India, Oct. 16 -- August 2025 brought a seismic shift for India's booming online gaming startup ecosystem. The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025 - which bans all real-money online games, regardless of whether they are skill- or chance-based - has redrawn the industry's boundaries overnight. For a sector that had been riding high on investor confidence, innovation, and rapid user growth, the new law represents both a challenge and an inflection point.

As the dust settles, startups find themselves navigating a transformed landscape - pivoting from real-money models to subscription-based, ad-driven, and social gaming formats. While uncertainty looms, new opportunities are emerging in game development, e-sports, and immersi...