Gaming
Pravan-Bhuta launch Specter to revolutionise game development in India
MUMBAI: The gaming industry just got its next big cheat code, and no, it’s not “Up, Up, Down, Down”!
‘Specter’, India’s first-of-its-kind backend platform by Dirtcube Interactive, designed to level up the entire game development process. With Specter, the days of juggling multiple tools are over. This one-stop solution combines LiveOps, in-game economy management, leaderboards, achievements, and more into a single powerhouse platform.
‘Specter’ is a game-changer for indie developers, publishers, and even esports organisers looking to scale effortlessly. But don’t just take our word for it—Dirtcube Interactive LLP co-founders Pravan Parikh and Mikhail Bhuta are bringing years of tech wizardry and business insight to ensure Specter isn’t just a platform but a lifeline for developers navigating the ever-expanding gaming world.
What does ‘Specter’ do? Imagine having a tool that could make creating games as fun as playing them. ‘Specter’ promises to do just that. Designed with simplicity and scalability in mind, this backend platform powers everything from player progression to real-money features, offering developers the flexibility to build dynamic gaming experiences.
Specter’s AI-driven features are already making waves. With predictive AI for LiveOps, developers can now customise player experiences, roll out fresh in-game content, and even adapt gameplay on the fly. The best part? It’s four times faster than traditional development methods.
Still unsure why ‘Specter’ is a big deal? Let’s break it down:
1 Customisation: It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Specter tailors backend services to meet the specific needs of developers, making it ideal for indie studios and big publishers alike.
2 Cross-platform integration: Unites players across devices for a seamless gaming experience.
3 Cost efficiency: Save money, time, and stress—because who doesn’t want that?
Imagine having all this power at your fingertips. Now, who’s ready to create the next Candy Crush or Valorant?
Parikh explained it best, “We are delighted to officially launch Specter, a platform that represents years of dedicated effort, learning, and innovation. While India’s gaming and esports industry is experiencing rapid growth, significant gaps persist in the game development ecosystem. Specter is designed to bridge these gaps by empowering creators across industries with the tools they need to make game development more accessible, efficient, and rewarding. Our vision is for Specter to become the invisible hand that powers truly immersive gaming experiences.”
Bhuta added, “Specter is designed to address the challenges game developers face, from scalability to real-time operations and seamless cross-platform integration. We’ve focused on delivering a backend solution that simplifies the development process while enhancing the player experience. Our goal is to create a platform that evolves with the rapidly changing gaming industry, featuring cutting-edge tools that keep developers ahead of the curve. With Specter, we aim to help developers all over the world lay the foundation for the next generation of immersive gaming experiences,”
Specter isn’t just for traditional game developers—it’s an all-rounder for industries like gamification, esports, and even marketing.
1 Esports: Simplifies tournament management with real-time leaderboards and secure prize distribution.
2 Fitness and Loyalty Apps: Engages users with rewards and achievements.
3 Marketing Campaigns: Powers interactive and gamified branding experiences.
Specter isn’t hitting the pause button anytime soon. The platform plans to build a thriving developer community by collaborating with indie studios and expanding AI tools to create next-gen LiveOps. Oh, and expect partnerships with leading gaming engines to make Specter’s ecosystem even more robust.
With India’s gaming industry growing exponentially, ‘Specter’ arrives at the perfect time. Whether you’re creating the next Among Us or launching an esports league, ‘Specter’ promises to simplify the grind so developers can focus on what truly matters—making games we all love to play.
With Specter, the future of gaming isn’t just bright—it’s game-changing.
Gaming
Dream Sports sees 100 plus exits after gaming ban forces overhaul
Company splits into eight units as real money gaming law hits revenue.
MUMBAI: For a company built on fantasy leagues, reality has suddenly rewritten the rulebook. More than 100 employees have exited Dream Sports, the parent of Dream11, after the company reorganised its operations following India’s ban on real money online gaming. The shake up came after the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 came into force in August 2025, prohibiting games where users deposit money expecting winnings. The regulation struck at the heart of the fantasy gaming industry and dramatically affected Dream Sports’ core business, wiping out about 95 percent of its revenue and all of its profits.
In response, the Mumbai based company shifted into what chief executive officer Harsh Jain described as “startup mode”, splitting its operations into eight independent business units in December.
Around 700 employees were reassigned across these newly formed ventures based on their experience and interests. However, roughly 15 percent opted to leave the company.
A spokesperson for Dream Sports said many of those who exited were experienced professionals accustomed to running scaled businesses rather than early stage ventures.
“Since some of these employees were experienced with running high scale businesses and not startups, around 15 percent chose to leave and join other scaled companies or start ventures of their own,” the spokesperson said.
Despite the departures, the company noted that the attrition rate is only slightly higher than its earlier level of around 10 percent before the ban. Dream Sports now has close to 950 employees and is not currently hiring, choosing instead to focus on stabilising its existing workforce.
The restructuring has transformed Dream Sports from a fantasy gaming company into a broader sports entertainment platform. The eight units now operate independently, each focusing on different segments of the sports and technology ecosystem.
These include Dream11, sports streaming platform Fancode, sports travel service DreamSetGo, mobile game Dream Cricket and artificial intelligence initiative Dream Sports AI, which includes sports analytics platform Dream Play.
Other ventures include fintech product Dream Money, open source initiative Dream Horizon and the philanthropic arm Dream Sports Foundation.
As part of cost saving efforts, Dream Sports also relocated its headquarters from Bandra Kurla Complex to Worli earlier this year. The new office, called Dream Sports Stadium, brings teams from its various brands together under one roof to improve collaboration and operational efficiency.
Jain had earlier said the company removed bonus lock in timelines for employees hired in recent years, allowing those who wished to leave to exit with pro rata payouts.
“We want people who are fully into the startup mode and willing to work for it, and we will share that reward if it comes,” he said.
Founded in 2008 by Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth, Dream Sports was last valued at 8 billion dollars after raising 840 million dollars in 2021 from investors including Falcon Edge Capital, DST Global, D1 Capital Partners, RedBird Capital Partners, Tiger Global Management, TPG and Footpath Ventures.
The new gaming law has forced several companies in the fantasy gaming sector to either shut down or pivot their business models, signalling a significant reset for one of India’s fastest growing digital entertainment industries.
