Pixel P&L: Another Indian State is Chasing Esports
Welcome to another Pixel P&L edition. This issue takes 5 minutes to read. If you only have one, here are the 5 most important things:
Rajasthan launches its first state-level esports championship with AA Gaming — learn more about this landmark initiative below.
Capcom posts record profits for the 12th consecutive year with Monster Hunter Wilds selling 10.1 million units.
StarLadder to host a CS2 Major in Budapest with a $1.25 million prize pool.
Activision files lawsuit against creators of Call of Duty hacking software seeking damages — details below.
Sega's gaming division thrives with rising income despite overall company revenue decline.
Let's get into it.
Rajasthan Launches Major State-Level Esports Championship
The Government of Rajasthan has partnered with AA Gaming to launch the state's first official esports tournament, marking a significant push into the growing Indian esports ecosystem.
The Rajasthan State Esports Championship (RSEC) will feature popular titles including Battlegrounds Mobile India and CS2, with competition structured across four stages culminating in live-streamed finals. The initiative aims to reach more than 200 colleges across 41 districts.
Beyond competition, the program will also include workshops covering gaming techniques, career pathways and professional development in the rapidly expanding industry. "This championship marks a significant first step in promoting esports across the state," said Dr. Neeraj Kumar Pawan, Chairman of the Rajasthan Youth Board.
Rajasthan's entry into the esports arena follows similar initiatives by other Indian states. Tamil Nadu recently announced the Chennai Esports Global Championship (CeGC), an international tournament backed by the state's Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department with funding from its Rs. 562 crore budget allocation. Meanwhile, Karnataka's IT and BT Minister Priyank Kharge revealed ambitious plans at the Bengaluru GAFX 2025 conference to establish the state as India's premier esports hub, with intentions to host "the nation's and perhaps Asia's biggest esporting festival" through its upcoming National Esports Festival.
Capcom Posts Record Profits Driven by Monster Hunter Success
Capcom reported record financial results for the fiscal year ended March 31, with profits rising for the twelfth consecutive year, powered by strong sales of its latest Monster Hunter title and catalog offerings.
The Japanese video game publisher posted net sales of ¥169.6 billion ($1.15 billion), up 11.3% year-over-year, while net income climbed 11.7% to ¥48.45 billion ($328 million).
Monster Hunter Wilds, released in February, sold 10.1 million units, propelling the franchise past 100 million copies sold worldwide. The game's success also drove interest in previous entries, with Monster Hunter: World reaching 28.51 million lifetime sales. Catalog sales reached 39.49 million units, up from 36.29 million last year, with strong performances from Resident Evil and Street Fighter franchises.
Looking ahead, Capcom projects fiscal 2026 net sales to rise 12% to ¥190 billion($1.28 billion), with catalog sales expected to comprise a record 85.2% of total revenue.
⚡Quick Bytes
StarLadder to Host Major CS2 Tournament in Budapest
StarLadder will host the second Counter-Strike 2 Major of 2025 in Budapest, featuring a $1.25 million prize pool. The tournament, running November 24-December 14, will culminate at the 20,000-seat MVM Dome, making it one of the largest CS2 events to date. NODWIN Gaming acquired StarLadder for $5.5 million earlier this year.
Activision Sues Call of Duty Hack Creators
Activision has filed a lawsuit against Ryan Rothholz and two associates for allegedly creating and selling Call of Duty hacking software Lergware and GameHook. The publisher claims defendants ignored cease-and-desist letters and continued selling hacks for up to $375. Activision seeks monetary damages, saying the cheats harm player experience and its business.
Sega Gaming Division Thrives Despite Overall Revenue Decline
Sega Sammy Holdings reported an 8.5% drop in net sales to ¥428.9 billion ($2.89 billion), though its entertainment contents division saw ordinary income rise to ¥41.8 billion ($282 million) from ¥30.8 billion ($208 million) last year. The company credited strong back-catalog sales boosted by Sonic movies and DLC revenue, despite canceling Football Manager 25.
⚔️Side Quest
📺 Watch: Vox showcases how the inventor of Mario and Zelda designs his video games.
🎮 Play: Deadzone: Rogue delivers addictive sci-fi carnage with razor-sharp gunplay, endless procedural challenges, and that perfect risk-reward loop that will keep you coming back for 'just one more run' long into the night.
📚 Read: Former Nexon global CEO Owen Mahoney explains why major Western game publishers may soon become prime shorting targets for Wall Street.
💡Did You Know
Did you know you can complete Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 without fast reflexes or ‘gamer skillz’? Reddit user HunterIV4 proved it's possible by playing on Story mode, building characters with maximum health, and using weapons that automatically block and buff. By activating the auto QTE feature and focusing on defense rather than the typical dodge/parry mechanics, they completed the entire main story—and even some optional Chromatic bosses—without pressing a single button during enemy turns. While this approach takes longer, it makes this challenging RPG accessible to players who prefer turn-based strategy over reaction-heavy Dark Souls gameplay.
📜 Quote of the Day
“It takes a strong man to deny what's right in front of him. And if the truth is undeniable, you create your own. The truth, Walker, is that you're here because you wanted to feel like something you're not: A hero. I'm here because you can't accept what you've done. It broke you. You needed someone to blame, so you cast it on me. A dead man. I know the truth is hard to hear Walker, but it's time. You're all that's left and we can't live this lie forever."
-Colonel John Konrad, Spec Ops: The Line
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