Lakshya Digital founder Manvendra Shukul calls for India to move beyond game services to full development

AnimationXpress reports that Manvendra Shukul, founder and chairman of Lakshya Digital, has been recognised with the Hall of Fame Award at the 18th India Game Developer Conference in Chennai for his three-decade career in gaming and animation.

Starting with six people in Gurgaon in 2004, Lakshya now employs over 1,000 professionals across eight global locations and has contributed to 175-plus AAA titles including Elden Ring and Baldur's Gate 3. Shukul says India's next challenge is moving beyond service provision to develop complete games, but the industry lacks experienced professionals who understand international standards.

He proposes government subsidies to attract experienced international talent to Indian studios, arguing that Western studios seeking cost-effective development could find India attractive if policy certainty and skilled talent are secured. Shukul advises young developers to understand global benchmarks, invest in game design, build strong teams, and learn from failure.