Gaming
Max Level joins forces with Dirtcube Interactive to elevate Specter
MUMBAI: In the ever-evolving landscape of gaming, one must do more than play; one must innovate. Dirtcube Interactive is taking this mantra seriously with Specter, their game-changing backend platform. And now, with Max Level on board, they are set to amplify Specter’s presence and impact in the gaming industry like never before.
Specter, developed by Navi Mumbai-based Dirtcube Interactive, offers an all-in-one solution for game developers. Think player progression, game economy management, LiveOps, leaderboards, and automated achievements—integrated seamlessly into a single platform. This tool doesn’t just simplify development; it supercharges it, making immersive gaming experiences more accessible and scalable.
Dirtcube Interactive co-founder & product lead, Pravan Parikh shared his excitement about the collaboration, stating, “We are delighted to collaborate with Max Level as our PR and communications partner. Their deep understanding of the gaming industry and strategic approach will be instrumental in amplifying Specter’s reach and impact. Together, we aim to bridge gaps in the game development ecosystem and make game development more accessible, efficient, and rewarding.”
Max Level, no stranger to gaming PR, will craft campaigns that showcase Specter’s ability to revolutionise backend infrastructure. The partnership will include media relations, content creation, and strategic communications, ensuring Specter is firmly placed on the industry’s radar.
Max Level co-founder & chief revenue officer Siddharth Nayyar expressed his enthusiasm, “Specter is set to transform the backend infrastructure of game development, and we are committed to showcasing its innovative capabilities to the broader gaming community. Our goal is to enhance Specter’s visibility and establish it as the go-to solution for developers seeking a comprehensive and scalable backend platform.”
This partnership is yet another feather in Max Level’s already impressive cap. With clients like Nodwin Gaming, Krafton, Asus Rog, and HyperX, Max Level has solidified itself as a powerhouse in gaming and esports marketing. From campaign management and influencer programmes to video editing and consultancy, they’ve become the go-to agency for brands aiming to dominate the gaming space.
Adding Specter to their portfolio underscores Max Level’s growing dominance in India’s gaming, esports, and tech markets.
Together, Max Level and Dirtcube Interactive are set to elevate India’s gaming ecosystem. Specter isn’t just a product; it’s a movement to streamline, innovate, and empower. The gaming industry better brace itself because this duo is playing to win.
Gaming
MTG gaming chief Benninghoff joins NODWIN board as esports firm primes for IPO
The Gurugram-based esports firm is pursuing a public listing, has returned to profitability and is growing revenues by 42 per cent
GURUGRAM: NODWIN Gaming is moving fast. The Gurugram-based gaming and esports company has launched a pre-IPO fundraising round, appointed UBS as lead adviser for both the round and a subsequent public listing, and landed a heavyweight board director, all in one go.
The new board member is Arnd Benninghoff, executive vice president of gaming at Stockholm-listed Modern Times Group (MTG), who has overseen the group’s strategic investments and portfolio growth since 2014. He is no stranger to building things: Benninghoff has founded and built fifteen companies, served as chief digital officer at ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG, managing director of SevenVentures, and chief executive of Holtzbrinck eLAB. He began his career as a journalist at Deutsche Presse Agentur and various TV networks, holds a Diplom-Kaufmann in business and administration from the University of Münster, and previously sat on the board of Edgeware AB.
The numbers back the ambition
NODWIN is not pitching a story without substance. The company has returned to EBITDA profitability and posted a 42 per cent year-on-year revenue surge, reaching $58.5m in the first nine months of FY2026. The pre-IPO round will combine a primary issuance to fund global expansion through organic growth and acquisitions, alongside a secondary sale to give existing shareholders some liquidity.
Akshat Rathee, co-founder and managing director of NODWIN Gaming, said Benninghoff understands “the entire lifecycle of the gaming and media ecosystem, from the boots-on-the-ground reality of building startups to the strategic complexity of managing multi-billion dollar global portfolios.”
Benninghoff, for his part, said the company “sits at the intersection of sports, entertainment, and technology, making it one of the most exciting players in the global gaming landscape today.”
A portfolio built for the global south
Founded in 2014 by Rathee and Gautam Virk, NODWIN has quietly assembled one of the more compelling esports portfolios outside the Western hemisphere. Its properties include DreamHack India and Comic Con India, and it recently acquired StarLadder, the Ukraine-based tournament organiser behind premier events in CS:GO and Dota 2. The company also serves as a long-term strategic marketing partner for the Evolution Championship Series (EVO), the world’s most prominent fighting game tournament, helping push it into new geographies.
Its geographic focus spans South Asia, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Backers include Nazara Technologies, KRAFTON, Sony Group Corporation, JetSynthesys, and the founders’ investment vehicle Good Game Investments.
What comes next
With UBS running the books, a board freshly reinforced with European media and gaming expertise, and revenue heading in the right direction, NODWIN is laying the groundwork deliberately. The esports industry has burned investors before with big promises and thin margins. NODWIN’s return to profitability, combined with a real portfolio of owned intellectual properties across gaming, music and youth culture, gives it a more credible runway than most. The IPO clock is now ticking.
