We now have all heard the saying – cricket isn’t just a sport; it’s an emotion. With a world viewers of two.5 billion, together with 600 million viewers in India alone, cricket stands as one of many most-watched and extensively performed sports activities. Whereas out of doors cricket stays the perfect selection, the eagerness for the sport has seamlessly transitioned indoors with interactive and immersive experiences shaping the gaming format.
Bengaluru-based startup MetaShot is redefining residence leisure by merging cricket with immersive gaming know-how. Co-founded by Prince Thomas, Ranjit Behera, and Ajith Sunny, Metashot has developed an progressive hardware-based gaming system that permits customers to play cricket of their residing rooms. The concept stemmed from their love for the game and the realisation that motion-based gaming remained largely costly and inaccessible in India.
Launched in September 2023, the startup claims to have offered out two months’ value of stock in simply 10 days. Up to now, MetaShot has offered roughly 25,000 items, with income rising fivefold year-over-year.
Not like conventional gaming consoles that depend on costly {hardware}, MetaShot’s system integrates with a wise bat and a motion-tracking sensor. “No matter you do in your front room, your avatar will do the identical factor on the display,” Thomas mentioned, evaluating the system with a Nintendo Wii-like expertise at a fraction of the price.
This innovation has additionally struck a chord with mother and father. “We’ve had many testimonials from moms who’re pleased that their child is not less than having some type of bodily train,” Thomas added.
Gaming with Good Tech
MetaShot’s cricket simulation works with out cameras or infrared monitoring, not like conventional gaming consoles similar to Xbox Kinect or VR headsets, which use a number of cameras for movement detection. As an alternative, it depends solely on 9-axis sensors embedded within the good bat, which observe a participant’s actions, shot angles, and energy.
The information is processed utilizing a smartphone, pill, or laptop computer, eliminating the necessity for an costly console.
Curiously, MetaShot has expanded its buyer base, with 37% of customers being each kids and adults, 33% being adults alone, and 30% children.
“There are adults enjoying, they use it for occasion video games, they join with their pals, they purchase in bulk, three or 4 pals will purchase and they’ll play collectively. So, we’re more and more seeing these sorts of use instances,” mentioned Thomas.
Made in India
One in all MetaShot’s core ideas is to fabricate regionally. “From the start, we have been very clear [that] we might attempt to make it in India,” Thomas mentioned. Whereas sensors are imported, the bat moulds, parts, and meeting are performed completely in Bengaluru. This determination aligns with India’s push for home manufacturing and avoids reliance on Chinese language parts, regardless of the challenges of constructing a {hardware} ecosystem regionally.
Metashot has additionally expanded its retail presence, partnering with Blinkit for fast deliveries, making their product accessible inside minutes for last-minute purchases, particularly for events and group play.
Lengthy Approach Forward
As of January 2025, MetaShot has raised roughly $2.19 million throughout a number of funding rounds, together with a ₹11 crore seed spherical led by Sauce.vc. Furthermore, the startup secured ₹1.6 crore for a 5% fairness stake in Shark Tank India.
Regardless of its distinctive positioning, MetaShot competes with main world gaming manufacturers. Merchandise just like the Nintendo Wii and Xbox Kinect launched motion-based gaming years in the past however failed to achieve traction in India on account of excessive prices.
“The same product at this worth level doesn’t exist,” Thomas identified. Whereas a Nintendo Change or PlayStation prices between ₹40,000 and ₹50,000, MetaShot’s cricket recreation is priced considerably decrease at ₹5,000, making it way more accessible.
Gaming giants similar to Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo dominate the high-end console market, promoting 2-3 lakh items yearly in India. Thomas believes that if MetaShot reaches its full potential at a lower cost level, the corporate may surpass these numbers. “If we begin hitting our potential, we are able to do way more.”
MetaShot shouldn’t be alone within the sports-tech gaming market. Firms similar to StanceBeam and Freebowler have developed good cricket gear, whereas Movement Sense AI is engaged on AI-powered movement monitoring for gaming.
As MetaShot expands, its subsequent frontier consists of multisport gaming. The workforce is already growing a common motion-tracking gadget that permits customers to modify between cricket, tennis, and different sports activities by merely altering the bat or racket attachment.
“We’re engaged on a common gadget that allows you to play a number of video games. Most certainly, we’ll launch it [in the] subsequent monetary 12 months,” Thomas concluded.
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