LightFury Games Raises $11 Million for AAA Cricket Gaming Franchise

Bengaluru-based game-tech company LightFury Games has successfully secured $11 million in a pre-Series A funding round, gaining strategic investment from notable Indian cricketers such as MS Dhoni and Jasprit Bumrah, as it aims to establish a leading global AAA cricket gaming franchise.

The funding round included contributions from investors like Blume Ventures, V3 Ventures, MIXI, and Times Internet, with cricketers including Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Tilak Varma, and Sai Sudharsan also participating.

This funding will primarily be directed towards finalising the development of the company’s inaugural title, eCricket, along with establishing live operations infrastructure to ensure an uninterrupted gameplay experience.

Support from Industry Leaders

“We’ve supported LightFury since its inception, as it aims to spearhead a new era of Indian gaming studios focused on creating intellectual properties with global aspirations,” stated Karthik Reddy, co-founder and managing partner at Blume Ventures. “Empowered by AI tools developed locally, we eagerly anticipate the world experiencing eCricket soon. Our goal is for it to become the Dhurandhar of Indian gaming history.”

Earlier Funding Success

In April 2024, the firm raised $8.5 million in seed funding, led by Blume Ventures, with participation from Japanese mobile entertainment company Mixi and venture capital firm Gemba Capital. This round also attracted angel investors like Kunal Shah, founder of Cred, and Gaurav Munjal, co-founder of Unacademy.

Cricketers Supporting India’s AAA Gaming Initiative

The involvement of high-profile players demonstrates a robust endorsement of India’s potential to create a globally competitive sports gaming franchise.

MS Dhoni expressed his thoughts, stating, “Having seen numerous cricket games through the years, there has always been an element missing. When LightFury presented their development to me, it was evident they were bridging that gap. It’s a significant undertaking… I’m committed to contributing based on my experience in the sport.”

Focus on Realism in eCricket

Reflecting on the game’s emphasis on authenticity, Jasprit Bumrah remarked, “Cricket is a game defined by precise margins, and the attention to detail in eCricket truly stood out to me. The dedication to authenticity is remarkable.”

Hardik Pandya noted that the game strives to encapsulate the vastness of the sport rather than simplifying it. “Cricket encompasses pressure, skill, and entertainment… it is not about condensing cricket for digital play. It is about elevating gaming to match the grandeur of cricket.”

Ambitions for Global Reach

Founded in 2024, LightFury is positioning eCricket as a mobile-first AAA title developed on Unreal Engine 5, featuring physics-driven gameplay, real-time decision-making, and dynamic AI-powered commentary.

CEO Karan Shroff emphasised that their vision extends beyond a singular game launch. “We are crafting from India for a global audience, maintaining a high standard for quality, in-depth competitive gameplay, and genuine sports authenticity… This transcends a mere game release. It’s about demonstrating that India can develop premium gaming intellectual properties for the world.”

The game will showcase a lineup of over 600 professional cricketers, including international icons like Chris Gayle, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes, aiming to engage cricket’s estimated global audience of 2.5 billion.