Pune Aces Renegades: India's Ultimate Desi Multiplayer Experience

Overview of Pune Aces Renegades

Pune Aces Renegades is not just another multiplayer shooter—it’s a love letter to India’s gaming culture and Pune’s vibrant identity. Developed by Desi Games Studio Pune, a team of local developers and gaming enthusiasts, the game launched in March 2024 to widespread acclaim from desi gamers tired of generic international titles that don’t resonate with their experiences.

At its core, Pune Aces Renegades is a team-based action game that blends tactical shooting with desi-themed elements—think lathi-wielding characters, jugaad-inspired gadgets, and maps based on Pune’s most famous locations, from the historic Shaniwar Wada to the bustling MG Road and the serene Lavasa Hills. What sets it apart is its unapologetic focus on Indian gamers: low-end device optimization (critical for India’s mobile-first market), regional language support (Marathi, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and English), and in-game events tied to festivals like Diwali, Holi, and Ganesh Chaturthi.

The game’s premise is simple yet relatable: a group of renegades from different walks of life in Pune—including a Maratha warrior descendant, a college student from Fergusson College, a street food vendor from Lakdi Pul, and a techie from Hinjewadi—unite to protect their city from a shadowy organization trying to exploit Pune’s cultural heritage. This narrative thread runs through the game’s story mode and event quests, giving players a sense of pride and connection to the characters and locations.

Core Values and Vision

Desi Games Studio Pune founded the project with three core values in mind: authenticity, accessibility, and community. The team wanted to create a game that didn’t just “add Indian skins” to a generic formula but built every mechanic, character, and map from the ground up with Indian gamers in mind.

Accessibility was a top priority—over 70% of Indian gamers play on mid-to-low-end Android devices, so the team optimized Pune Aces Renegades to run smoothly on devices with 2GB RAM and 16GB storage. The game also offers multiple control schemes, including a “one-hand mode” perfect for commuters playing on buses or trains.

Community is at the heart of the game too. The developers regularly interact with players on Instagram, YouTube, and Discord, taking feedback to tweak gameplay, add new content, and fix bugs. They’ve also hosted offline tournaments in Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi, giving local gamers a chance to compete and meet fellow enthusiasts.

Platform Availability

Pune Aces Renegades is available across all major platforms, ensuring that no desi gamer is left out:

Cross-platform play is supported between mobile and PC, allowing friends to play together regardless of their device. Console players have their own dedicated servers to ensure fair competition, as controller inputs can offer an advantage over touchscreen or mouse-keyboard setups.

Gameplay: Desi Action with Tactical Depth

Pune Aces Renegades combines the fast-paced action of popular shooters with mechanics that feel familiar to Indian gamers, while adding unique desi twists that set it apart from international titles. Whether you’re a casual player looking for a quick chai break match or a competitive gamer aiming for the top of the leaderboards, the game offers something for everyone.

Game Modes

The game features six core game modes, each designed to cater to different playstyles and group sizes:

Weapons and Gadgets: Desi Innovation at Its Finest

Pune Aces Renegades’ arsenal is a mix of traditional Indian weapons, modern firearms with desi modifications, and jugaad-inspired gadgets that reflect India’s resourceful spirit. Every weapon and gadget is designed to feel unique while remaining balanced for competitive play.

Progression System

Pune Aces Renegades features a rewarding progression system that encourages players to keep coming back, without being pay-to-win. The game uses two currencies: Desi Coins (earned by playing matches, completing daily quests, and winning tournaments) and Pune Pride Points (earned by leveling up and completing seasonal challenges).

Desi Coins can be used to purchase weapons, gadgets, and basic cosmetic items (like character outfits and weapon skins), while Pune Pride Points unlock exclusive content, such as legendary skins, character emotes, and access to premium tournaments.

The game also has a Battle Pass (called the "Renegade Pass") that costs 500 Desi Coins (or free to earn slowly through gameplay) and offers over 50 tiers of rewards, including rare cosmetics, weapon blueprints, and bonus Desi Coins. Each season of the Renegade Pass lasts 2 months and is themed around a Pune festival or historical event—for example, the first season was "Ganesh Chaturthi Special," with rewards inspired by the festival.

Accessibility Features

Desi Games Studio Pune went above and beyond to make Pune Aces Renegades accessible to all Indian gamers, regardless of their device, skill level, or language preference:

These accessibility features have made Pune Aces Renegades popular among gamers of all ages and backgrounds—from kids playing on their parents’ old phones to competitive players on high-end PCs.

Development: From Pune’s Garages to India’s Screens

The story of Pune Aces Renegades begins in 2020, when a group of five friends—all gaming enthusiasts and Pune natives—gathered in a small garage in Kothrud to discuss their frustration with the lack of authentic Indian games in the market. At the time, most multiplayer games popular in India were international titles like PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, and Call of Duty Mobile, which, while fun, didn’t reflect Indian culture, locations, or gaming habits.

