New Delhi. Lightfury Games (LFG), a (Triple A) AAA-focused game-tech studio, has today announced that some of the biggest names in cricket—MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, along with Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Tilak Verma and Sai Sudarshan—have invested in the company. These players will also be seen as playable avatars in the upcoming e-cricket game from Lightfury Games. This is the company’s first original cricket title, which is proposed to be launched this year. To date, Lightfury Games has raised approximately US$20 million through various funding rounds. The cricket stars are part of Lightfury Games’ pre-Series A funding of US$11 million, along with investors like Blume Ventures, V3 Ventures, MIXI and Times Internet. The 100-member studio has deep creative talent and advanced technical capabilities, capable of creating premium and globally competitive games.
Regarding this collaboration, MS Dhoni said, “I have watched many cricket games over the years, and there has always been something missing. When Lightfury showed me what they were working on, I felt that they were trying to fill that gap. Making a game like this from India to a global audience is a big task. I want to contribute as much as I can from my cricket experience and make sure that the details are right. The rest is up to their team, and from what I saw Is, based on that they will do good work.”
Speaking on the challenge of bringing the depth of cricket to the game, Jasprit Bumrah, who is exclusively managed by RISE Worldwide, said, “Cricket is a game of nuance, and that’s what I found most special about e-Cricket. The attention to detail and authenticity that has gone into it is impressive. I’m glad to be supporting a team that has a deep understanding of the game and is creating something meaningful for India.”
Sharing his opinion on the level of cricket and the energy of the fans, Hardik Pandya said: “Cricket is a mix of pressure, skill and entertainment all at once. Fans want to feel that energy. What excites me about e-Cricket is that it is not trying to trivialize cricket for the sake of gaming. Rather, it is trying to take gaming to the level of cricket. It is a bold idea, and when the team at Lightfury approached me to be a part of this game, So I got very excited.”
E-Cricket is a mobile-first, skill-based sports game that will be free-to-play and will not involve any betting or real-money gaming. The game will offer a realistic batting and bowling experience, where users will be able to play against other players in match-like situations with their favorite cricketers. Game conditions will vary depending on player decisions. Developed in India, the game is designed for a global audience and will be offered as a premium, live-service cricket game in line with global production standards. The game reflects Lightfury Games’ long-term vision to build a strong and globally competitive cricket gaming franchise from India.
Karan Shroff, Co-Founder and CEO, Lightfury Games, said, “We are extremely pleased with the support from India’s top cricketers. For us, it is a testament to the trust people have in our vision of creating a made-in-India cricket game that will be loved across the world. e-Cricket will bring international quality, depth and realism to cricket fans, and we look forward to its launch this year.”
Earlier this year, Lightfury Games signed licensing agreements with over 600 professional cricketers from around the world, one of the largest rosters ever announced in a cricket game. The game will feature many top international players like Chris Gayle, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Kane Williamson, Pat Cummins, Jos Buttler, Travis Head and Andre Russell among many others.
About LightFury Games:
Founded in 2024 by experienced industry professionals—Karan Shroff, Anurag Banerjee, and Tina Balachandran, Lightfury Games is India’s leading AAA-focused game-tech studio, dedicated to developing high-quality and cutting-edge gaming experiences. The leadership team has worked together on over 40 AAA titles.
To date, Lightfury Games has raised approximately US$20 million through various funding rounds. Its investors include Blume Ventures, V3 Ventures, MIXI, Times Internet and strategic investments made by several players of the Indian cricket team. The team of over 100 develops high-quality and globally competitive games by combining creative vision and technical innovation.
Since its inception, Lightfury Games has placed world-class technology and talent at the core of its planning and development and is working towards establishing India as a leading hub of world-class game development.
For more information please visit their website:
Comments are closed.