Along with the 140 crore Indians, the stakeholders of the Indian esports industry eagerly await the upcoming Union Budget for 2024. Every year, the Union Budget brings a lot of nervousness for all Indians as it decides the beliefs and the financial support that the government offers. The Indian esports stakeholders, players and fans replicate the same nervousness with the hopes of the government acknowledging esports and creating policies favouring the ecosystem. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2024 on 1 February 2024.

In 2023, the Indian esports and gaming ecosystem showcased its power in front of the world. Revenant Esports in Brawl Stars and GodLike Esports in Call of Duty Mobile represented India and impressed everyone with their performances. S8UL Esports won the Esports Content Creator of the Year award at the Esports Awards and the Global Impact Award at MOBIES in 2023. 

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"We hope for fair support and conducive policies from the government in the upcoming budget", Animesh Agarwal On Union Budget 2024

S8UL has pioneered the Indian esports industry and played a crucial role in bringing Indian esports to the world map. Animesh "Thug" Agarwal, Founder and CEO of 8Bit Creatives and Co-Founder of S8UL, expressed his expectations by saying:

The Esports industry is growing at an impressive percentage and is only forecasted to grow. We hope for fair support and conducive policies from the government in the upcoming budget to further foster this growth.

India also witnessed the first-ever international Valorant tournament, Convergence 2023, by Riot Games and The Esports Club. The publishers show faith in Indian esports by organizing a high-scale international LAN like Convergence 2023 in Bangalore, India. 

Stepping into 2024, we stand at the cusp of an exciting era for Indian esports. The recently concluded Convergence, our first-ever International Valorant tournament in partnership with Riot Games, showcased the immense potential within our community. As we eagerly anticipate the Union Budget, we are optimistic about the government's vision for esports. The success of Convergence 2024 serves as a testament to the passion and skill that defines our esports landscape. With the right support, we believe that this industry can be a driving force for innovation, entertainment, and national pride. Together, let's unlock new horizons and pave the way for a thriving future in Indian esports. - Vamsi Krishna, Founder of The Esports Club.

India was also part of the IESF Asian Championship, with Indian teams and players giving tough fights to other nations to bring the country's name to the top. With hopes of fund allocation for Indian esports and providing incentives to Indian gaming studios, here is what Lokesh Suji, Director of the Esports Federation of India and Vice President of the Asian Esports Federation, said:

For establishing the infrastructure necessary for the industry's development and to nurture an Esports ecosystem that positions India as a global Esports hub, we hope to see a dedicated allocation of funds for the Esports sector. Additionally, we eagerly anticipate the introduction of incentives for Indian video game development studios that will not only encourage innovation but also enable homegrown titles to prosper within the community.

The Indian stakeholders are also looking for the government to move 'Esports' based activities to a lower tax slab. Rohit Agarwal, Founder and Director of Alpha Zegus, expressed the concern by saying,

From budget 2024, one of the major steps I look forward to is more 'Esports' based activities moving to 18% slab (from 28% slab). Apart from this, I'm also looking forward to the government encouraging more state governments to assign budgets for the growth and promotion of Esports (similar to Bihar). Lastly, more regulations in terms of in-game and tournament winnings are expected to come in.

Recently, the Bihar government acknowledged esports and announced the addition of esports to school and college curricula. K. R. Rohith, CEO of Gods Reign, wants the government of India to take steps in the same direction and expressed his vision by saying,

Recognizing the exponential growth of the video gaming industry, we hope for the government's consideration and support in encouraging educational programs by adding Esports into Educational Curriculums and skill development initiatives focused on gaming and Esports. This would contribute significantly to nurturing talent within the sector, aligning with the national agenda of promoting digital skills.

Activision Blizzard has confirmed that Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Open Beta was the biggest in the franchise's history through an official X post. The Black Ops 6 Open Beta ended with a massive positive response from gamers, as it showcased various new additions coming to the franchise, including the new movement and human shield features, which were used by players during the beta session.

According to the X post by Activision Blizzard, the Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Open Beta was on top in terms of total players compared to all the past Beta Sessions, alongside maintaining the same ranking in total hours played, playtime per player, and most matches played.

Also read: Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 Live Action Trailer Revealed

Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Open Beta Beats Records in Total Players

Treyarch and Raven Software delivered an extremely satisfying experience to gamers with the Call of Duty Black Ops 6 Open Beta last week. Moreover, after the tepid fan response from recent COD titles such as Modern Warfare 3, fans are desperately looking for a refreshing Call of Duty experience from the developers.