The Founding of Desi Games Studio Pune

The founding team—Rahul Patil (lead programmer), Priya Desai (game designer), Ajay Sharma (artist), Vikram Mehta (sound designer), and Sanjana Kulkarni (community manager)—came from diverse backgrounds: Rahul had worked at a Bangalore-based mobile game studio, Priya was a former UX designer, Ajay was a freelance artist specializing in Indian themes, Vikram had composed music for local short films, and Sanjana had managed social media for a Pune-based tech startup.

What united them was their love for Pune and their passion for creating a game that Indians could call their own. “We’d sit in that garage for 12 hours a day, drinking chai and arguing about what makes a game ‘desi’,” recalls Rahul. “Priya wanted to include rickshaws as vehicles, Ajay insisted on making Shaniwar Wada a map, and Vikram wanted the soundtrack to feature traditional Marathi instruments mixed with EDM. It was chaotic, but it worked.”

The team started with a small budget—savings from their previous jobs and a crowdfunding campaign on a local Indian platform that raised ₹5 lakhs. They used Unity Engine because of its accessibility and ability to optimize games for mobile devices, which they knew would be the primary platform for Indian gamers.

Early Prototyping and Challenges

The first prototype of Pune Aces Renegades was a simple TDM mode with two characters and one map (a basic version of MG Road). The team tested it with friends and local gamers in Pune’s cyber cafes, gathering feedback that would shape the game’s development.

One of the biggest challenges was balancing authenticity with gameplay. “We wanted to include desi elements, but we didn’t want them to feel forced,” says Priya. “For example, we initially made the lathi a one-hit kill weapon, but players found it overpowered. We had to tweak it to be a fast melee weapon with moderate damage—authentic, but balanced.”

Another challenge was optimizing the game for low-end devices. “In India, most gamers don’t have the latest phones,” explains Rahul. “We spent months optimizing the graphics, reducing the game’s size, and ensuring that it runs smoothly on 2GB RAM devices. We even removed some visual effects for the ultra-low preset, but we made sure the core gameplay wasn’t affected.”

Funding was also a struggle in the early days. The team approached several Indian investors, but many were hesitant to fund a game—they saw it as a risky venture compared to more traditional tech startups. It wasn’t until 2022 that they secured a ₹20 lakh investment from Daman Games, a Mumbai-based gaming company that specializes in Indian-themed content.

Collaborations and Local Partnerships

To ensure authenticity, the team collaborated with local artists, historians, and cultural experts. They worked with a Pune-based historian to accurately recreate Shaniwar Wada, including its architecture and historical details. They also partnered with local musicians to create the game’s soundtrack, which features traditional Marathi instruments like the tabla, dholak, and shehnai mixed with modern EDM beats.

The team also collaborated with popular Indian streamers and YouTubers during the beta phase. Streamers like CarryMinati, Mortal, and Techno Gamerz tested the game and provided feedback, which helped the team fix bugs and balance gameplay. Their streams also generated buzz for the game, with millions of views and thousands of pre-registrations.

In addition, the team partnered with local businesses in Pune to promote the game. For example, they collaborated with a popular vada pav chain to offer in-game rewards (like vada pav-themed skins) to customers who purchased their products. They also hosted beta testing events in Pune’s malls and cyber cafes, giving gamers a chance to play the game and meet the team.

Launch and Post-Launch Support

Pune Aces Renegades launched on March 15, 2024, with a big event in Pune’s Amanora Mall, attended by over 1,000 gamers and several local celebrities. The game was met with overwhelming positive feedback—players praised its authenticity, accessibility, and fun gameplay.

The team didn’t stop after launch, though. They had a post-launch roadmap that included new game modes, maps, characters, and events. Within a month of launch, they released the Festival Clash mode for Holi, followed by the Desi Battle Royale mode in April. They also regularly update the game with bug fixes and balance changes based on player feedback.

“Our philosophy is that the game belongs to the community,” says Sanjana. “We read every comment, every review, and every message from players. If they want a new map based on a Pune landmark, we’ll consider it. If they think a weapon is overpowered, we’ll tweak it. We’re constantly evolving the game to meet their needs.”

Characters: The Renegades of Pune

Pune Aces Renegades features a diverse cast of characters, each with a unique backstory, personality, and set of abilities. What makes these characters special is that they’re all inspired by real people and archetypes from Pune—from the street-smart vendor to the tech-savvy IT professional. Each character has their own motivation for joining the Renegades, and their stories are woven into the game’s narrative and dialogue.

Core Playable Characters

There are six core playable characters in Pune Aces Renegades, each with a unique class, abilities, and playstyle. Players can unlock additional characters by leveling up, completing challenges, or purchasing them with Desi Coins.

1. Arjun “The Warrior” Patil 🛡️

Class: Tank

Backstory: Arjun is a descendant of the Maratha warriors who once defended Pune. A former army officer, he left the military after refusing to follow orders that would harm innocent civilians. He now uses his combat skills to protect Pune’s heritage from the Heritage Hunters. Arjun is a stoic, honor-bound character who values loyalty and courage above all else.

