Mahesh Babu has joined Mumbai-based Shortgun Games as a strategic investor, according to Variety. The studio is developing original PC and console titles rather than mobile games. The investment amount was not disclosed.
An original-IP strategy
Founded by Jeet Chandan and Vidhit Mehta, Shortgun is targeting PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Its first announced project, Project Takedown, is a story-driven action-adventure game intended for markets including North America, Europe and the UK.
The founders describe an ambition to build lasting franchises with international reach.
Babu, who leads S.S. Rajamouli's upcoming Varanasi, sees interactive entertainment as an intersection of narrative, technology and global culture. He believes Indian creators can build original characters and cinematic worlds with international appeal.
Bringing action filmmaking into development
Action director Vicky Arora, whose credits include Uri: The Surgical Strike, RRR and Tanaav, is working on combat sequences. His team has contributed motion-capture choreography, combat previsualisation and physical stunt performances that feed into the digital-character pipeline.
Shortgun's slate also includes cooperative independent game Roll ’em Out.
Chandan says Shortgun wants franchises that can travel across media and regional borders. He links Babu's involvement with plans to expand technical capabilities and creative staffing. Mehta frames the investment as support for the studio's focus on detailed worlds, layered gameplay and cinematic storytelling as Project Takedown develops alongside Roll ’em Out.