Pune-based game development studio, SuperGaming, has launched its highly anticipated battle royale game, Indus, in open beta. This release comes more than two-and-a-half years after the game’s initial announcement, marking a significant milestone for the studio known for its innovative approach to gaming.
The open beta is now available as a free download on the Google Play Store for Android users. For iOS users, access to the beta version is granted through an invitation link via Apple’s TestFlight app testing platform.
Indus is the most ambitious project yet for SuperGaming, which has previously delivered popular titles like the multiplayer shooter MaskGun, social deduction game Silly Royale, tower defense title Tower Conquest, and casual shooter Battle Stars. The game was first announced in January 2022 and is set in an “Indo-Futurism” world, blending Indian culture and mythology with a futuristic setting, specifically drawing inspiration from the Indus Valley Civilization.
With over 12 million pre-registrations on Android and iOS combined, Indus is poised to make a significant impact in the highly competitive battle royale genre. The game’s closed beta, launched in February 2024, provided critical insights that have shaped the open beta experience.
“With the launch of the open beta for Indus Battle Royale, we are looking forward to welcoming a broader audience to experience the game. This phase is a vital part of our development as it allows us to gather feedback from a wider player base beyond our closed beta group,” said Roby John, co-founder of SuperGaming.
One of the key differentiators of Indus is its accessibility. SuperGaming has optimized the game to run on low-end Android smartphones, priced at around ₹8,000, making it accessible to a wide audience. This feature is particularly crucial as Indus faces stiff competition from established titles like Krafton’s Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Garena’s Free Fire, Epic Games’ Fortnite, Microsoft’s Call of Duty, and Respawn Entertainment’s Apex Legends.
In a strategic move to attract a global audience, SuperGaming announced an integration with Fortnite in November 2023. This collaboration allows players to experience Indus gameplay, map, and modes within Fortnite’s creator mode on PC and macOS.
The open beta introduces a new “Grudge” feature, which adds a revenge mechanism to the gameplay. This feature activates when a player is eliminated by another, giving the eliminated player the option to declare a “Grudge” against their slayer. If the player chooses this option, the game will preferentially match the two players together in future games for a chance at redemption.
John highlighted this feature, stating, “With the open beta, we’ve introduced the ‘Grudge’ feature, which adds a new layer of strategy and emotion to the game. It allows players to seek revenge on their slayers, making the game even more engaging and personal.”
In addition to the new gameplay features, SuperGaming is also launching an updated version of its content creator program, Indus Insiders. This initiative offers participants opportunities to collaborate directly with the development team to create engaging content, further solidifying Indus‘s position in the gaming community.
SuperGaming’s investors include industry giants such as Pac-Man and Elden Ring publisher Bandai Namco, along with Akatsuki Entertainment Technology Fund, Andreessen Horowitz, Skycatcher, BAce Capital, and Dream Incubator.
As the fastest-growing games market in Asia, India’s gaming industry is projected to reach $943 million in revenue in 2024, up 13.6 percent from the previous year, according to Niko Partners. The market is expected to surpass $1 billion in revenue in 2025 and grow to $1.4 billion by 2028, with a five-year compound annual growth rate of 11.1 percent.