Online Gaming Ban Hits Hard: Zupee Lays Off 30% Workforce, Shifts Focus to Cultural Games and Content

India’s online gaming industry is facing turbulence after the government enforced a ban on real-money games. For companies like Zupee, which built their business around skill-based, pay-to-play games, the move has triggered immediate and severe repercussions. Once a rising star in India’s gaming ecosystem, Zupee has now announced mass layoffs affecting nearly a third of its employees, reflecting wider uncertainty in the sector.