Gaming
Pokémon Go takes over India’s Nexus Malls with legendary loot and lively lures
MUMBAI: Get ready to catch ’em all in real life. Pokémon Go Fest 2025: Global is landing in India, and Niantic is teaming up with Nexus Malls to turn shopping centres into Poké-playgrounds across five major cities. The AR-powered global event, set for 28-29 June, promises exclusive spawns, special research tasks, avatar upgrades, and for the first time ever, a chance to encounter the mythical Volcanion.
From Navi Mumbai’s Nexus Seawoods to Delhi’s Select CityWalk, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai, Trainers can immerse themselves in the Pokémon universe through high-energy meetups and interactive zones. In addition to the mall takeovers, virtual Trainer meetups will roll out across 26 cities, including Coimbatore, Kolkata, Guwahati and Dehradun.
Expressing his excitement on the global edition of Pokémon Go Fest 2025, Niantic Indian manager Sundarraman Ramalingam said, “Pokémon Go Fest 2025: Global is more than just a virtual event, its a celebration of exploration, community, and the spirit of discovery that defines Pokémon Go. With the long-awaited debut of Volcanion, exciting in-game content, and special experiences at Nexus Malls across India, we’re bringing Trainers closer together, no matter where they are in the world.
He added, “Collaborating with Nexus Malls allows us to bring Pokémon Go to life in spaces that are not only safe and accessible but also deeply rooted in local communities. These vibrant venues help us spark real-world connections and welcome new Trainers into the adventure.”
Nexus Malls CMO Nishank Joshi said,”We are excited to partner with Pokémon Go Fest 2025: Global and bring this incredible global experience to our malls across India. At Nexus Malls, we are always looking for ways to create vibrant, engaging spaces where communities can come together. Pokémon Go is all about exploration and connection, and our malls are the perfect places to bring those moments to life. This partnership is just the beginning and we look forward to creating many more unique, interactive experiences for our visitors in the future.”
With bonuses galore, rotating habitats, and a shot at snagging Shiny Carbink or Shiny Frigibax, Nexus is about to become the next big PokéStop. Entry is free, but serious Trainers may want to grab a ticket for exclusive in-game access.
The hunt begins on 28 June at 10 am. Trainers, charge those power banks — it’s going to be a wild weekend.
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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.
