From Chikoo & Bunty to TMKOC, Gaming Industry Sees Surge in Licensing Deals

As the gaming industry continues to flourish worldwide, 2024 is set to witness monumental licensing collaborations in India and abroad. From games featuring popular characters like Chikoo & Bunty from Nickelodeon to the popular series Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah on the Jio Games platform, Indian audiences are celebrating these collaborations. Globally, The Walt Disney Company has made a mega investment of $1.5 billion in Epic Games, creators of the game Fortnite.

In 2023, the highly anticipated release of the Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer by Rockstar Games stirred massive anticipation among fans. Additionally, Microsoft's announcement of the acquisition of Activision Blizzard on October 13, 2023, for a staggering $75.4 billion has set the stage for an exhilarating year in 2024 for gaming enthusiasts worldwide.

Some standout moments in the gaming market in 2023 included the releases of LEGO Fortnite and Bluey: The Video Game, as well as expertly crafted collaborations with SEGA and numerous in-game launches of popular titles such as Call of Duty, Fall Guys and Fortnite.

Neela Films, a production house, made a significant investment of Rs 24 crore into Neela Mediatech. The major focus of which was on gaming, animation, and e-commerce, as an extension of the Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah IP. Neela Mediatech's gaming platform, TMKOC PLAY, announced a strategic partnership with Jio Games to launch over 50 games on the JioGames platform, targeting a substantial base of Indian mobile and cloud gaming users.

Asit Modi, the Creator, Producer, and Managing Director of Neela Film Production and Neela Mediatech, stated, "TMKOC and Jio are household names nationwide, and their user base extends to even the most remote corners of cities and towns. Therefore, it's a strategic move to capitalize on each other's strengths. This partnership will facilitate the expansion of our user base, providing an exceptional digital entertainment experience."

Disney's Licensing Initiative

The Walt Disney Company's investment of a $1.5 billion equity stake in Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite, marks a significant move in the gaming industry. This investment also initiates a multiyear collaborative project tied to Fortnite, aiming to bring Disney's brands, characters, stories, and experiences to life for Fortnite's audience of over 100 million active players.

Robert A. Iger, Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company, expressing the excitement about new partnership, said, "Our exciting new relationship with Epic Games will bring together Disney's beloved brands and franchises with the hugely popular 'Fortnite' in a transformational new games and entertainment universe. This marks Disney's biggest entry ever into the world of games and offers significant opportunities for growth and expansion. We can't wait for fans to experience the Disney stories and worlds they love in groundbreaking new ways."

Disney's licensed games received over 150 award nominations, wins, and other accolades in 2023, with Disney mobile games amassing 1.5 billion installs, and nine games in the portfolio grossing over $1 billion in sales.

Educational Collaboration by BBC Earth

BBC Earth and Minecraft Education announced their collaboration by introducing Planet Earth III Minecraft World which is available in 29 languages for both Minecraft Education and Bedrock in the Minecraft Marketplace, Planet Earth III Minecraft World offers immersive landscapes, animals, and game-based learning resources inspired by stories in the latest series from BBC Studios' Natural History Unit.

Justin Edwards, Director of Learning Experiences at Minecraft Education, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "The new experience of the natural world in 'Planet Earth III' brings us closer to the animals and their surrounding environment. In this world, you will learn about animals from different continents, across sea, sky, and land, and how they survive and thrive."

Unique Collaborations

In a recent collaboration, Maximum Entertainment partnered with Paramount Game Studio to develop a multiplayer fighting video game based on Avatar: The Last Airbender. This announcement has garnered significant attention, especially with the series set to arrive on Netflix soon. Notably, characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender previously appeared in the Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl 2 roster in 2023.

Christina Seelye, CEO of Maximum Entertainment, expressed excitement about the partnership, emphasizing the company's focus on global integration and future opportunities. She highlighted the company's commitment to delivering innovative gaming experiences to a diverse audience.

According to reports from Newzoo, mobile gaming dominated the market in 2023, with brands like Apple, Sony, and Tencent leading the charge, while the global count of gamers reached an impressive 3.38 billion.