India-based developer Mayhem Studios has announced a closed beta for their hotly anticipated battle royale game, Underworld Gang Wars (UGW).
This comes after the Indian gaming startup concluded recent community playtesting with influencers and crossed 7 million pre-registrations.
India-Themed Battle Royale
UGW was first teased last year by Bengaluru-based Mayhem Studios.
Mayhem Studios is the gaming division of the esports company Mobile Premier League (MPL), formed in 2022 to create AAA titles.
It also has financial backing from big industries like Peak XV Partners, Steadview Capital, Truecaller, and Hashed Emergent.
Studio just concluded their Alpha testing and is ready for more diverse Closed Beta testing for eager fans.
Alpha playtest was attended by influential gamers like Dynamo Gaming's Aditya Sawant and YouTuber Rawnkee and praised after hands-on time with UGW's content and features.
Opening up the gameplay to more players through betas is a smart way to capitalize on the hype built up by UGW's uniquely Indian style.
Ojas Vipat, CEO of Mayhem Studios said,
"We look forward to seeing the reaction of UGW fans who have shown us great love and support ever since we announced the title".
Bringing Indian Flavor to Battle Royale
What sets UGW apart in the crowded battle royale genre is its integration of Indian elements.
The game's characters, weapons, and maps are all infused with distinct Indian flavor.
Players join gangs like the Velvets and Bhokal Toli and battle it out across 16 hotspots modeled after real Indian locations.
They can wield weapons like Hathoda(hammers) and Kattas(Indian Version of Pistol) for brutal, close-quarters fights.
This kind of cultural representation is rare in AAA gaming and helps UGW stand out.
It offers an authenticity that Indian gamers will appreciate.
Polished Gameplay Impresses
Mayhem Studios' alpha playtest generated lots of positive buzz around UGW's gameplay mechanics and overall polish.
Played from a first-person perspective, the gunplay looks tight and satisfying.
Movement and environments also appear well-designed to support exciting and strategic battle royale matches.
Smooth performance and gameplay depth are critical for any competitive multiplayer title.
UGW seems to be on the right track.
Taking On the Big Players
The battle royale space is fiercely competitive, with massive hits like Fortnite, PUBG Mobile, Garena Free Fire, Call of Duty, and Apex Legends.
Especially PUBG also known as BGMI has over 100 million active userbase in India.
But UGW's novel setting and appeal for Indian gamers differentiate it.
Its closed beta gives Mayhem Studios more data to refine the game before full launch.
UGW has the potential to stand toe-to-toe with established franchises if its unique flavor and quality hold up.
Made in India, Going Global
Mayhem Studios aspires to make AAA games that shine both in India and worldwide.
With major financial backing and talent, they are positioned to achieve this.
UGW blends a locally resonant style with polished action gameplay.
Its closed beta will set the stage for an exciting full release where Indian gaming shines on the global stage.
Another Indian studio, SuperGaming has also built an India-made battle royale game, Indus.
This game has already concluded its Beta last month and is ready to launch in the Upcoming month on mobile, PC, and consoles.
The rise of world-class Indian games like UGW and Indus will only further expand the country's passionate gaming community.
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