The International Cricket Council (ICC) is reportedly in advanced discussions to make its inaugural investment in a startup, potentially backing Bengaluru-based game-tech company LightFury Games. This move could mark a significant shift in the ICC‘s commercial strategy, aiming to enhance fan engagement beyond conventional broadcasting and sponsorships. For LightFury Games, this partnership would offer global branding rights, bolstering its ambition to develop an “E-Cricket” game, a high-budget cricket title designed to compete with established global sports gaming franchises.
According to reports, if the deal is confirmed, LightFury Games would secure the ICC‘s official gaming rights across mobile, PC, and console platforms globally. This would be a rare instance of a gaming company obtaining rights across all three platforms simultaneously. The ICC has indicated that an announcement could be made in the coming weeks, though it is not yet in a position to confirm the deal. LightFury Games has declined to comment on the matter.
Strategic Partnership and Gaming Ambitions
Founded in 2024 and headquartered in Bengaluru, LightFury Games is a gaming studio focused on creating premium, cross-platform titles for a global audience. The company was established by a team of gaming industry veterans with extensive experience in game development, publishing, and live-service operations. LightFury aims to build high-quality, original intellectual property while also working on licensed gaming experiences.
The reported partnership with the ICC would significantly elevate LightFury Games‘ profile, granting the young startup access to one of the world’s largest sports fan bases. This would represent a major milestone in its growth. The proposed deal is expected to pave the way for what could become the governing body’s official cricket video game. LightFury Games is developing “E-Cricket” as a AAA cricket title, designed for multiple platforms.
The game aims to offer several features, including real-time multiplayer gameplay, support across mobile, PC, and console, high-quality graphics and gameplay, and global competitive cricket experiences. If the deal is finalised, it would also incorporate official ICC branding and tournaments. The company’s goal is to establish a cricket gaming franchise that can rival the scale of prominent football video game series.
Investment and Market Impact
LightFury Games has already garnered support from notable investors, including cricketers MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, and Ravindra Jadeja. Other investors include Blume Ventures, V3 Ventures, MIXI, and Times Internet. The startup has reportedly raised approximately $20 million across various funding rounds to date.
The ICC views gaming as a crucial avenue for expanding cricket’s global reach. Gaming has emerged as one of the fastest-growing forms of sports entertainment, with cricket currently representing a relatively underdeveloped segment compared to sports like football and basketball. India is a significant market, with hundreds of millions of active gamers, rapid smartphone adoption, growing spending on in-app purchases, rising interest in esports, and a strong cricket fan base.
Despite cricket’s immense popularity in India, the sport has yet to produce a globally successful AAA gaming franchise. LightFury is positioning “E-Cricket” as a premium gaming experience, focusing on realistic gameplay mechanics, licensed professional cricketers, cross-platform multiplayer support, AI-assisted game development, and global competitive play. The company’s leadership team comprises individuals with experience from major gaming companies, including Ubisoft, Electronic Arts, Tencent Games, and Improbable.
If completed, this partnership could accelerate investment in Indian game development, boost cricket’s digital ecosystem, increase global esports opportunities, and encourage more sports organisations to support gaming startups. It would also strengthen India’s AAA game development ecosystem. The deal would represent a rare instance of an international sports governing body acquiring an equity stake in a gaming startup. An announcement could come in the coming weeks.
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Source: storyboard18.com
