India is setting its sights on the global gaming stage with The Age of Bhaarat, a new triple-A action-adventure project from developer Tara Gaming. With a team of over 160 people, the studio is looking to replicate the success of Black Myth: Wukong by grounding its narrative in ancient Indian mythology, specifically the world of the Ramayana.
A New Approach to Indian Myth
While traditional retellings of the Ramayana focus on the macro-level conflict of the gods, The Age of Bhaarat takes a more personal approach. According to co-founder and novelist Amish Tripathi, players step into the shoes of a forest warden fighting against the Rakshasas. The game emphasizes a micro-level narrative, focusing on the defense of community and family while incorporating Indian philosophy and the concept of karma.
Nouredine Abboud, a former Ubisoft executive who headed the Ghost Recon franchise, is helping lead the creative direction. He describes the gameplay as an action role-playing experience that blends combat, exploration, and progression. Players can tackle the game as a single-player experience or invite a friend for two-player co-op, utilizing Indian martial arts and weaponry to progress through the world.
Building for a Global Market
Tara Gaming is backed by a high-profile trio of co-founders: filmmaker and actor Amitabh Bachchan, novelist Amish Tripathi, and Nouredine Abboud. The studio has been operating for four years, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 to develop the title across offices in Paris, Montreal, and Pune. Executive chairman Nicolas Granatino noted that while the team is currently self-funded, they are in active discussions with major industry publishers.
The decision to target PC and consoles is a significant shift for the Indian market, which remains overwhelmingly mobile-first. However, with market research from Niko Partners estimating that Indian player spending could exceed $1 billion, the founders believe the timing is right. "No one wants to miss the next massive opportunity, which is in India," Granatino said.
Looking Toward Alpha
The studio has confirmed that an alpha test for The Age of Bhaarat is slated for the end of the summer. As the team moves toward this milestone, they are focused on balancing the cultural authenticity of the Ramayana with gameplay mechanics that appeal to a mainstream global audience. By positioning the game as a fresh take on heroic fantasy, the developers hope to mirror the success of other culturally specific titles like Ghost of Tsushima and The Witcher.
With India’s gaming market projected to reach $2.4 billion in revenue by 2029, according to Mixi Investment Global, Tara Gaming views this project as a landmark moment for the region. "Nobody has done yet what we are trying to do, which is to make an international heroic fantasy game about India," said Abboud.