Pixel P&L: Indian MP Pushes for Independent Music Overhaul

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, November 27. You may notice today’s newsletter is more concise than usual. Recent editions have been criticized for excess length, and we’re committed to addressing that. Your feedback is welcome—please email me your thoughts.

In this edition, we cover an Indian MP’s push to reform the independent music industry, T1 Entertainment’s $35 million fundraising plan, MOONTON’s upcoming industry summit, DreamHack Stockholm’s record-breaking attendance, and Riot Games’ transformative changes to Southeast Asia’s League of Legends ecosystem.

Indian MP Seeks Feedback From Independent Musicians on Industry Overhaul

Member of Parliament and National Spokesperson for the Trinamool Congress, Saket Gokhale, has called on independent musicians, managers, and gig organizers in India to share their concerns and suggestions for improving the independent music ecosystem. In an Instagram post on Monday, Gokhale cited conversations with artists during his visit to Musicathon, a festival held in Bir, Himachal Pradesh, as the impetus for his initiative.

Gokhale, an advocate for transparency and grassroots engagement, expressed his intention to raise the sector's challenges in the Indian Parliament’s ongoing Winter Session, which runs until December 20. “The ecosystem for independent music in India needs an overhaul and massive support,” Gokhale wrote, inviting stakeholders to contact him directly via email or social media.

T1 Eyes $35 Million Investment

South Korean esports organization T1 Entertainment & Sports is seeking to raise $35 million to bolster its operations, including expanding its flagship T1 Base Camp gaming café and live events business, CEO Joe Marsh said.

The fundraising follows T1’s historic fifth League of Legends World Championship title. Marsh told the Sports Business Journal that the company aims to capitalize on its success to drive its "biggest expansion." Opened earlier this year in Seoul, T1 Base Camp has reportedly become South Korea’s top PC gaming café, with plans to expand into Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, and China.

T1 also plans to grow its live events division after generating over $1 million from its first homestand event at Goyang Sono Arena. Marsh hinted at further live event opportunities, potentially featuring esports star Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, as T1 explores international matches and naming rights partnerships pending Riot Games’ approval.

⚡Quick Bytes

• MOONTON Games to Host M6 Summit Alongside MLBB World Championship in Malaysia

MOONTON GAMES will host the M6 Summit on December 13 in Malaysia. The one-day event will bring together over 200 industry leaders, regulators, team owners, and media partners to discuss esports and gaming growth in Southeast Asia. Speakers include Malaysia’s Deputy Youth and Sports Minister and MOONTON executives. The summit coincides with the $1 million M6 Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) World Championship, where 23 global teams will compete from December 13-15.

• DreamHack Stockholm Sets Attendance Record with Over 52,000 Visitors

DreamHack Stockholm 2024, held at Stockholmsmässan from November 22-24, became the most-attended European festival in DreamHack's 30-year history. Presented by Elgiganten, the event attracted over 52,000 visitors from 59 countries, featuring esports tournaments, cosplay competitions, live music, and creator activations, marking a 65% surge in day visitors.

• Riot Games to Merge League of Legends Servers in Southeast Asia

Riot Games announced the merger of League of Legends servers in Thailand, the Philippines, and Singapore/Malaysia/Indonesia into a unified Southeast Asia (SEA) server on January 9, 2025, with Patch 15.1. The merger aims to enhance matchmaking, reduce latency, and unify the region’s player base. Riot also confirmed the update would streamline esports pathways, including changes to the League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP) promotion and relegation system. Players from the merged regions will have improved opportunities to qualify for global tournaments like the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) and Worlds.

• Indie Card Game Balatro Surpasses $4.4M in Mobile Revenue

Indie roguelike card game Balatro has generated $4.4 million in mobile revenue two months after its launch on the App Store and Google Play, according to AppMagic. The $9.99 premium game, developed by LocalThunk, relies entirely on upfront purchases, avoiding in-app monetization and ads. After initial success, revenue slowed but surged last week to $727,000 following nominations for five Game Awards, including Best Mobile Game.

💡 Did You Know?

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will feature nearly 4 hours of cutscenes, making its non-interactive storytelling longer than any Indiana Jones movie. For perspective, Raiders of the Lost Ark runs 1 hour 55 minutes, while The Last Crusade, the longest film in the series, is 2 hours 7 minutes.

The game, developed by MachineGames, is the studio’s largest project to date, combining puzzles, exploration, and cinematic storytelling. The game is expected to offer an experience that dwarfs the screen adventures of the iconic archaeologist in both scale and duration.

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