Pixel P&L: FAU-G: Domination Playtests Show What Indian Gamers Want in a Homegrown FPS

Good morning. It’s Monday, October 28. Dot9 Games just wrapped up playtests for FAU-G: Domination in Gurgaon and Mumbai, diving deep into what Indian gamers want in a homegrown FPS. After gathering feedback from playtesters, the studio shared what’s hitting the mark and where they need to level up before the full launch.

Also in today’s newsletter: a look at why Alien: Isolation warrants a sequel for its innovative AI-driven gameplay, and a report on Netflix’s two casual games surpassing 10 million players.

FAU-G: Playtests Reveal Indian Gamers’ Vision for a Homegrown FPS

Dot9 Games ' Fearless and United Guards (FAU-G): Domination, a homegrown first-person shooter developed in India, conducted recent playtests in Gurgaon and Mumbai, revealing critical insights into what Indian gamers prioritize in a locally developed FPS title. The playtests come as FAU-G: Domination prepares for a full release amid significant interest.

Feedback from participants highlighted notable preferences and areas for improvement. Around 85% of players indicated that the game's visual quality had improved over the previous test conducted in July, while 90% praised the Indian-themed environments and aesthetics as unique strengths. Among gameplay modes, Team Deathmatch emerged as the most favored, selected by 55% of players over alternatives such as Arms Race and Search and Destroy.

However, the game isn’t without issues. Around a quarter of players noted their devices were heating up, pointing to some optimization struggles. But with one million pre-registrations already in the bag, FAU-G: Domination’s team has a motivated player base eager to see the game succeed—if they can keep the improvements coming and iron out the kinks.

Alien: Isolation Sequel—The Unfinished Legacy of Survival Horror

Alien: Isolation didn’t just bring the xenomorph back to life; it redefined survival horror with an intelligent, unpredictable AI that transformed fear into something intensely personal. Despite SEGA's initial disappointment in its commercial performance, a devoted fan base has kept its chilling legacy alive. Now, with a confirmed sequel in development, excitement is reaching a fever pitch.

Our feature delves into the groundbreaking AI behind Alien: Isolation, the game’s journey from overlooked gem to cult classic, and why fans have been clamoring for a return to true survival horror. We’ll also explore how Creative Assembly’s 2014 release forged a bold path by making players powerless in the face of an unrelenting threat and how a sequel could push this immersive terror even further.

As Resident Evil and Silent Hill make their own comebacks, can Alien: Isolation’s sequel capture the same tension and innovation that made the original unforgettable? We’ll examine why now, more than ever, the Alien franchise is ready for a resurgence and how this long-awaited follow-up might finally give fans the immersive horror experience they deserve.

Get access to essential gaming and esports industry insights, comprehensive market data, and exclusive interviews. Support quality content, make informed decisions.

⚡Quick Bytes

• Netflix’s Casual Games Cross 10 Million Downloads Milestone

Netflix’s casual mobile games continue to find success despite the disbanding of its triple-A game team. According to data from Appmagic, two of its titles recently surpassed the 10 million downloads mark. SpongeBob: Get Cooking, launched in September 2022, has amassed 10.7 million downloads. Bloons TD 6, introduced just over a year later in June 2023, has already reached 10.3 million installs. These titles are Netflix’s third and fourth most downloaded games, trailing only GTA: San Andreas and Storyteller. 

• Naraka: Bladepoint Leads New Mobile Game Revenue in Q3

NetEase’s Naraka: Bladepoint emerged as the top-grossing new mobile game in Q3, generating $38 million from 8.4 million installs following its late-July release in China, according to InvestGame. Smilegate’s MMORPG Lord 9 ranked second with $30 million from just 500,000 installs in markets including Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan. In third, XD Network’s life simulator Heartopia earned $12 million from 10 million installs in China. Across all new mobile games, Q3 in-app revenue totaled $14.4 billion, showing a slight increase over the $14.3 billion reported during the same period in 2023.

• EA Sports FC 25 Breaks Records in September with Top Revenue and Engagement

EA Sports FC 25 led Newzoo’s September revenue charts, ranking first overall and within the top three across individual consoles. It topped Circana’s U.S. sales charts, marking the highest launch month dollar sales of any soccer game to date, with double-digit percentage growth over last year’s EA Sports FC 24 debut. In monthly active users, the game entered at No. 9, edging out EA Sports College Football. Meanwhile, God of War: Ragnarok saw its own milestone, reaching No. 25 in active users following its PC release—the highest since December 2023.

• CyberPowerPC India Launches Diwali Campaign with Discounts and Accessories

CyberPowerPC India, a U.S.-based gaming PC brand, has announced its Diwali campaign, #BringHomeTheLight, offering discounts and accessories on select products. Customers purchasing a PC during the campaign will receive either a CyberPowerPC Elite M1 131 Gaming Mouse, featuring adjustable weight and lighting effects, or an FPS Gaming Mouse Pad. New users who create accounts can also receive up to ₹1000 in additional perks. Alongside the Diwali campaign, buyers can purchase a PC with a discounted HyperX Alloy Core RGB Gaming Keyboard. Ongoing discounts also cover gaming monitors, laptop coolers, and gaming headphones, among other accessories.

💡 Did You Know?

In the mid-1990s, Atari was teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. The legendary company, once the pioneer of home video gaming, had struggled to keep up with the changing landscape of the industry. Then came Area 51, an arcade shooter developed in 1995 that would prove to be Atari’s unexpected savior. Designed by Ed Logg, the mind behind Asteroids and Gauntlet, Area 51 dropped players into a covert military base to fend off an alien invasion, bringing a fresh wave of interest to arcades.

The game was a hit almost instantly, boasting pre-rendered 3D graphics and live-action sequences that gave it a cinematic quality ahead of its time. Area 51 stood out from typical shooters, combining high-intensity action with immersive, full-motion video that kept players pumping quarters into the machine. This title alone helped Atari remain solvent, raking in profits at a critical time. It wasn’t just a financial success; Area 51 became one of the most popular arcade games of its era, spawning sequels and gaining a devoted following.

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