By Sagar V. Mankar Pune-based game developer SuperGaming has announced an ambitious esports initiative called the ‘Clutch India Movement’ for their newly launched battle royale game, Indus.
This announcement marks a significant milestone in India’s growing gaming industry, featuring one of the largest prize pools ever offered for a battle royale game in the country.
Tournament Structure and Prize Pool
The centerpiece of this initiative is the Indus International Tournament, which boasts an impressive total prize pool of INR 2.5 crore (approximately £228,000).
Running from October 2024 to February 2025, the tournament is structured in four distinct phases:
- Homegrown Phase
- Prize Pool: INR 15 lakhs
- Duration: November 6th – December 3rd
- Open registration for all players
- Nationals
- Prize Pool: INR 10 lakhs
- Focused on building a national competitive scene
- Powerplay
- Prize Pool: INR 25 lakhs
- Exclusively for professional esports teams
- International Phase
- Duration: November 15th – December 30th, 2024
- Invitation-only for global teams
- Culminates in Grand Finale with INR 2 crore prize pool
- Special MVP prize: A brand new Mahindra Thar
Beyond the Main Tournament
SuperGaming’s esports roadmap extends beyond this primary tournament:
- Indus International Mahasangram planned for October 2025
- Community events focused on nurturing new talent
- Support for third-party tournament organizers through proprietary tools
- Continuing previous successful events like ‘Grudge Wars,’ ‘Indus Inferno,’ and ‘Indus Unchained’
Game Launch and Reception
Indus launched on October 16th across iOS and Android platforms, quickly achieving over 1 million downloads. The game introduces unique features like the ‘Grudge system,’ which has seen over 200,000 player rivalries declared since launch. However, the reception has been mixed:
- Current ratings: 3.4 on Google Play and 3.1 on App Store
- Some critics describe it as “bland” and cite “low-end graphics”
- The game faces competition from established titles like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Free Fire, and PUBG Mobile
Controversy
The launch period wasn’t without controversy. SuperGaming faced criticism for the use of copyright strikes on YouTube videos that criticize the Game. Further, they filed an FIR against the said creator.
However, the company took to its social channels to share a statement to explain this drastic move. As part of this statement, SuperGaming outlined that this “content creator crossed a nefarious line by including hate speech, personal abuses, and inappropriate content, including morphed pornographic material” aimed at the SuperGaming team members. The company stated that it “will not tolerate abuse, hate speech, or offensive content” aimed at its team.
Vision for Indian Esports
Roby John, CEO and Co-founder of SuperGaming, shared his vision:
“Our goal with Indus was to create a game that Indian gamers could call their own. With the Indus International Tournament, we hope to see new heroes emerge from the community.”
He further highlighted India’s growing esports potential, stating,
“India’s esports scene is evolving rapidly, and we believe it’s ready to compete on the global stage.”
With its roadmap, SuperGaming is determined to leave a significant imprint on the Indian esports landscape, despite initial setbacks.