Nazara Technologies
Nazara Technologies is an Indian gaming and sports-media group with interests in mobile games, esports, interactive entertainment, and digital sports publishing.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Nazara Technologies is an Indian digital entertainment company headquartered in Mumbai. Founded by Nitish Mittersain in 1999, it began as an online gaming portal before shifting in 2002 toward mobile value-added services for telecom operators. Its early offerings included downloadable comic content and mobile games distributed through wireless networks. The company developed licensing relationships around recognizable properties and personalities, including Archie Comics, Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Cartoon Network, and later expanded its mobile-content distribution activities into the Middle East and Africa. It also became a licensed digital distributor for EA Mobile games in several of those markets. The company’s business changed substantially as smartphone gaming, online publishing, and competitive gaming developed in India. Nazara built a portfolio around locally relevant entertainment properties, including Chhota Bheem games following a 2015 licensing arrangement with Green Gold Animations and games based on Amar Chitra Katha’s Tinkle characters after a 2016 partnership. Rather than relying only on internally developed games, Nazara increasingly used acquisitions and strategic investments to assemble a broader digital-entertainment platform. In 2018, it acquired a majority interest in Nextwave Multimedia, the developer associated with the World Cricket Championship mobile-game series, and took a 55% stake in esports company Nodwin Gaming. It subsequently expanded into sports publishing and children’s educational applications. In 2019, Nazara acquired 67% of Sportskeeda, a sports and esports media platform, and purchased a 51% interest in Paper Boat Apps, publisher of the gamified early-learning application Kiddopia. These transactions gave the group exposure to media audiences and family-oriented digital products in addition to games. Nazara became a publicly listed company in March 2021 through an initial public offering on India’s NSE and BSE. It continued diversifying after the listing, acquiring real-money gaming company OpenPlay in 2021 and advertising-technology company Datawrkz in 2022. It also acquired United States-based children’s game developer WildWorks in 2022, adding the Animal Jam franchise to its portfolio. In 2023, the company joined the All India Gaming Federation as a principal member, reflecting its involvement in India’s organized gaming sector. The group continued to pursue both gaming and live-entertainment assets. In 2024, its subsidiary Nodwin Gaming acquired Comic Con India, expanding Nazara’s presence into fan conventions and pop-culture events. The company also announced the acquisition of United Kingdom-based Fusebox Games, known for interactive titles associated with the Love Island television property. Later in 2024, Nazara acquired a 47.7% interest in Moonshine Technology, the parent company of PokerBaazi, giving it exposure to online poker and real-money gaming. In 2025, Nazara acquired the mobile games King of Thieves and CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars from Zeptolab, bought Smaaash Entertainment’s arcade and location-based entertainment business, which had been rebranded as Zoreko, and acquired British indie publisher Curve Games. The resulting portfolio spans mobile and PC games, children’s entertainment, esports, sports media, advertising technology, real-money gaming, live events, and physical entertainment venues. Nazara’s positioning is therefore that of an India-centered, acquisition-led gaming and interactive-entertainment platform rather than a single-franchise game publisher.
History
Nazara Technologies was established in Mumbai in 1999 by Nitish Mittersain. It initially operated as an online gaming portal, but in 2002 moved toward mobile entertainment value-added services supplied through telecom operators. The company distributed WAP-based comic material and mobile games and developed licensing relationships involving Archie Comics, Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Cartoon Network. Its mobile-content business later reached markets in the Middle East and Africa, where it also distributed EA Mobile games under license outside South Asian markets. As mobile gaming matured in India, Nazara began focusing on licensed local intellectual property and partnerships. In 2015 it obtained rights from Green Gold Animations to develop games based on the Chhota Bheem animated series. The following year it partnered with Amar Chitra Katha to create games using Tinkle characters, including Shikari Shambu. These arrangements helped the company use familiar Indian entertainment properties to reach younger and family audiences. Beginning in 2018, Nazara adopted an acquisition-led model. It bought a majority stake in Chennai-based Nextwave Multimedia, known for the World Cricket Championship series, and acquired 55% of esports company Nodwin Gaming. The company considered a public offering in 2018 and received regulatory approval, but did