India’s gaming industry is buzzing with anticipation as LightFury Games, a Bengaluru-based gaming studio founded by Karan Shroff and Anurag Banerjee, sets out to develop what could be India’s first globally successful AAA game — E-Cricket, a real-time multiplayer sports simulation title.
This bold attempt aims to place India alongside global AAA game-producing giants like the US, Japan, and Canada, and could redefine the trajectory of Indian gaming for years to come.
The AAA Gaming Gap in India
Despite being home to over 500 million gamers, India has long struggled to break into the AAA gaming category. The recent release of Indus Battle Royale by SuperGaming in 2024 marked a milestone but also highlighted the challenges ahead — from high production costs to lack of global-standard output and limited access to experienced AAA talent.
Karan Shroff, former CMO at Unacademy and a driving force behind Xiaomi’s marketing success in India, believes it’s time for India to stake its claim. Teaming up with AAA game development veteran Anurag Banerjee, who has worked with top global studios like Ubisoft, Rocksteady, WB Games Montreal, and Improbable, Shroff co-founded LightFury Games in 2023 with a mission to put India on the AAA map.
E-Cricket: India’s Answer to FIFA and NBA 2K?
Slated for launch by early 2026, E-Cricket will be a real-time multiplayer cricket simulation game — an ambitious attempt to fill a void in the global gaming market.
“While there are many sports-focussed AAA games worldwide, there are not many AAA cricket titles,” says Shroff.
“That’s where we saw the opportunity.”
What makes E-Cricket stand out:
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Real-time multiplayer gameplay
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Unpredictable match outcomes
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Communication features during matches
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Match simulation elements like target setting and chasing
The studio is also exploring AI-driven development techniques to cut down production timelines and costs. While AAA games often take 3–4 years to ship, LightFury aims to release E-Cricket in just under 24 months — a massive acceleration made possible by AI tools for coding and content creation.
A Global Game with Desi Roots
LightFury is not just building a game; it’s building a global gaming product. The founders plan to launch E-Cricket in all major cricket-playing markets, including:
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India
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Australia
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UK
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South Africa
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Pakistan
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Middle East
This global-first strategy could potentially unlock a massive user base in regions with passionate cricket fandom, giving LightFury a competitive edge in the sports gaming segment dominated by FIFA, NBA 2K, and MLB The Show.
The Roadblocks Ahead
Creating a AAA game in India is no easy feat. The industry continues to face:
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High development costs
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Limited access to AAA-experienced developers
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Skepticism from global gamers and publishers
However, LightFury seems well-equipped. With Shroff’s marketing and scaling expertise and Banerjee’s deep technical and creative background, the studio could be the catalyst India’s AAA gaming sector has been waiting for.
Final Thoughts: Will LightFury Deliver?
The Indian gaming community and investors alike are closely watching LightFury’s E-Cricket. If successful, it could become India’s first globally recognized AAA title, breaking barriers and creating a blueprint for other studios.
For now, LightFury’s bold bet on cricket — India’s most beloved sport — might just be the homegrown breakthrough the Indian gaming scene has long yearned for.