Good Morning! It’s Wednesday, June 12. In today’s edition, we delve into what Indian gamers are seeking in the custom gaming PC market, Riot Games’ strategic blueprint for the 2025 League of Legends esports, and more.
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What Do Indian Gamers Want in Their Custom PCs?
As India’s gaming market gears up to contribute $3.49 billion globally by 2024, a new trend is emerging: a custom PC revolution. Our latest deep dive reveals surprising insights into the preferences of Indian gamers, challenging the long-held belief that mobile gaming dominates the scene.
We surveyed avid gamers to uncover their preferences, and the results were eye-opening. Local shops emerged as the preferred source for components, suggesting a strong desire among gamers to see and test parts before purchase. This preference highlights the importance of hands-on experience in the buying process, with online marketplaces being less favored.
Our findings also delve into the spending habits of Indian gamers and the components they prioritize. From budget preferences to the most sought-after parts, these insights paint a comprehensive picture of the evolving gaming landscape in India.
Discover the detailed results of our survey and learn more about what Indian gamers truly want in their custom gaming PCs in . This exploration not only sheds light on current trends but also underscores the dynamic and rapidly evolving nature of India’s gaming industry.
Riot Games Unveils Major Overhaul for 2025 League of Legends Esports
Riot Games is set to reconstruct the League of Legends Esports landscape in 2025 with a series of bold changes aimed at increasing excitement and competition. Among the most anticipated updates is the introduction of a third international event, a new addition that responds to the community’s desire for more global clashes among top teams. This event will feature a regional qualification system, leading to a high-stakes round-robin format and a six-day championship to crown the victor.
The regional split structure will also see a shake-up. All regions will start with the new international tournament, followed by a second split leading to the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) in July, and a third split ending with regional championships. This restructured schedule aims to provide a more cohesive and engaging competitive year, raising the stakes for regular-season matches and building anticipation towards the season’s climax at Worlds.
Riot is also exploring multi-region leagues in the Americas and Asia-Pacific (APAC). The Americas league would merge the LCS, CBLOL, and LLA into North and South conferences, each featuring “Guest Team” slots for promotion and relegation. The APAC league will integrate top teams from Vietnam, Japan, Oceania, and Southeast Asia, fostering fresh rivalries.
These changes come as part of Riot Games’ broader strategy to create a more sustainable and engaging esports ecosystem. With an eye on financial sustainability and fan engagement, the company is committed to closely monitoring the impact of these updates, ensuring they deliver a more competitive and entertaining experience for all stakeholders.
Quick Bytes
Netflix and Riot Games Tease Final Chapter of ‘Arcane’
Netflix and Riot Games have released a for the second and final chapter of Arcane. Christian Linke, during a League Dev Update, stated, “Arcane is just the beginning of our larger storytelling journey.” The concluding chapter will feature Jinx’s attack on the Council, intensifying the Piltover and Zaun conflict. Despite wrapping up with this season, Linke hinted at more stories to come from Runeterra. The Emmy-winning series returns this November on Netflix, promising to deliver a dramatic finale.
Apple Expands Mac Gaming with Major Toolkit Update
Apple announced a significant update to its Gaming Porting Toolkit for Sequoia OS on Mac at the Worldwide Development Conference on June 10. The Gaming Porting Toolkit 2 adds support for Intel’s Advanced Vector Extensions 2, ray tracing, improved compatibility with Windows games, and new shader debugging tools. This update has enabled more games to receive official Mac ports, including Assassin’s Creed Shadows at launch and older titles like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and Dead Island 2. The update also features Xcode 16, allowing developers to create shared codebases for games across all Apple devices.
China’s ‘Black Myth: Wukong’ Breaks Records Before Release
China’s first triple-A video game, Black Myth: Wukong, has become a sensation months before its official release. Developed by Tencent-backed Game Science, the action role-playing game has seen domestic pre-orders . Inspired by the classic novel Journey to the West, the game has garnered immense interest, with 10,000 deluxe edition copies priced at 1,998 yuan ($276) each selling out rapidly on JD.com. Scheduled for release on August 20 for Windows and PlayStation 5, Black Myth: Wukong reflects China’s growing influence in the global gaming market.
Astrocade AI Secures $12 Million in Seed Funding
Astrocade AI has raised $12 million in a seed funding round to support its AI-based social gaming platform for casual games. The funding comes from AME Cloud Ventures, Nvidia Ventures, Venture Reality Fund, and gaming and tech veterans like Eric Schmidt and Niccolo De Masi. Astrocade, co-founded by Amir Sadeghian, Fei-Fei Li, and Ali Sadeghian, allows users to create games using natural language prompts. The platform aims to empower a new generation of game creators, blending AI with interactive engagement. The company is currently in closed alpha testing.
Did you know
Did you know that a Game Boy survived the Gulf War? In the early 1990s, amid the chaos of the Gulf War, a soldier carried a Game Boy to while away the hours. When a fire engulfed his barracks, the handheld console was severely damaged, charred and melted by the flames. Remarkably, the resilient Game Boy continued to function.
Renowned for its durability, Nintendo’s Game Boy demonstrated extraordinary robustness in this instance. Rather than repairing the console, Nintendo opted to preserve its battle-scarred condition, displaying it as a testament to its resilience. For years, this notable piece of history was exhibited at the Nintendo World Store in New York City. However, it was recently returned to Nintendo’s US headquarters in Washington state, .