not proceed at that time. In 2019 it purchased 67% of Sportskeeda, a sports and esports publishing platform, and acquired 51% of Paper Boat Apps, the developer and publisher of the early-learning application Kiddopia. Nazara completed its initial public offering in March 2021 and became listed on India’s NSE and BSE. It continued to broaden its portfolio, acquiring OpenPlay, a Hyderabad-based real-money gaming business, later that year. In 2022 it acquired a majority stake in Bangalore-based advertising-technology company Datawrkz and purchased United States children’s game developer WildWorks. WildWorks brought the Animal Jam franchise and strengthened Nazara’s international family-gaming presence. Sportskeeda expanded during this period as a Nazara subsidiary. It launched interview and video formats during the COVID-19 pandemic, established a United States subsidiary in Delaware in 2022, and acquired a majority interest in Pro Football Network in 2023. Nazara also became a principal member of the All India Gaming Federation in 2023, placing the group within India’s organized gaming-industry ecosystem. In 2024, Nazara’s subsidiary Nodwin Gaming acquired Comic Con India. The group also announced the purchase of Fusebox Games in the United Kingdom, a developer known for interactive games connected with Love Island. Later that year, Nazara acquired a 47.7% stake in Moonshine Technology, the parent company of PokerBaazi, extending its activities into online poker and real-money gaming. Expansion continued in 2025. Nazara bought two mobile titles from Zeptolab, acquired the Indian location-based entertainment business formerly associated with Smaaash and operating as Zoreko, and purchased British independent publisher Curve Games. These transactions illustrate the company’s strategy of building a diversified gaming and entertainment house through a combination of licensed content, operating subsidiaries, minority investments, and acquisitions. Its activities now cover mobile, PC, children’s entertainment, esports, sports media, advertising technology, online gaming, conventions, and physical entertainment venues.
- 2025
Expansion into game publishing and venue entertainment
[1]Nazara acquired mobile titles from Zeptolab, Zoreko’s location-based entertainment business, and British publisher Curve Games.
- 2024
Comic Con India, Fusebox, and Moonshine expansion
[1]The group expanded into fan conventions, interactive television-linked games, and online poker through transactions involving Comic Con India, Fusebox Games, and Moonshine Technology.
- 2022
Datawrkz and WildWorks acquisitions
[1]Nazara expanded into advertising technology and international children’s gaming through acquisitions of Datawrkz and WildWorks.
- 2021
Initial public offering
[1]Nazara became listed on the NSE and BSE after completing its initial public offering.
- 2019
Sportskeeda and Paper Boat Apps investments
[1]The company acquired 67% of Sportskeeda and 51% of Paper Boat Apps.
- 2018
Expansion into cricket games and esports
[1]Nazara acquired a majority stake in Nextwave Multimedia and 55% of Nodwin Gaming.
- 2016
Tinkle character partnership
[1]Nazara partnered with Amar Chitra Katha to develop mobile games featuring Tinkle characters.
- 2015
Chhota Bheem licensing agreement
[1]The company obtained rights to develop mobile games based on Green Gold Animations’ Chhota Bheem property.
- 2002
Shift to mobile entertainment services
[1]Nazara moved into mobile value-added services for telecom operators, distributing comic content and games.
- 1999
Company founded
[1]Nitish Mittersain founded Nazara Technologies in Mumbai as an online gaming portal.
Products and positioning
An India-based, publicly listed gaming and interactive-entertainment platform that combines owned and licensed game content with acquisitions in esports, sports media, children’s applications, real-money gaming, advertising technology, live events, and location-based entertainment.
Mobile sports game
World Cricket Championship
A cricket-focused mobile game series developed by Nextwave Multimedia, a Nazara group company. The franchise is associated with the company’s strategy of building locally relevant sports properties for the Indian and wider South Asian gaming audience.
Children’s educational application
Kiddopia
A gamified early-learning application published by Paper Boat Apps. Kiddopia forms part of Nazara’s family and children’s entertainment portfolio, combining educational activities with interactive digital play.
Children’s online game
Animal Jam Classic
A children’s online game associated with WildWorks, the United States developer acquired by Nazara in 2022. Its inclusion in the group’s portfolio expanded Nazara’s reach beyond India and into established international family gaming.
Mobile game
Motu Patlu Run
A mobile game based on the Indian animated characters Motu and Patlu. It reflects Nazara’s use of recognizable regional entertainment properties in accessible mobile formats.
Sports and esports media
Sportskeeda
A digital sports and esports media platform offering articles, news, analysis, and coverage across cricket, football, American football, basketball, mixed martial arts, professional wrestling, and other sports.
