The Game Developer Association of India (GDAI) has revealed the participants for the debut round of its Supernova incubation initiative, selecting a total of fifteen game development studios from a pool of over 260 applications. This marks a significant milestone for the Indian gaming ecosystem, as the association seeks to nurture home‑grown talent and accelerate the growth of emerging studios that have yet to generate revenue. The Supernova program, which officially launched in July 2026, is structured as a three‑month intensive incubator.
During this period, the chosen studios will receive a blend of mentorship from seasoned industry veterans, access to valuable technology and service credits, and facilitated introductions to potential investors and publishing partners. The culmination of the program will be a showcase event—Demo Day—held at this year’s India Game Developers Conference (IGDC), where each studio will have the opportunity to pitch its projects to a broader audience of stakeholders. Key partners in the initiative include global gaming heavyweight Tencent, the Indian mobile distribution platform Indus Appstore, advertising and monetisation specialist Mintegral, as well as technology and publishing collaborators IVIPRO, SpielFabrique and Lakshya Digital.
Indus Appstore has committed to providing the participating studios with "priority onboarding and ad credits to kick‑start user acquisition," a crucial advantage for games that are preparing to enter competitive app marketplaces. "The selection of this inaugural cohort marks the beginning of a focused journey for these 15 studios," said Rajan Navani, board member and chairperson of GDAI's Incubation Subcommittee. "Over the next three months, Supernova will bring together mentors, technology partners, publishers and investors to help each studio address its specific development and business priorities." Navani emphasized that the program is designed not only to polish the technical aspects of game creation but also to strengthen business acumen, marketing strategies, and funding pathways.
The fifteen studios that earned a spot in the first Supernova cohort are: - Absurd Games - Team Quasar - AbhiTech Games - Konkan Coast Studios - Dunali Games - Chitrakala Interactive - Ashdev Studios - Compiling Shaders - Brahman Studios - Yaari Games - Funwave Studio - Arcadon Games - Shivaansh Artvision - AnonVision Creative Labs - Parkince Each of these studios brings a unique creative vision and a range of project stages, from early prototypes to near‑completion titles. By providing a structured environment that blends hands‑on guidance with strategic resources, Supernova aims to help these teams refine gameplay mechanics, enhance visual fidelity, and develop robust monetisation models. The mentorship component will pair studio leads with experts in areas such as game design, narrative development, user experience, live‑ops, and community management, ensuring that technical excellence is matched by sustainable business practices. Beyond the immediate benefits of mentorship and credits, the program also seeks to foster a collaborative network among Indian developers.
Participants will have regular workshops, peer‑review sessions, and networking events that encourage knowledge sharing and potential co‑development opportunities. This community‑building aspect aligns with GDAI’s broader mission of creating a supportive infrastructure for the nation’s gaming industry. GDAI, which represents more than 200 member studios across the country, positions Supernova as a cornerstone of its larger agenda that includes talent development, global outreach, and policy advocacy. The association has long advocated for clearer regulatory frameworks, better access to funding, and stronger educational pathways for aspiring game creators.
By targeting early‑stage studios, Supernova complements these efforts by directly investing in the pipeline of future talent. The association also highlighted its ambition to reach a wider audience beyond the selected studios.
GDAI aims to impact over 25,000 students nationwide through educational programs, workshops, and mentorship initiatives. By integrating the incubation experience with these broader outreach efforts, the organization hopes to inspire the next generation of developers, artists, and entrepreneurs to consider gaming as a viable career path. In summary, the launch of the Supernova cohort represents a concerted effort by the Game Developer Association of India and its strategic partners to accelerate the growth of the Indian gaming sector.
By offering a blend of mentorship, technical resources, financial incentives, and high‑visibility exposure, the program is poised to help its fifteen selected studios transform promising concepts into market‑ready products, ultimately contributing to the vibrancy and competitiveness of India’s game development landscape.