Mukti: Indian Indie Game Studio Creates Global Gaming Masterpiece with Sony Support

India's indie gaming scene gains international recognition through a groundbreaking title that combines authentic storytelling with world-class production values. Mukti represents a significant milestone for Indian game development and global narrative gaming.

underDOGS Studio Delivers Authentic Gaming Experience

Mumbai-based underDOGS Studio has created Mukti, a first-person narrative adventure set in mid-2000s India. The game follows Arya, a young woman exploring her grandfather's mysterious museum to uncover his disappearance. Moreover, the story tackles the serious subject of human trafficking through immersive gameplay.

Director Vaibhav Chavan brings unique credentials to the project through his computer engineering background and theatrical experience. He spent over a decade in theatre, directing and acting in regional plays. Consequently, his storytelling instincts translate powerfully into interactive gaming medium.

Real Gameplay Footage Generates Global Buzz

The Mukti trailer, released on May 21, 2025, showcased actual in-engine gameplay rather than pre-rendered cinematics. This authentic approach immediately distinguished the game from typical marketing materials. Furthermore, the decision reflected the studio's commitment to honest representation.

"We didn't want to show a bunch of pre-rendered fluff," Chavan explains about their marketing strategy. The team waited over a year without releasing screenshots or teasers. Subsequently, their patience paid off with immediate global recognition upon the trailer's release.

Within 24 hours, major gaming platforms featured the trailer prominently. PlayStation Global, IGN, and several international outlets highlighted the game. Additionally, the trailer quickly surpassed 200,000 views and began trending across gaming communities worldwide.

Sony's India Hero Project Provides Comprehensive Support

Sony's India Hero Project selected Mukti for comprehensive development support that extends beyond financial backing. The program aims to help promising Indian developers create high-quality titles for global platforms. Therefore, underDOGS Studio gained access to international expertise and development resources.

"Sony didn't just give us money," Chavan notes about the partnership's value. Weekly calls with Sony's engineering, art, and production teams provided invaluable mentorship. These professionals have worked on global AAA games, offering insights unavailable elsewhere in India.

The collaboration introduced underDOGS Studio to development pipelines used by international studios. Most Indian studios remain unaware of these advanced workflows. Consequently, Sony's guidance helped establish foundations for optimized, professional-quality gameplay.

Indie Identity Remains Core to Studio Philosophy

While some developers rush to claim AAA status, underDOGS Studio proudly maintains its indie identity. Chavan emphasizes their commitment to creating a story-driven, focused experience that respects the narrative genre. Additionally, they prioritize emotional depth over spectacle or combat mechanics.

Mukti draws inspiration from acclaimed narrative games including Firewatch, What Remains of Edith Finch, and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture. These titles focus on exploration and storytelling rather than action sequences. Furthermore, Chavan believes this storytelling approach has significant potential within India's gaming ecosystem.

The pre-alpha footage already demonstrates smooth performance on both PS5 and PC platforms. This technical achievement reflects the studio's commitment to delivering polished experiences. Moreover, it proves that indie studios can achieve AAA-level optimization with proper support and expertise.

Established Studio with Growing Expertise

underDOGS Studio began operations in 2011, initially creating browser games before expanding into mobile, PC, and console development. The Mumbai-based team now consists of 15 dedicated professionals working alongside veteran industry consultants. These consultants bring decades of experience to guide the studio's ambitious projects.

Chavan's professional journey includes positions at India Games and Games2Win before founding underDOGS Studio. His diverse background combines technical engineering skills with creative storytelling abilities. Therefore, he brings unique perspective to game development that bridges multiple disciplines effectively.

The studio's evolution from browser games to console development demonstrates steady growth and ambition. Each platform transition has expanded their technical capabilities and market reach. Subsequently, they've built expertise across multiple gaming platforms and audience segments.

Advanced Platform Features and Accessibility

Mukti will launch simultaneously on PS5 and PC with full support for modern gaming features. PlayStation 5 players will experience haptic feedback and adaptive triggers through the DualSense controller. These features enhance immersion and demonstrate the studio's attention to platform-specific capabilities.

PC players will enjoy comprehensive controller integration, achievement systems, and Steam family sharing functionality. The game requires 40 GB of storage space across both platforms. Additionally, the technical specifications accommodate various hardware configurations to maximize accessibility.

Minimum PC requirements include Intel Core i5-9400F or AMD Ryzen 5 3500 processors with 8 GB RAM. Graphics cards need NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 or AMD Radeon RX 570 specifications. Meanwhile, recommended specs feature Intel Core i7-12700K or AMD Ryzen 7 7700 processors with 16 GB RAM for optimal performance.

Regional Pricing Strategy Considers Indian Market

The studio continues finalizing pricing strategies while considering regional market conditions. Chavan confirms they will implement regional pricing to ensure accessibility for Indian audiences. However, they prioritize perfecting the gaming experience before announcing final pricing details.

"We're not rushing into pricing decisions," Chavan explains about their measured approach. The team wants to deliver exceptional value regardless of final pricing structure. Therefore, they're balancing global market expectations with local affordability considerations.

This thoughtful pricing approach reflects the studio's commitment to serving diverse audiences effectively. They understand that accessibility drives adoption in emerging gaming markets. Consequently, their strategy aims to maximize both reach and sustainability.

Transmedia Expansion Plans Signal Long-Term Vision

Mukti represents the beginning of larger storytelling ambitions for underDOGS Studio. The narrative foundation supports potential expansion into films, books, and additional games. Moreover, Chavan envisions building a studio renowned for exceptional storytelling across multiple mediums.

"The story is strong enough to go transmedia," Chavan shares about future possibilities. This vision extends beyond single-game success toward sustainable creative enterprise. Additionally, transmedia expansion could introduce Indian stories to global audiences across various entertainment formats.

The studio's long-term goals include establishing India as a recognized source of world-class interactive narratives. They want to prove that Indian teams can produce internationally competitive content while maintaining authentic cultural perspectives. Therefore, Mukti serves as both standalone achievement and foundation for future success.

Cultural Significance and Industry Impact

The title "Mukti" means "freedom" in Hindi, symbolizing the game's mission to break stereotypes about Indian game development. The project demonstrates that Indian studios can produce world-class narratives through authentic storytelling approaches. Furthermore, it challenges perceptions about emerging market creative capabilities.

The game's success could inspire other Indian developers to pursue ambitious narrative projects. Sony's backing through the India Hero Project validates the potential of Indian gaming talent. Consequently, Mukti may catalyze broader industry growth and international recognition.

Chavan emphasizes the importance of community support through Steam wishlists and social media engagement. These metrics demonstrate global interest in Indian gaming content to publishers and platform holders. Therefore, audience support directly influences the industry's future development opportunities and international partnerships.