OS Studios has appointed Ishaan Arya as Country Manager for India, tasking him with leading the agency’s expansion across newly established hubs in Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Mumbai. The appointment was announced on 25 June, 2026 in Bengaluru.

OS Studios, a Project Worldwide agency, said it recently entered the Indian market and will deploy its ‘Fan Z’ approach for brands looking to engage with gaming, esports and live events audiences in South Asia. The company said the expansion will leverage the infrastructure and production capabilities of sister agency George P. Johnson (GPJ) India.

“The future of gaming will be shaped by the communities that care about it most, and few markets embody that more than India,” said John Higgins, CEO of OS Studios. “To build something meaningful, you have to be part of the culture, not looking in from the outside. Ishaan understands that better than anyone. He’s exactly the kind of leader we want building the future of OS Studios in India.”

In the role, Arya will oversee operations, drive strategic brand partnerships, and scale local capabilities, according to the company. “Brands are investing heavily in Indian gaming, but true fan experience is too often an afterthought,” said Rasheed Sait, Chief Growth Officer for India and South Asia at Project Worldwide. “Alongside GPJ India’s experiential footprint, OS Studios will set a new standard for fan engagement in the region.”

Arya previously co-founded The Esports Club and most recently served as Vice President of Partnerships at Nodwin Gaming, where he led Comic Con India. “A massive gap remains between brand intent and authentic community engagement in India,” said Arya. “I’m thrilled to leverage Project Worldwide and GPJ India’s operational strength to build culture-defining experiences for brands and fans alike.”

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S8UL Esports has qualified for the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Free Fire, adding a sixth title to its confirmed lineup for the event. The organisation said its Free Fire MAX roster secured the berth after finishing second at the Free Fire MAX India Cup (FFMIC) 2026 Spring.

S8UL’s recently acquired roster—Naitik Sharma (Troll), Prince Saini (Prinxz), Jay Verma (Bunny), Harshit Nain (Jack07), and Abhishek Gupta (Stiven)—earned one of three invitations allocated to Indian representatives at EWC 2026. Free Fire at EWC 2026 is scheduled for July 15 to 18 in Paris, France, featuring 24 teams and a USD 1 million prize pool (approximately INR 9.4 crore), according to the company.

FFMIC 2026 Spring ran a multi-stage format from City Qualifiers and In-Game Qualifiers through to Group Stage, Knockout Stage, Point Rush and Champion Rush. S8UL said the roster posted 186 points in Knockout Stage Week 1 to place sixth, then carried momentum into the final phase. In Champion Rush, the team entered with three Headstart Points from Point Rush and finished second overall after scoring 131 points and two Booyahs across eight matches. The result also delivered INR 17 lakh in prize money, S8UL said.

Prince Saini aka Prinxz, captain of S8UL’s Free Fire Max roster said, “What makes this team special is the chemistry we’ve developed over time. We have a shared understanding of how we want to approach the game, and that allows us to stay composed and adapt quickly in different situations. Qualifying for the Esports World Cup is an important milestone for us, and doing so as part of S8UL makes the opportunity even more exciting. We are looking forward to representing the organization on the global stage and showing what this roster can achieve against some of the best teams in the world.”

S8UL Co-founder and CEO Animesh Agarwal aka 8Bit Thug linked the qualification to the wider Indian mobile esports ecosystem, saying, “Free Fire MAX has been one of the driving forces behind the growth of mobile esports in India, helping create a highly competitive ecosystem and a pipeline of talented players. When those players get the opportunity to compete at an event like the Esports World Cup, it is not just a milestone for the team but also a reflection of how far the Indian scene has come. Facing the world’s best teams provides invaluable experience and helps raise the overall standard of competition back home. At S8UL, we remain committed to identifying and supporting Indian talent, and we are proud to see our Free Fire MAX roster earn the chance to represent both the organization and the country on one of esports’ biggest stages,”. The organisation added it is also confirmed for EWC 2026 in Apex Legends, Chess, Fortnite, Honor of Kings and Trackmania, and remains in contention in EA SPORTS FC, Fatal Fury, Street Fighter 6 and Tekken 8. EWC 2026 runs July 6 to August 23 with a stated total prize pool of USD 75 million (~INR 714 crore).

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The esports organisation’s second anime apparel collaboration will be sold exclusively via g2esports.com/shop.

G2 is launching a limited-edition G2 | One Piece capsule collection on June 25, with the drop available exclusively through the organisation’s online store at g2esports.com/shop.

The collection is inspired by One Piece’s Gear 5 Monkey D. Luffy and includes hoodies, zip-ups, t-shirts, caps, sleeves, and tote bags. According to G2, the items use a black-and-white palette and feature a minimalist embroidered logo alongside a custom G2 | One Piece Jolly Roger that combines the G2 samurai emblem with Luffy’s straw hat.

“At G2, we’re continuing to push the culture and fashion of esports beyond competition alone, and this One Piece collection is a natural extension of that,” says Sabrina Ratih, COO of G2 Esports. “We wanted to create a capsule that continues to elevate the esports fashion space – understated, premium, and stylish enough for everyday wear, while still carrying the spirit of adventure, ambition, and individuality that defines One Piece and G2 alike. Every piece is designed to bridge the gap between fandom and everyday style, and continuing our mission to redefine what esports fashion can be.”

G2 described the drop as its second anime collaboration, following a previous apparel collaboration with Solo Leveling. The company positioned the release as part of its broader effort to connect esports, anime, and streetwear.

One Piece debuted in 1999 and remains one of the largest anime franchises globally. G2 cited over 600 million manga copies sold and more than 1,160 episodes for the series.

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