Karmaratha Studio

Began as the brainchild of its visionary founder, Saurabh Jethani

Saurabh’s dream was to create a hero rooted deeply in the culture and folklore of Bharat.

What started as a small, passionate idea - to introduce a uniquely Indian protagonist to the global video game industry - quickly evolved into something far greater than Saurabh could have ever imagined.

The early days were humble, driven by the desire to share stories of Bharat’s rich heritage in a way that resonated with modern audiences. Saurabh and his small but dedicated team envisioned a hero who was not just another character but a symbol of India’s vast mythologies, timeless values and evolving spirit.

As the studio grew, so did its ambitions. What began as a quest to create a single game transformed into a mission to build immersive worlds, where every pixel pulsed with the heartbeat of India’s diverse culture. The studio expanded its vision - crafting experiences that merged cutting-edge technology with the essence of Bharat’s ancient wisdom. folklore. and history.

Soon, Karmaratha wasn’t just creating games. It became a beacon for the country’s emerging talent-offering opportunities in education, outsourcing and development, helping India establish itself as a creative powerhouse in the global gaming industry.

From a single idea, Saurabh’s studio evolved into a multifaceted hub, one where storytelling, artistry, and innovation converged to shape not just heroes but a new generation of creators.

The early days were humble

While the passion was burning bright and the project was full of untapped potential, Saurabh found himself at a crossroad. His mind buzzed with ideas for his own studio - Karmaratha: a place where stories from Bharat could take a new life in the world of video games. But there was one thing holding him back : Time.

Saurabh was still employed at Slipgate ironworks, where he poured his artistic energy into exciting projects. But as fulfilling as his role was, it left little room to devote to his personal dream. The vision of a hero rooted in Indian culture, of a studio that could redefine gaming for a new generation, lingered in the back of his mind, waiting to be nurtured. Each day, he sketched new ideas during fleeting moments of inspiration, jotted down concepts, and dreamed about what his project could become if only he had the hours to give it.

The potential was clear - he could see it in every idea that flashed before his eyes. but the demands of his day job at Slipgate pulled him in another direction, and committing fully to his own project seemed just out of reach. Saurabh knew that at some point, a choice would have to be made. Would he continue on his current path or take the leap, dedicating himself to his dream and breathing life into the studio he longed to create?

Help

Though Saurabh was still balancing his job at Slipgate Ironworks, he couldn’t let go of his dream. He knew he had to find a way to push Karmaratha forward, even with his time stretched thin. That’s when he decided to take the first step toward realizing his vision: he hired a freelancer - his very first employee.

The freelancer was brought on to handle the heavy lifting of art creation, giving Saurabh the breathing room he needed to focus on the heart of the project. While his new hire worked on crafting the character and assets, Saurabh took charge of the hero himself. He poured his passion into art directing the character, ensuring every detail reflected the deep connection to Bharat’s mythology and modernity.

He rigged and animated the hero with meticulous care, breathing life into the figure that had long existed in his mind. After months of careful work, a small trailer was born — a teaser of what the future held. It was raw, but it captured the essence of his vision. This was the moment Saurabh had been waiting for: the project had begun to take on a life of its own.

With a team, even if only one other person, Saurabh’s dream was no longer just an idea; it was a reality, inching closer to becoming the game he had always envisioned.

Gaming industry layoffs of 2023

With the dream of creating an Indian - inspired video game still burning bright, Saurabh decided to pitch the idea to the higher-ups at Slipgate Ironworks. He laid out his vision of a game deeply rooted in Bharat’s culture, one that could stand out in the global market. But without enough content or a solid prototype to showcase, the idea didn’t gain the traction he had hoped for. The timing wasn’t right.

Then came the wave of layoffs that hit the gaming industry, and Saurabh found himself among those affected. It was a hard blow, but in that moment of uncertainty, he saw a glimmer of opportunity.

With years of experience under his belt - having worked on major titles like Horizon Forbidden West through Little Red Zombies, Baldur’s Gate 3 with Larian Studios, and most recently Slipdate - Saurabh realized he had all the tools he needed to make his own mark.

