Bengaluru: Gaming, storytelling, AI in focus on Day 2 at GAFX Summit

Bengaluru: The second day of the GAFX Summit 2026 featured discussions on developing gaming platforms, evolving modes of storytelling and emerging trends in the gaming industry.

The day began with a session by Rohan Mayya, co-founder of Aeos Games, which is set to launch Unleash the Avatar (Project 11A), a high-fidelity soulslike action role-playing game slated for a 2026 PC release.

The action RPG draws from Indian mythology and is set in a historical backdrop, featuring unique weapons, such as the chakra and a mythical sword.

The game’s photorealistic design is inspired by titles, such as Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice and Black Myth: Wukong.

“We have several cultural references, including a Rajput king-based enemy and a Kathak-based enemy. The usage of weapons shapes the gameplay,” Mayya said.

The visual design of the game recreates Chanderi in Madhya Pradesh, with the town digitally scanned and rendered on screen.

An app called Pixel Perch, developed by Wacom and the ABAI, was also launched at the summit. The app aims to help beginners understand the fundamentals of game development and associated skills.

‘Readership is not down in India’

Addressing claims that readership is declining in India, Ranjeet Singh, founder of Pratilipi, said, “Readership is not down; that is a lazy assumption. The meaning of reading has changed. What literature or a book means has changed, but the habit remains.”

“People’s need to escape from the harsh realities of life will always exist, and so will stories. The medium and format may change, but the habit will remain,” he said.

On the role of artificial intelligence in writing, Singh observed, “AI can be a tool, but not a creator. If one is a writer, it can make one’s writing better, and that is its limit.”