It seems the Black Ops 6 Open Beta did exactly that, offering fans new game modes, weapons, a fluid movement style, and a decent campaign to look forward to. The Open Beta lets players enjoy the latest 'omnidirectional movement', where one can sprint, dive, and slide in any direction they desire. This movement style is the newest addition to the franchise, as the previous COD games only focused more on fast and responsive movement towards a singular direction, when in action.

Various fans and content creators have also confirmed that this movement style makes the gameplay much more special and allows for creative moments in intense situations. With the Open Beta over, Call of Duty Black Ops 6 is also ready to bring a brand new campaign set in the early 1990s. Fans can enjoy the story mode with the official release on October 25, 2024. Activision has described the campaign to be a "dynamic and intense spy thriller", highlighting the iconic Black Ops theme from the previous games. Call of Duty Black Ops 6 will be available for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Moreover, gamers can also catch the game on day one through the PC Xbox Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate.

BGMI is one of the most popular battle royale games in the country. Adding to its popularity are the ample in-game cosmetics, which include gun skins, car skins and costumes. Recently, Krafton has been adding a variety of voice packs of popular BGMI content creators and athletes. All of these can be purchased with the help of the in-game currency, Unknown Cash (UC). Here are all the ways that you can buy UC in BGMI. 

Also Read: How to Buy UC in BGMI? All Methods Explored

How to Buy UC in BGMI with Extra Bonus?

There are multiple ways of buying UC in BGMI. The most common way of purchasing UC is through the game. All you have to do is go to the app, select the UC pack you wish to purchase and then proceed to make payments. If you buy UC from your Android device, this is how much you will have to pay: 

However, if you use an iOS device, your UC will cost: 

Additionally, if the players are looking for some lucrative offers, then they will have to try buying UC from trusted third party apps like the Rooter Shop or Uni Pin. Apps like the Rooter Shop will send the UC directly to your account if you purchase from them. What is more interesting is that you will get a lot of lucrative offers, which include bonuses that are not available in the game. In addition to this, you can also avail more discounts through the app if there is a promotion going on. The Uni Pin app works in the same way. Here are all the things you can buy from UC in BGMI: 

• Outfits
• Treasures
• Parachute skins
• Emotes
• Accessories
• Gun skins
• Vehicle skins

Once you have purchased UC, you can spend it on buying anything in the game. 

Sony officially revealed the PlayStation 5 Pro at their Technical Presentation today. The PlayStation maker did not hold back on their latest console, as the PS5 Pro offers a significant upgrade over the regular console from 2020, and in major ways. The PlayStation 5 Pro advances the console gaming technology with a colossal GPU upgrade, new Ray Tracing improvements, and new AI-driven models to impact video game visuals. Gamers can also achieve a much smoother experience in terms of FPS, as showcased by Mark Cerny, at the PS5 Pro Technical Presentation.

Also read: Sony To Reportedly Launch PlayStation 5 Pro Version In 2024

When is the PlayStation 5 Pro Releasing?

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The PlayStation 5 Pro will be available on November 7, 2024, priced at $699. the console will only come with the adapters, and Dual Shock Controller, as the vertical stand will be sold separately. While the PS5 Pro seems like a considerably expensive option for a console, Sony has promised to deliver a significant upgrade over the previous generations of PlayStations.

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PlayStation 5 Pro Specs

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As the PS5 Pro Technical Presentation concluded, fans have been wondering what will the new console bring hardware-wise. The PS5 Pro specification list includes the 'Big Three', as told by Mark Cerny at the presentation. These include a 45% faster RDNA GPU in the new console, which offers 67% more Compute Units, and 12% faster RAM compared to the regular PlayStation 5. Additionally, the PS5 Pro comes with Advanced Ray Tracing, calculating complex geometric rays at double and triple rates compared to previous hardware.

Lastly, a custom hardware addition has been made to the Pro version of the PlayStation 5 console called PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), which boosts visuals with AI-driven upscaling, while also maintaining solid framerates across resource-heavy titles. According to Sony, The PS5 Pro is easily the most powerful console they have ever made and is a "worthy addition" to the PlayStation family.

