The much-anticipated Indus Battle Royale, developed by Pune-based SuperGaming, launched on October 16, 2024, to both excitement and criticism. Touted as the start of “India’s gaming revolution,” the mobile game quickly gained traction, crossing over one million downloads on Android and iOS within days. Players completed over 80,000 matches on the first day alone, demonstrating the strong initial interest. However, despite the game's rise to the top of the charts, with ratings hovering around 3.3 to 3.4, the launch was met with largely negative fan reception. Concerns over game quality, performance issues, and alleged censorship have only heightened the tension.

SuperGaming’s Copyright Strikes and FIR Against YouTuber

In an unexpected twist, just hours after announcing the one million download milestone, SuperGaming took legal action against a YouTuber, known as ZassaR, who had published videos criticizing the game. The company issued multiple copyright strikes and even filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the creator, alleging that the content went beyond criticism and included “hate speech, personal abuse, and inappropriate content, including morphed pornographic material.” SuperGaming explained that they would not tolerate abuse aimed at their team and reaffirmed their commitment to improving the game based on community feedback.

The controversy escalated quickly, especially since SuperGaming turned off the comments on their social media posts after issuing their statement, which emphasized that the development process had been “open to feedback” and that they were dedicated to long-term improvements. This move added fuel to the fire, as it was seen as a form of censorship by many in the community.

YouTuber’s Response and Apology

In response to SuperGaming’s actions, ZassaR posted a video titled, “Copyright Strike for Telling the Truth About India's Worst Mobile Game,” wherein he claimed that SuperGaming had struck down three of his videos. According to him, the takedown affected content that only used about 20–30 seconds of gameplay footage from Indus Battle Royale, with the rest featuring clips from another game, Apex Legends.

Following the company’s statement, ZassaR posted a public apology, taking responsibility for his actions during a recent live stream where he reacted to morphed images he did not create. He acknowledged that his reaction was inappropriate and apologized for his language and behavior during the stream. However, he refuted SuperGaming’s claims in two of the three removed videos, stating that they did not contain any offensive or inappropriate content.

Community Backlash and Alleged Censorship

The Indian gaming community has not remained silent on the matter. Many content creators on YouTube and X (formerly Twitter) voiced their concerns, criticizing SuperGaming’s use of copyright strikes. This sparked discussions about the developer’s response to feedback, with some players alleging that the game had significant issues such as de-sync during matches, poor textures, and performance problems, particularly on low-end smartphones. Moreover, some players complained that the game’s map design was “bland” and lacked the visual appeal that had been promised in pre-release materials.

Further adding to the controversy are accusations of censorship on the official Discord server of Indus Battle Royale. Players claimed that SuperGaming was deleting critical feedback from the platform’s dedicated feedback channel, which only heightened the sense of frustration among the community.

While Indus Battle Royale made an impressive start in terms of downloads and initial player engagement, the game’s launch has been overshadowed by mounting criticism from its player base. The decision by SuperGaming to issue copyright strikes and file legal action against a YouTuber has raised concerns about how the company handles criticism and feedback. As players continue to voice their dissatisfaction over technical and gameplay issues, SuperGaming finds itself under pressure to not only improve the quality of the game but also to navigate the delicate balance between protecting its brand and fostering an open, constructive dialogue with its community.

For now, the question remains whether SuperGaming can turn the tide and meet the expectations of the millions who hoped that Indus Battle Royale would indeed mark the beginning of India’s gaming revolution.