Bengaluru-based AAA mobile game developer Mayhem Studios has secured investment from Lumikai, an Indian interactive media and gaming venture fund.
Mayhem Studios is currently building Underworld Gang Wars (UGW), a battle royale game with an Indian setting, solely for Android. It features a dynamic world including locations from city centres to rural landscapes. Players can choose from a variety of traditional and contemporary weapons as they compete to be the last player standing. The game features two rival gangs, The Velvets and The Bhokal Toli, and is touted as a competitive video game.
Lumikai founding general partner Salone Sehgal expressed, “We’re thrilled to join forces with Mayhem as they redefine the battle royale genre with UGW. Their vision for a truly Indian experience and building world class gaming IPs out of India aligns perfectly with our belief in the potential of India’s video gaming industry to captivate global audiences. We’re excited to fuel their journey and bring a truly promising project to life.”
Existing investors of the studio include Peak XV Partners (previously Sequoia India), Steadview Capital, Truecaller, Hashed Emergent, Base Partners and Moore Strategic.
Mayhem Studios CEO Ojas Vipat said, “Lumikai’s investment is a significant endorsement of what Mayhem Studios is building. Their extensive industry knowledge and expertise will be invaluable as we strive to elevate India’s gaming industry on the global stage. UGW is just the beginning of our ambitious vision to create world-class games that resonate with players worldwide. We are committed to nurturing Indian gaming talent and showcasing the country’s creative prowess.”
The developer has exited the closed beta for the game in May this year and is preparing for the open beta. The game has garnered 7.5 million pre-registrations on the Android Play Store from across the country.
Lumikai has previously invested in companies including Bombay Play (casual gaming studio), Elo Elo (live social entertainment platform), All Star Games (casual gaming studio), Supernova (personalised AI tutors), Autovrse (AR/VR company), Vobble (interactive audio platform for children) amongst others.