Online poker platform
PokerBaazi
An online poker business operated by Moonshine Technology. Nazara acquired a significant minority stake in Moonshine in 2024, adding online poker and real-money gaming exposure to its wider entertainment portfolio.
Brand decisions
2024
Acquire a stake in Moonshine TechnologyM&ABackground
Nazara expanded its presence in online gaming and real-money entertainment.
Action taken
It acquired 47.7% of Moonshine Technology, the parent company of PokerBaazi.
Aftermath
The transaction gave Nazara a significant position in online poker.
Acquisition consideration. ₹832 crore (2024)
2022
Acquire WildWorksM&ABackground
Nazara pursued international expansion in children’s and family gaming.
Action taken
The company acquired United States-based developer WildWorks.
Aftermath
Nazara added Animal Jam and an established international children’s-gaming operation.
Acquisition consideration. US$10.4 million (2022)
2021
Acquire OpenPlayM&ABackground
The company wanted to add real-money gaming capabilities to its mobile-game and entertainment activities.
Action taken
Nazara acquired Hyderabad-based OpenPlay.
Aftermath
The acquisition expanded Nazara into real-money gaming.
Acquisition consideration. ₹186 crore (2021)
2018
Adopt an acquisition-led gaming and esports strategyStrategyBackground
Nazara sought to broaden its business beyond mobile content by building positions in cricket games and esports.
Action taken
It acquired a majority stake in Nextwave Multimedia and a 55% stake in Nodwin Gaming.
Aftermath
The transactions established the foundation for a wider gaming and esports portfolio.
Recent events
- 2025
Nazara buys mobile game properties from Zeptolab[1]
M&A · Product generation
Nazara acquired King of Thieves and CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars from Zeptolab, adding established mobile-game properties to its catalog.
- 2025
Nazara acquires Zoreko’s location-based entertainment business[1]
M&A
Nazara acquired Smaaash Entertainment, an Indian arcade and location-based entertainment business operating under the Zoreko name.
- 2025
Nazara acquires Curve Games[1]
M&A
The company acquired British independent publisher Curve Games, whose catalog includes titles such as Human: Fall Flat.
- 2024
Nodwin Gaming acquires Comic Con India[1]
M&A
Nazara subsidiary Nodwin Gaming acquired Comic Con India, adding fan conventions and pop-culture events to the group’s esports and entertainment activities.
- 2024
Nazara announces acquisition of Fusebox Games[1]
M&A
Nazara announced the acquisition of United Kingdom-based Fusebox Games, a developer associated with interactive Love Island-themed games.
- 2024
Nazara acquires a stake in Moonshine Technology[1]
M&A
The company acquired a 47.7% interest in Moonshine Technology, the parent company of online poker platform PokerBaazi.
- 2023
Nazara joins the All India Gaming Federation[1]
Regulation
Nazara Technologies became a principal member of the All India Gaming Federation, an industry body representing gaming companies in India.
- 2022
Nazara expands into advertising technology and children’s gaming[1]
M&A
Nazara acquired a majority stake in Datawrkz and bought United States-based children’s game developer WildWorks, broadening its technology and international gaming portfolio.
- 2021
Nazara Technologies lists after initial public offering[1]
Other
Nazara Technologies became listed on the NSE and BSE in March 2021, converting the company from a privately held gaming business into a publicly traded Indian digital-entertainment group.
- 2021
Nazara acquires OpenPlay[1]
M&A
The company acquired Hyderabad-based real-money gaming business OpenPlay as part of its expansion beyond conventional mobile games.
Sources10 sources
- 1Nazara Technologiesen.wikipedia.org
- 2Nazara acquires majority in ad tech company Datawrkzindiantelevision.com
- 3Nazara acquires skill gaming platform OpenPlay for Rs 186 crindiantelevision.com
- 4Nazara Technologies Limited acquires 23.30% in OpenPlayequitybulls.com
- 5Nazara Technologies Limited to acquire stake in Rusk Media Pvt Ltdequitybulls.com
- 6Nazara Technologies Ltd acquires OpenPlayequitybulls.com
- 7Nazara Technologies Ltd completes acquisition of 100% in OpenPlayequitybulls.com
- 8Nazara Technologies raises $42m in fundinggamesindustry.biz
- 9Nazara Technologies raises INR 100 Cr funding through Hornbill Capitalequitybulls.com
- 10Nazara Technologies raises Rs 100 crore funding - The Economic Timeseconomictimes.indiatimes.com
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