Some of the best games that can take advantage of the powerful PS5 Pro technology include Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Final Fantasy XVI, Horizon Forbidden West, The Last of Us Part II, Demon Souls Remake, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Ghost of Tsushima, Gran Turismo 7, Hogwarts Legacy, and Alan Wake 2. The PS5 Pro claims to hold up solid 60 frames per second across all the titles while offering groundbreaking visuals with its Ray Tracing and AI technology. With the official release only a few months away, fans are excited to see what Sony brings to the table.

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Renowned industry leader in the gaming sector, NODWIN Gaming is bringing DreamHack India and Hyderabad Comic Con this year, in November. The organization has announced this in collaboration with Insider, as the country's largest pop culture celebration is set to take place on November 15, 2024, and will conclude on November 17.

NODWIN Gaming acquired Comic Con India earlier this year, promising a massive gathering where fans can indulge in various events and discuss pop culture, as the event spreads its wings across multiple domains such as movies, anime, TV Shows, video games, and much more.

Also read: NODWIN Gaming Acquires Middle East And Turkey-Based Company Ninja Global FZCO

NODWIN Gaming Set to Bring Dream Hack India and Comic Con Soon

NODWIN Gaming's Comic Con events will be held in five cities and will cater to a huge audience of pop culture enthusiasts. The event is often seen as a comfortable space for fans to interact with like-minded individuals. Aside from the display of the pop-culture theme, one can also spot activities such as cosplay competitions, merchandise, and more interactive experiences.

Alongside the return of the Hyderabad Comic Con (HCC), the DreamHack is also making its addition to the event this year. The DreamHack premier gaming event is celebrating its 5th anniversary, adding new elements to the Comic Con. DreamHack India is popular for its fascinating LAN tournaments across various esports competitive games such as Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant. Additionally, it is also known for hosting events, tech expos, and meet-and-greets. Combining the Hyderabad Comic Con with DreamHack, occupants of the venue are looking at an electrifying experience where they get to experience the joy of two separate events at once. DreamHack x Hyderabad Comic Con promises the youth a colossal event this year, following a three-day format that will incorporate various opportunities for fans to explore the pop culture world, in a much interactive fashion.

The gameplay trailer of FAU: G- Domination went live at the FAU-G: Domination World Premiere Event and the pre-registration of the made-in-India game is also going on right now. The Prime Minister had urged the gaming industry to develop a world-class game, and FAU: G- Domination was nCore and Nazara's answer. The game's trailer showcases all the different maps of the game and all the weapons. 

Not just that, the trailer also shows multiple locations and firefights to show the kind of experience Dot9 and nCore Games want to give to their audience. 

Also Read: FAU-G: Domination Pre Registration is Live Now

FAU-G: Domination: Everything You Need To Know Before Launch

The game has been dedicated to Bharat Ke Veer, under the mentorship of actor Akshay Kumar. Furthermore, to extend their support to families of India’s Armed Forces Martyrs, Nazara will donate Rs. 25,00,000 to Bharat Ke Veer. Additionally, the game will showcase specific cosmetic items such as badges, of which 100 per cent of the proceeds will be given to Bharat Ke Veer. 

To make the gaming audience aware of the game, Nazara Publishing has decided to partner with many gaming influencers and give attractive pre-registration bonuses. Talking about the game, Nitish Mittersain, Founder and CEO of Nazara Technologies said: 

We’re delighted to finally showcase FAU-G: Domination and open pre-registrations for the game after a period of public testing that verified what we knew — FAU-G: Domination can address the demand of Indian gamers for locally relevant content. We can’t wait to share more with you on the road to release through our marketing initiatives.

The game goes beyond the realm of just being a genre and aims to raise awareness about India’s defence and military power. For that, NIBE Limited — India’s leading defence manufacturer is acting as the Defence Subject Matter Expert for FAU-G: Domination. Talking about it, Ganesh Nibe, Chairman and Managing Director, NIBE Group said: 

We’re proud to contribute to FAU-G: Domination towards bringing a true-to-life representation of India’s defence efforts to the widest possible audience. The next-generation of the nation are digital natives and FAU-G: Domination gives us a platform to showcase what keeps India safe and secure.

Pre-registration for the game is live right now and the ones who have pre-registered for the event will get attractive rewards like the Beast Collection, which includes a frame, banner, avatar, sticker, spray, and charm, as well as six gun skins: sawed-off shotgun, USP, Scout rifle, M4, Uzi, and Kabar.