Gaming Report: Amitabh Bachchan & Amish Tripathi Launch AAA Studio ‘Tara Gaming’; WinZO Posts Strong Results Amid Harsh GST Climate

It was another attention-grabbing week tracking the fast-moving Indian gaming space, with two recent developments standing out. We saw major creative ambitions take flight with mainstream star power making a strong entry in gaming; simultaneously, a homegrown platform reported incredible numbers despite tough market headwinds.

On the creative side, a genuine power trio has formed, with cinema legend Amitabh Bachchan, author Amish Tripathi, and gaming industry veteran Nouredine Abboud joining hands to co-found Tara Gaming Ltd. Their first announced project is ‘The Age of Bhaarat,’ a AAA action-adventure game for PC and consoles. The venture aims to give India’s mythology the epic, global stage it deserves, all developed under a ‘Create in India’ banner.

Meanwhile, on the business front, WinZO released stunning FY24 financials. The gaming platform saw its operating revenue shoot up 70% to ₹1,055 Crores, with adjusted profits leaping 2.5x to ₹315 Crores. This happened even as the heavy 28% GST hit the industry mid-year, suggesting WinZO’s unique microtransaction model, massive reach into regional India (250M users!), and developer-friendly approach are working exceptionally well, even allowing for a recent expansion into Brazil.

It seems India is not just playing the game anymore; it’s starting to design it, too—both the blockbusters and the business models.

Big B Gets in the Game! Amitabh Bachchan Co-Founds Tara Gaming, Drops First Look at Epic AAA Title ‘The Age of Bhaarat’

In a move that bridges generations and industries, the undisputed Shahenshah of Bollywood himself, Amitabh Bachchan, is making a significant power move into the rapidly expanding universe of video gaming! The legendary icon who continues to redefine artistry after decades in cinema and over 200 films, has officially joined forces with Amish Tripathi, the massively popular author celebrated for bringing Indian myths and history (think the Shiva Trilogy, the Ram Chandra series) vividly to life for millions of modern readers, and Nouredine Abboud, a heavyweight veteran with serious credentials in international game development to co-found a brand new venture: Tara Gaming Ltd.

Would you like to be a hero in Ancient India?

Live at the time of the epics & fight for Dharma?

In a path-breaking video-game…voiced by none other than @SrBachchan?

Soon, you will be able to.

I’m thrilled to announce: The Age of Bhaarat.

THIS trailer will blow your mind 👇 pic.twitter.com/V9N7QovFyy

— Amish Tripathi (@authoramish) May 1, 2025

This isn’t just a celebrity endorsement; Bachchan is a co-founder, bringing his masterful storytelling skills and profound understanding of Indian culture into the heart of game development. And they announced their arrival with a proper bang on May 1, dropping the first-look trailer for Tara Gaming’s flagship project: The Age of Bhaarat. This isn’t a mobile time-killer; it’s being billed as a full-blown, AAA-quality action-adventure game franchise destined for PC and consoles. The setting is a sweeping, epic reimagining of ancient India, drawing inspiration from the country’s vast ocean of epics, folklore, and traditions.

Tara Gaming aims to fuse India’s treasure chest of myths, epics, and folklore – stories criminally overlooked in big-budget global gaming – with slick, modern game design and production values. They want to put Indian gaming firmly on the world map, boosting homegrown talent and connecting stories dripping with Indian flavour to players everywhere under their “Create in India” banner.

The debut trailer offers a juicy glimpse – stunning worlds breathing with ancient atmosphere, glimpses of mighty warriors clashing with mythical beasts, and the promise of complex, layered stories. The visuals aim for that cinematic, blockbuster feel, backed by impressive modern game technology. They’re serious about delivering an experience that respects the source material while providing cutting-edge interactive entertainment. You can watch the trailer below.

Bachchan sounds genuinely fired up about the venture: “Joining Tara Gaming is an extension of my lifelong commitment to storytelling,” he shared. “When I heard Amish’s and Nouredine’s vision, I was hooked by the potential of creating something genuinely epic. India has always been a land of powerful stories, and through this game, we have an opportunity to share our epics, creativity, and imagination with the world. Gaming is where stories come alive for the next generation, and I’m excited to help shape that experience at Tara Gaming with a pure desi lens.”

Nouredine Abboud, the gaming brain in the trio, added: “To welcome Mr. Bachchan as our co-founder is a huge deal. His deep understanding of Indian culture and storytelling is worth its weight in gold as we develop a game that clicks with gamers everywhere. The trailer is just a taste of this massive and pull-you-in world that respects Indian traditions while delivering top-notch gameplay. The Age of Bhaarat has always been a passion project for us… and with Mr. Bachchan onboard, our belief is even deeper.”

Bringing his storytelling chops, Amish Tripathi was equally enthusiastic: “We are deeply honoured to welcome Amitabh Bachchan ji to Tara Gaming. Mr. Bachchan is a person with amazing foresight whose understanding of Indian heritage is second to none, and his belief in our vision adds major fuel to our journey. He brings a sense of legacy and inspiration that’s off the charts. The trailer perfectly captures the big swing we’re taking to present Indian itihaas to the world with a cool new spin, and we believe players across the globe will be excited to explore the world we’re building.”

