Akshat Rathee

Manish Agarwal Joins NODWIN Gaming Board as Non-Executive Director

Published

2 days ago

April 15, 2026

manish-agarwal-joins-nodwin-gaming-board-as-non-executive-director

NODWIN Gaming, a leading esports and youth entertainment company, announced the appointment of Manish Agarwal to its Board as a Non-Executive Director. An executive who played a key role in scaling and taking public India’s only listed gaming company, Manish brings deep experience in public market readiness, governance and institutional growth as NODWIN accelerates preparations for a potential public listing. Notably, he has been associated with NODWIN since its early days leading Nazara Technology’s investment into the company, bringing a long-term perspective on the company’s evolution, strategy and category leadership.

Manish is a successful entrepreneur and ecosystem builder, currently Co-founder of KGeN (Kratos Gamer Network) – a verified human distribution network organizing micro-communities across the Global South to power engagement, commerce. KGeN is backed by leading global investors including Accel and Prosus, with its most recent private round valuing the company at approximately $500 million.

He is also the Founder of Humyn Labs, which works with frontier technology companies to transform signals from real-world communities into structured human intelligence systems for AI.

As a Non-Executive Director, Manish will work closely with the Board and leadership team to strengthen governance, strategic oversigh, and long-term value creation as the company scales across markets and builds institutional depth aligned with public market expectations.

Manish Agarwal, Co-Founder of KGeN & Humyn Labs, said: “Having seen NODWIN’s journey from its early stages to becoming a leading force in youth culture and gaming, it’s been exciting to watch its evolution. As the company now prepares for its next phase, including its path towards public markets, I look forward to contributing to building a globally relevant and institutionally strong platform.”

Akshat Rathee, Managing Director and Co-Founder of NODWIN Gaming, said: “Manish has been a long-time partner in NODWIN’s journey, from leading Nazara Technologies’ investment into the company to now joining our Board at a crucial inflection point. He is the leader who took Nazara public and created immense shareholder value, and brings that same mindset as we prepare for our own public market journey. Manish brings a rare combination of entrepreneurial vision and public market experience that is incredibly valuable at this stage of our journey. We are confident his strategic guidance will play an important role as we advance our pre-IPO round and continue creating long-term value for our stakeholders. We are delighted to welcome him to the Board at this important stage.”

NODWIN Gaming has been steadily expanding its footprint across gaming, creator ecosystems and youth culture, building a diversified platform spanning content, commerce and experiences. The company continues to invest in strengthening its institutional capabilities, governance frameworks and global presence as it prepares for its next chapter.

This appointment is part of a broader set of strategic moves by NODWIN Gaming as it prepares for its next phase of growth. Earlier this month, the company brought back Sidharth Kedia to lead strategy, capital planning and M&A, reinforcing its focus on disciplined growth and shareholder value creation.

Alongside bringing Arnd Benninghoff onto the Board and kicking off a $100 million pre-IPO fundraise, these moves reflect a deliberate effort to strengthen leadership, governance and strategic depth as NODWIN moves closer to the public markets. After posting a strong INR 524 Cr in FY25, the result of a consistent 50%+ CAGR since 2018, the company has already eclipsed that milestone. In the first three quarters of FY26 alone, revenue reached INR 530.3 Cr while maintaining EBITDA-positive operations, signaling a record-breaking year ahead.

The post Manish Agarwal Joins NODWIN Gaming Board as Non-Executive Director appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

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Akshat Rathee

Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone

Published

3 months ago

January 6, 2026

Wladimir P.

indian-esports-2026:-strategic-growth-and-the-asian-games-milestone

The Indian esports landscape is transitioning from a period of rapid “spectacle” growth to a phase defined by lasting institutional structure. Following the implementation of the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), 2026 is set to be the year where regulatory clarity, international competition, and domestic grassroots development converge.

The Impact of PROGA: Policy into Practice

The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act (PROGA), signed into law in August 2025, has officially moved from policy to practice. Its primary contribution to 2026 is the explicit separation of esports from money-based gaming.

Legitimacy: By categorizing esports as a legitimate competitive pursuit, PROGA has unlocked state-level adoption and cleared the way for schools and colleges to integrate gaming into their sports frameworks.
Commercial Confidence: With a clear regulatory environment, brands in sectors like FMCG, automotive, and BFSI are now viewing esports as a stable, long-term youth engagement platform rather than a risky experiment.
Athlete Pathways: PROGA facilitates the creation of standardized national registries for athletes, ensuring that competitive integrity is maintained across grassroots and professional tiers.

