amazon GameLift Streams is going to revolutionise mobile gaming in India – the world’s second-largest mobile market. By delivering high-fidelity visuals on mobile devices through any web browser (without app installations) and requiring only high-speed internet, this technology makes premium gaming more accessible and affordable. It reshapes the industry, unlocking bold new opportunities for gameplay, engagement, and monetisation, allowing us to take this game to the masses like never before,” he added.
“We have announced the release of a blockbuster AAA E-Cricket game made in India, for India and the world. We are fully committed to launching it in early 2026 and are moving full steam ahead. With the right combination of world-class tech, and global and Indian talent, we are confident of building India’s AAA gaming ecosystem, and positioning the country as a key player on the global Esports stage,” said Lightfury Games CEO and co-founder Karan Shroff.
With E-Cricket, LightFury Games is swinging for the fences, aiming to bring world-class gaming innovation to India and beyond.
Gaming
Roblox appoints Sunil Rao as India managing director to drive growth
Former AWS leader to lead creator ecosystem, partnerships and local strategy
MUMBAI: Roblox has appointed Sunil Rao as managing director for India, as the company looks to deepen its footprint in one of its fastest-growing markets.
Rao, who will join in May, will serve as the senior-most representative for Roblox in India, leading local strategy, partnerships and day-to-day operations. His mandate includes strengthening the platform’s presence, supporting the creator ecosystem and aligning India’s market needs with global priorities.
A key focus area will be nurturing India’s growing community of developers and creators, enabling local studios to leverage Roblox’s tools for scaling and monetisation. Globally, the platform’s creator community earned over $1.5 billion in 2025, underlining the economic potential of user-generated content ecosystems.
“Roblox is at the forefront of enabling a new generation of creators and games. India’s scale, creativity, and entrepreneurial energy present a massive opportunity,” said Rao. “I’m excited to build a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem that empowers developers and creators across the country. Ensuring child safety and aligning closely with India’s regulatory framework will be among my top priorities.”
Welcoming the appointment, Roblox vice president international Zhen Fang said India represents a high-potential market for the company. “Sunil brings deep expertise in building operations across diverse markets, and his passion for community-centric platforms makes him the ideal leader to drive our next chapter of growth in the country.”
Rao brings over two decades of experience across technology platforms, venture capital and developer ecosystems. He was previously part of the leadership team at Amazon Web Services, where he led strategy and corporate business development across Asia-Pacific and Japan. He also served as a partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, working closely with startups and founders.
Earlier in his career, Rao played a key role in building developer ecosystems at Symbian, Nokia and Google, contributing to the growth of major mobile and internet platforms.
With India’s large youth population and rapidly evolving digital landscape, Roblox’s latest leadership move signals a sharper focus on long-term growth, local relevance and creator-led innovation in the market.