Instead of seeing the layoff as a setback, Saurabh took it as a sign that it was time to take the leap of faith he had long been contemplating. He knew the road ahead would be difficult, but this was his chance to fully commit to his cision. With the experience he had gained, the lessons learned, and the fire to create something truly unique, Saurabh went headfirst into constructing his own studio - Karmaratha: a space where Indian stories, myths, and heroes could finally take center stage in the world of gaming.

Arjun : The warrior prince

The hero forged in the fires of hard labor, like gold polished through trial, emerged as a shining symbol of resilience and vision. Arjun

Arjun became more than just a hero - it was a symbol of Saurabh’s confidence and commitment. This character, drawn from the epic Mahabharata, would form the foundation for his ambitious vision of turning the legendary tale into a full-fledged video game.

In late 2023, Saurabh brought Arjun to the Indian Game Developer Conference. Just like his earlier pitch at Slipgate, it wasn’t yet the right moment for the studio to flourish. But despite the setbacks, Arjun had already become the heart of his dream, a guiding force that kept pushing him forward.

Determined not to let the momentum slip, Saurabh took Arjun with him on a journey back to Canada.

He returned to Think Tank Training Centre, where he had graduated in 2018 and where he had since been teaching and mentoring new talent. Being back with peers, reconnecting with the institution where he first honed his craft, reignited his drive.

During his visit, Saurabh met with Christopher Mair, his first boss at hellbent Games - the person who had given him his first break in the gaming industry. Their reunion, after years apart, was not just a trip down memory lane. It was a meeting of fellow game developers now taking different paths.

Over Indian food, they reminisced, discussed games, and exchanged ideas. Chris, seeing the potential in Saurabh’s vision, offered guidance and support for Karmaratha’s secondary titles, sparking new possibilities for the future.

Armed with Arjun and the advice of his mentors, Saurabh returned with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to face the challenges ahead and continue building his dream studio.

The Gamble

The next phase of Saurabh’s journey was nothing short of a gamble.

With unwavering belief in his vision, Saurabh made a bold decision - he poured every bit of his savings and all his earnings from teaching into the next sprint of his studio, Karmaratha.

This was his moment to commit fully, to push forward with no looking back.

The studio went quiet, working under the radar as they meticulously crafted the game design documents for major titles. That included Leo and Nora

This title Leo and Nora, began to catch the interest of both Western and Eastern audience. As the team developed its prototype and art concepts, Karmaratha quietly gathered momentum.

Meanwhile, Mahabharata was scaling rapidly. Saurabh expanded his team across multiple departments - environment art, character designers, programmers, and game designers - all working in harmony to bring this epic to life. New characters joined the fray, a breathtaking environment took shape, and the game’s scope grew larger with each passing day.

In the midst of this, Leo and Nora started to take form as well, with a prototype ready to showcase the studio’s ability to craft diverse narratives for global audiences.

Quitely, the studio built its arsenal - refining its vision, preparing for the moment when it would step back into the spotlight. Soon, Karmaratha would be ready to introduce itself to the world, stronger than ever before.

Big Bang

The time had come for Karmaratha to make its grand reentry. Armed with polished prototypes, breathtaking environments, beautiful characters and a fully developed vision, the studio was ready to make an explosive announcement at the Indian Game Developer Conference.

This time, Saurabh wasn’t just showcasing his work - he was stepping onto the stage as a speaker.

His talk, focused on the art of video game industry, was more than just a presentation; it was a statement of how far he had come. His journey, from sketching Arjun to building a studio, now had the momentum of a force that couldn’t be stopped.

But the conference was just the beginning. After the dust settled, Karmaratha would set out on a mission to raise funds, bringing investors and partners into the fold. Public updated would be released in regular intervals over the next few months, teasing what lay ahead.

But what comes next? Will Karmaratha soar to the heights Saurabh has envisioned? Or will the challenges ahead prove too steep?

Stay tuned, and keep watching as the journey unfolds - Karmaratha is only just beginning.