This announcement feels like more than just a new game studio opening its doors. It’s a confluence of massive star power, respected literary talent, and seasoned game development experience focused on bringing authentic Indian stories to the global AAA gaming stage. “The Age of Bhaarat” is aiming high, positioned not just as entertainment but as a cultural landmark and a bold play to establish India as a creator, not just a consumer, in the high-stakes world of big-budget gaming. This is a project to keep a very close eye on.

WinZO Cranks Up Revenue 70% to ₹1,055 Crores, Profit Soars Despite GST Storm

While much of India’s real-money gaming scene spent the last fiscal year wrestling with the fallout from a major GST hike, WinZO didn’t get the memo about slowing down. The gaming platform dropped its numbers on April 30 for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024, and they are eye-opening. Operating revenue skyrocketed 70%, hitting ₹1,055 Crores (up from ₹619.40 Crores the previous year). On top of that, its adjusted profit after tax (PAT) jumped a whopping 2.5 times, landing at ₹315 Crores (compared to ₹125 Crores in FY23), making it a real outlier in terms of profitability in the current Indian gaming climate.

Breaking Down the Numbers: Growing Against the Grain

This standout showing came even as the industry absorbed the impact of the hefty 28% GST on deposits impacting online gaming revenue, which took effect mid-year on October 1, 2023. That means WinZO’s strong FY24 performance only reflects six months under the new tax structure – the full-year impact will be clearer in FY25’s results. Industry insiders had estimated this tax change could increase outflows by 350-400% for gaming companies, making WinZO’s growth even more impressive.

There’s also an accounting detail worth mentioning. In FY23, WinZO switched to IndAS accounting standards. This required treating its Compulsorily Convertible Preference Shares (CCPS) as a liability, leading to a one-time, non-cash expense of ₹999 Crores hitting the FY24 books. Including this accounting adjustment results in a reported loss of ₹684 Crores on paper, but critically, this doesn’t reflect the actual health of their day-to-day operations. The core business engine looks strong: even though total expenses climbed 35.80% (to ₹693.40 Crores), WinZO’s EBITDA – a key indicator of operational profitability – more than tripled year-over-year to ₹397.20 Crores from ₹126.80 Crores.

The WinZO Playbook: Community, Small Stakes, and Local Flavor

Founded in 2018 by Paavan Nanda and Saumya Singh Rathore, WinZO carved its niche with a different approach. Instead of ads or big in-app purchases, they focused on microtransactions – small spends typically between ₹1 and ₹10, making gaming super accessible. They built a platform that hosts over 50 casual and strategy games, often from a network of over 50 third-party developers. Their library features popular casual and strategy titles – Ludo, Carrom, Chess, Checkers, and 8 Ball Pool – all offered in 16 regional languages, including Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, and Bhojpuri.

This focus on affordability, community, and local languages resonated, especially outside the metro areas. WinZO reports a massive 250 Million registered user base, primarily concentrated in India’s Tier II-V cities. They’ve also fostered a vast network of some 75,000 micro-influencers and gaming creators. Their deep integration is evident in one wild statistic: WinZO handled 1 out of every 200 UPI transactions in India last year!

Smart Moves & Global Ambitions

What’s driving this success? Several factors seem key:

1. Huge User Base: Reaching roughly 40% of India’s online gamers organically speaks volumes.
2. Engaging Ecosystem: A wide variety of accessible games keeps players returning.
3. Developer Partnerships: Their platform helps smaller developers monetise effectively.
4. Lean & Mean Operation: Achieving impressive revenue and profit figures with a team of only around 200 shows sharp execution.
5. Tech Focus: Filing over 50 tech patents underscores their commitment to innovation.
6. Going Global: Launching in Brazil last October with a localised platform was a bold first step towards international growth, possibly accelerated by India’s GST changes.
7. Strong Backing: Raising $100 Million from top-tier VCs like Kalaari Capital, Griffin Gaming Partners, Courtside Ventures, and Makers Fund gives them the resources to execute their vision.

Leaving Competitors in the Dust?

WinZO’s 70% revenue jump in FY24 looks particularly strong when compared to the much flatter performance reported by some peers during similar periods:

1. Nazara Technologies: 4% growth
2. Zupee: 34.90% growth
3. MPL: 22% growth
4. Gameskraft: 30% revenue growth, but saw profits dip 10.8%
5. Head Digital Works: 31% revenue growth, 24% PAT increase

MPL’s parent company reported a $44.9M loss (though claimed adjusted EBITDA breakeven). WinZO’s approach seems tailor-made for navigating the current market realities.

The Founders’ Vision: Building from India for the World

Co-founders Paavan Nanda and Saumya Singh Rathore summed up their mission: “WinZO’s personalised technology offers the most affordable entertainment to 250 million Indians while empowering thousands of creators and developers. We’re not just building a gaming company—we’re shaping a globally scalable ecosystem rooted in Indian innovation. Our ambition is bold: to create a tech powerhouse from India that inspires the world with its innovations and scale alike.”

Beyond the balance sheet, WinZO has also engaged in social impact work, like its ‘Play to Prevent Cancer’ initiative with Tata Memorial Hospital.