Gaming
Nazara goes full throttle, bags Curve Games in Rs 247 crore console conquest
MUMBAI: Nazara Technologies has fired its latest acquisition shot — and this time, it’s hit the UK. The homegrown gaming giant has snapped up 100 per cent of Curve Games, a renowned UK-based publisher of PC and console titles, in a Rs 247 crore (GBP 21.7 million) all-cash deal.
The move turbocharges Nazara’s foray into the $100 billion global PC and console market, unlocking fresh access to new platforms, geographies, and genres. Curve, best known for indie blockbusters like Human Fall Flat, Bomber Crew, and The Ascent, has racked up more than 100 million downloads globally — and a tidy revenue of Rs 263.5 crore in calendar 2024.
“This acquisition strengthens our ability to work with developers globally — and over time, also creates a pathway for Indian game developers to bring their games to global audiences across PC and console platforms. It aligns with our broader vision to contribute to India’s growing role in the global gaming ecosystem, echoing the emphasis from India’s leadership on making the country a hub for digital and creative industries.,” said Nazara chief executive Nitish Mittersain.
Curve posted an EBITDA of Rs 114.4 crore and a PBT of Rs 49.6 crore last year, making it a lucrative addition to Nazara’s already eclectic portfolio, which includes Kiddopia, Animal Jam, Sportskeeda, and World Cricket Championship.
Curve’s executive chairman Stuart Dinsey was equally upbeat: “”Joining the Nazara family is an exciting new chapter for Curve. Nazara’s ecosystem, access to emerging markets and long-term orientation make them a strong strategic partner. We are aligned in our vision of building a leading global indie publishing platform, and we look forward to the next phase of growth together.”
For Nazara, this isn’t just another acquisition — it’s a checkpoint cleared in its quest to become a truly global gaming force, one IP at a time. Game on.
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.