The Asian Games 2026: A Global Stage

The Asian Games 2026 in Aichi and Nagoya, Japan, serves as the most critical milestone for the ecosystem this year.

Medal Status: Esports will feature as a full medal event with 11 confirmed titles, including League of Legends, PUBG Mobile (Asian Games Version), and Pokémon UNITE.
Indian Prospects: India’s best historical result (quarter-finals in League of Legends at Hangzhou) has set a high bar. For 2026, the focus has shifted toward high-performance training camps and long-term athlete mentorship to secure a podium finish.
Multi-Sport Integration: Participation alongside traditional athletes reinforces the narrative that esports is a viable professional career, further encouraging government investment through schemes like Khelo India.

Market Evolution and Key Trends

The Indian gaming market is projected to reach approximately $5.02 billion in 2026, driven by a massive player base exceeding 500 million gamers.

Trend	Impact in 2026
Mobile Dominance	Over 95% of the market remains mobile-first, fueled by 5G expansion and affordable hardware.
Beyond BGMI	2026 is seeing a push to diversify the market into fighting games, sports simulations, and PC titles to avoid “one-title dependency.”
Monetization Shift	Revenue is shifting from pure advertising toward battle passes, subscription models, and in-game progression.
Tier II & III Growth	Most new user acquisition is coming from smaller cities, demanding more vernacular and localized content.

The post Indian Esports 2026: Strategic Growth and the Asian Games Milestone appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

Akshat Rathee

PlayStation and NODWIN Gaming Announce the Fourth Edition of the PlayStation India Cup Featuring EA SPORTS FC 26

Published

6 months ago

October 10, 2025

Niji Narayan

playstation-and-nodwin-gaming-announce-the-fourth-edition-of-the-playstation-india-cup-featuring-ea-sports-fc-26

Reading Time: 2 minutes

NODWIN Gaming, a leader in new-age youth entertainment, gaming and esports, has announced the fourth edition of the PlayStation India Cup, featuring EA SPORTS FC 26, exclusively on PS5 console.

The tournament marks the return of India’s only official console esports tournament, and features daily online qualifiers, followed by an online playoffs. The top 8 players will progress to the grand finale, which will take place during Delhi Comic Con at NSIC Grounds, Okhla, New Delhi, from 5th December to 7th December 2025. Fans will witness the country’s top EA FC 26 players competing for a total prize pool of ₹4,00,000. With the rise of football fandom in India and the ever-growing EA SPORTS FC community, this year’s championship promises bigger competition and unmatched excitement.

The previous edition of the India Cup Finals at Delhi Comic Con 2024 also featured an immersive PlayStation gaming pavilion with hands-on demos and live commentary, which saw strong engagement from Comic Con attendees.

This year, in addition to the sizable prize pool, all finalists will receive official PlayStation merchandise, making the competition even more rewarding for players who make it to the big stage.

How to Register

Registrations for the PlayStation India Cup started on October 08, 2025. Players across India can participate in the daily online qualifiers through the following steps:

Step-by-Step Registration Process

Step 1: Boot up the PlayStation 5 and ensure it is connected to the internet.

Step 2: Navigate to the “Events” or “Tournaments” section on the PS5 dashboard.

Step 3: Look for the “PlayStation India Cup FC 26” (EA SPORTS FC 26) tournament listing.

Step 4: Select the tournament and follow the on-screen prompts to complete registration.

Step 5: Confirm participation and monitor notifications for match schedules or additional requirements.

The Daily Cups conclude on November 10, 2025. Players are encouraged to register early to secure their spot in the daily qualifiers.

Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, said: “The console esports scene in India is a premium niche, and the PlayStation India Cup with EA FC captures that perfectly. Delhi Comic Con, where our journey began over a decade ago, provides the ideal stage, bringing together fans who love both pop culture and competitive gaming. Hosting the tournament in our 40,000 sq. ft. Gaming Arena adds to the festive spirit of Comic Con, where football fans can compete, cheer, and experience EA FC like never before. It’s a true celebration of Delhi’s vibrant fandom and the growing console esports community in India.”

The tournament will be amplified with influencer-led content, live streams and weekly updates, ensuring both players and fans remain engaged throughout the journey.

The post PlayStation and NODWIN Gaming Announce the Fourth Edition of the PlayStation India Cup Featuring EA SPORTS FC 26 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.