ICC takes stake in LightFury Games, backing its cricket gaming push
What's the deal? The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made an equity investment in Bengaluru-based gaming studio LightFury GamesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, its first direct stake in a technology startup. The deal comes alongside the award of exclusive global interactive gaming rights to the developer.
Why now? The ICC's entry closes an active financing window for LightFury, which has raised $19.5 million across successive rounds. The move follows an $11 million Pre-Series A round closed in July 2026 — a quick re-raise after an $8.5 million seed.
The backers: The seed round was led by Blume Ventures, Gemba CapitalDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and MIXI Global InvestmentsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The ICC now joins the cap table as a strategic investor rather than a licensing partner.
What's the endgame? The rights grant LightFury exclusive control to develop, publish, and manage official ICC-branded cricket simulations across platforms. Its flagship title, eCricket , is a "AAA" game built on Unreal Engine 5.
What's inside? The rights cover the ICC Men's and Women's Cricket World Cups, the T20 World Cups, and the World Test Championship. The studio can integrate historical match data, team assets, and live tournament configurations, linking gameplay to real-time international match feeds.
The signal: A sports governing body taking direct equity — rather than licensing — signals a shift toward co-owning the digital ecosystems built around its brand. For LightFury, the ICC's backing converts a rights deal into a strategic partnership as it scales cricket gaming for a global fan base.
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