Sony's India Hero Project wants to find grassroots game devs and aid them
The program is now open for anyone in India to apply to
Sony is launching a new program to find promising new game developers in India.
Dubbed the 'India Hero Project,' the new program is available right now to any game developer or studio based in India. "This incubator program aims to identify promising local developers and support them in bringing compelling gaming experiences to global gaming communities," Sony's announcement reads.
Are you an indie game developer based in India? I’m very excited for this :D India Hero Project: Call for Submissions – Sony Interactive Entertainment https://t.co/Pv0ARNbQ2iMay 9, 2023
"Through mentorship, training, and project-based investment, PlayStation strives to lower the barrier of entry and showcase the most incredible talents emerging from India," the announcement further reads, committing to taking in developers from low-income backgrounds.
There's obviously zero guarantee that anyone who applies in India will be accepted into the program. It's not hard to imagine Sony has limited spaces and resources dedicated to the India Hero Project, right now at least, but the only criteria for developers to register is that they're based in India.
With this being the only barrier to entry, the India Hero Project could open new doors for game developers throughout India. Here's hoping other publishing companies look to Sony's initiative as inspiration to mentor young and growing game development talent around the world.
If you want a taste of what Indian game development looks like, we can't recommend Raji: An Ancient Epic enough. The 2020 action-adventure game was developed in Maharashtra, India, and takes players on a brilliant tour through Indian culture and religion, complete with sublime fast-paced combat.
In terms of future games from Indian developers though, you should definitely keep an eye on Venba, an Indian cooking narrative game which is coming to consoles later this year.
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Hirun Cryer is a freelance reporter and writer with Gamesradar+ based out of U.K. After earning a degree in American History specializing in journalism, cinema, literature, and history, he stepped into the games writing world, with a focus on shooters, indie games, and RPGs, and has since been the recipient of the MCV 30 Under 30 award for 2021. In his spare time he freelances with other outlets around the industry, practices Japanese, and enjoys contemporary manga and anime.