Gaming
Top five Indian gamers making waves in content creation via engaging gameplay
Mumbai: The gaming industry in India has exploded in recent years, with a new wave of content creators emerging to entertain and engage audiences with their unique gameplay and personalities. From PUBG: Mobile and BGMI to Valorant and GTA V, these five Indian gamers have cemented their place in the gaming community and are inspiring others to follow in their footsteps.
1. Raj Varma a.k.a “SnaxGaming”
With an assault rifle in one hand and a controller in the other, Raj Varma, or “SnaxGaming,” has become one of India’s most renowned gamers. Known for his expert marksmanship and thrilling gameplay, Snax has dominated the competitive scene as a player for teams like Insidious, Velocity Gaming, and Team XO. But it’s not just his in-game skills that have won him a legion of fans. After transitioning to content creation, Snax has become a YouTube sensation, with over 1.42 million subscribers, 895k followers on Loco, and 747k followers on Instagram. His streams and engaging content in various games like Valorant, Among Us, and GTA V have kept his audience entertained and engaged.
2 Parv Singh a.k.a “SOUL_Regaltos”
“SOUL_Regaltos,” has become a household name in the gaming community thanks to his leadership skills and efficiency as an assaulter in PUBG: Mobile. But his talents extend far beyond one game. Regaltos has diversified his content, streaming a variety of games like Valorant, GTA V, and many more. His efforts have paid off, with over 2.26 million subscribers on YouTube, 985k followers on Instagram, and 675k followers on Loco. With his gameplay skills and engaging content, Regaltos has proven that he’s more than just a one-trick pony.
3. Salman Ahmad a.k.a “8Bit Mamba”
Salman Ahmad, or “8Bit Mamba,” made a name for himself by competing in popular titles like Clash of Clans and Counter-Strike before making the jump to professional gaming with Team Hydra. But it was his passion for gaming and appealing content that helped him build a massive, devoted fan base. After leaving his stable job to become a full-time streamer for 8Bit Creatives, Mamba has become a force to be reckoned with. With over 1.33 million subscribers on YouTube and over 324k followers on Loco, his live streams and tech reviews have become must-watch content for gaming enthusiasts.
4. Shobit Rai a.k.a “Tb0ne”
Shobit Rai, or “Tb0ne,” has become a popular figure in India’s Valorant community, excelling in the first-person shooter game as a member of Team Velocity Gaming. But it’s not just his gameplay that has caught people’s attention. Rai also creates dazzling content on games like Spiderman, Call of Duty Modern Warfare, and God of War, as well as insightful tech reviews on his YouTube channel. With over 225k subscribers on YouTube, close to 70k followers on Loco, and over 65k followers on Instagram, Rai has proven that he’s a multifaceted talent who’s here to stay.
5. Amit Thakur a.k.a “Vlt fa2”
Amit ‘Vlt fa2’ Thakur is another celebrated gamer and content creator from the country’s Valorant landscape. Capitalizing on the title’s growth in the Esports ecosystem, he emerged as one of the most adept players in the game by regularly featuring in tournaments for Velocity Gaming and impressing everyone by performing at the highest level. Fa2’s prowess as an equally skilful content creator has seen him gain fame among the nation’s passionate gaming audience and assemble a vast following. With more than 144k subscribers on Youtube and 45k followers on Instagram, he is on his way to becoming one of the best in the gaming content-creating business.
These Indian gamers have not only proven that they have the skills, creativity, and dedication to flourish as content creators but have also inspired a new generation of gamers to pursue their passion for gaming and content creation.
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.
