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S8ul takes the Apex plunge with elite Aussie trio for EWC 2025 showdown
MUMBAI: In a move bolder than a last-circle push in Apex Legends, S8ul has dropped a bombshell—entering the arena shooter scene with a bang, not a whimper. The Indian esports juggernaut has gone global with the signing of a full-throttle, all-Australian Apex Legends roster ahead of the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025. With this, S8ul doesn’t just join the game—it flips the meta.
The roster comprises tournament slayers Rick ‘Sharky’ Wirth, Benjamin ‘Jesko’ Spaseski, and Tom ‘Legacy’ Canty—names that are less team, more tactical weaponry. Backing them up is coach Harrison ‘Rogers’ Rogers, ready to turn strats into headlines.
“We’re incredibly excited to take this next step into Apex Legends with a world-class team,” said S8ul co-founder & CEO Animesh Agarwal, aka 8Bit Thug. “Sharky, Jesko, Legacy, and coach Rogers bring a level of experience and talent that aligns perfectly with our vision for global esports dominance.”
Let’s talk kill stats. Sharky is Apex royalty. He bagged the 2022 ALGS Championship with DarkZero Esports, pocketing $500,000 (approx. Rs 4.3 crore). With over $320,000 (Rs 2.7 crore) in personal winnings, the man’s resume reads like a cheat sheet. He recently stormed the EWC 2024 with Team Burger—because even legends need carbs.
Jesko and Legacy? Another dynamic duo. With stints under London’s Guild Esports and a top-10 EWC 2024 finish, they’ve racked up $150,000 (Rs 1.2 crore) in prize money and bring serious firepower and synergy to S8ul’s new look.
“This isn’t just about one event—it’s about building something long-term,” said Rogers. “S8ul’s legacy in esports speaks for itself, and we’re proud to be part of that journey.”
The roster reveal follows S8ul’s recent EWC announcements for EAFC 25, Chess, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Tekken 8.
The message?
S8ul isn’t here for participation medals. It’s gunning for trophies, clout, and the leaderboard’s top shelf.
Already a beast in mobile gaming and content creation, S8ul’s Apex debut marks a power play into PC esports—on a global scale. The team’s first test comes at EWC 2025, and if history’s any indication, Sharky and friends don’t choke.
MUMBAI: History is getting a fresh rewrite this time with code, creativity and a longer arc in mind. Lens Vault Studios has announced its first original production, Bal Tanhaji, marking the official entry of the newly launched, tech-driven studio into India’s evolving entertainment landscape.
Arriving six years after the box-office success of Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, the new project expands the universe rather than revisiting familiar ground. Bal Tanhaji explores uncharted narrative territory, signalling a clear shift from one-off cinematic spectacles to long-format, world-building storytelling designed for digital-first audiences.
At the heart of this ambition is Prismix Studios, the in-house generative AI and technology arm powering the creative engine behind the show. The studio’s approach blends storytelling with next-generation tools, aiming to reimagine how Indian IPs are created, scaled and sustained beyond theatrical releases.
For Lens Vault Studios chairman Ajay Devgn the new venture represents a deliberate step beyond traditional cinema. The focus is firmly on building long-form intellectual properties across fiction and non-fiction, tailored to changing viewing habits and platform-led consumption. He said the studio intends to explore formats that remain largely untapped, while drawing on the team’s experience with large-scale cinematic storytelling.
Lens Vault Studios founder and CEO Danish Devgn echoed that sentiment, describing Bal Tanhaji as the studio’s first generative-AI-led IP and the starting point of a broader vision. The aim, he noted, is to carry forward the legacy of the Tanhaji universe while connecting with younger audiences through a blend of powerful narratives and emerging technologies.
With Bal Tanhaji, Lens Vault Studios is planting its flag early not just launching a show, but signalling a larger play for cinematic universes that live, grow and evolve across platforms. If this debut is any indication, the future of Indian storytelling may be as much about imagination as it is about innovation.