Abilities:

Playstyle: Arjun is a frontline tank who excels at leading charges and protecting his team. He’s perfect for players who like to get up close and personal with enemies, absorbing damage while his teammates deal damage from behind.

2. Meera “The Techie” Desai 💻

Class: Support

Backstory: Meera is a software engineer from Hinjewadi, Pune’s IT hub. She quit her high-paying job at a multinational company after discovering that the Heritage Hunters were using technology to hack into Pune’s historical archives. With her coding skills and knowledge of cybersecurity, she joined the Renegades to fight back using her brain rather than brawn.

Abilities:

Playstyle: Meera is a support character who excels at healing her team, disabling enemies, and providing utility. She’s perfect for players who like to stay behind the frontlines and help their team win through strategy and teamwork.

3. Raju “The Vendor” Sharma 🥙

Class: Assault

Backstory: Raju is a street food vendor from Lakdi Pul, known for his famous vada pav and his quick wit. He joined the Renegades after the Heritage Hunters destroyed his food cart while trying to steal a historical artifact from a nearby temple. Raju may seem like a laid-back character, but he’s street-smart and knows Pune’s lanes and alleys like the back of his hand.

Abilities:

Playstyle: Raju is an assault character who excels at fast-paced, hit-and-run tactics. He’s perfect for players who like to flank enemies, deal damage, and escape quickly.

4. Priya “The Student” Kulkarni 📚

Class: Sniper

Backstory: Priya is a college student at Fergusson College, Pune’s oldest and most prestigious educational institution. She’s a sharpshooter who learned to shoot from her grandfather, a former police officer. Priya joined the Renegades after the Heritage Hunters kidnapped her professor, who was an expert on Pune’s history. She’s a determined, quick-thinking character who uses her intelligence and precision to take down enemies from afar.

Abilities:

Playstyle: Priya is a sniper character who excels at taking down enemies from long range. She’s perfect for players who like to stay hidden, plan their shots, and support their team from afar.

5. Vikram “The Mechanic” Mehta 🔧

Class: Engineer

Backstory: Vikram is a mechanic from Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune’s industrial area. He’s a genius with machines and can fix or modify almost anything—from rickshaws to weapons. Vikram joined the Renegades after the Heritage Hunters stole his custom-built rickshaw, which he had modified with armor and weapons. He’s a gruff, no-nonsense character who loves nothing more than building and testing new gadgets.

Abilities:

Playstyle: Vikram is an engineer character who excels at setting up defenses and dealing explosive damage. He’s perfect for players who like to control the map and support their team with gadgets and turrets.

6. Sanjana “The Doctor” Iyer 🏥

Class: Healer

Backstory: Sanjana is a doctor from Sassoon Hospital, Pune’s largest public hospital. She joined the Renegades after treating several civilians injured by the Heritage Hunters’ attacks. Sanjana is a compassionate, selfless character who puts her team’s safety above her own. She’s also a skilled fighter, having learned self-defense to protect herself and her patients.

Abilities:

Playstyle: Sanjana is a healer character who excels at keeping her team alive. She’s perfect for players who like to support their team and ensure that everyone stays in the fight.

Character Customization

Pune Aces Renegades offers extensive character customization options, allowing players to personalize their favorite characters with outfits, accessories, and emotes that reflect their personality. All customization items are cosmetic—they don’t affect gameplay—ensuring that the game remains balanced for competitive play.

Customization options include:

Many customization items are tied to Indian festivals and events. For example, during Diwali, players can unlock “Diwali Dhamaka” outfits for all characters, featuring bright colors and sparkles. During Ganesh Chaturthi, they can unlock ganesh-shaped accessories and emotes like “Modak Offer.”

Players can also unlock “Legendary” customization items by completing difficult challenges or purchasing them with Pune Pride Points. These items are rare and highly sought after, featuring unique designs and animations—for example, Arjun’s “Maratha King” outfit, which includes a golden shield and a plumed turban, or Meera’s “Tech Goddess” outfit, which features glowing LED lights and a holographic laptop.

Maps: Pune’s Landmarks Reimagined for Action

One of the most beloved features of Pune Aces Renegades is its maps, which are all inspired by real-life landmarks and locations in Pune. The development team spent months researching and visiting these locations to ensure that every detail—from the architecture to the street food stalls—is accurate. Each map has its own unique layout, terrain, and strategic opportunities, making every match feel fresh and exciting.

Core Maps

The game features eight core maps, each designed for specific game modes. Additional maps are added regularly as part of seasonal updates and events.

1. Shaniwar Wada Siege 🏰

Game Modes: Shaniwar Wada Siege, Capture the Point, TDM

Description: Inspired by Pune’s iconic Shaniwar Wada, this map is a mix of narrow courtyards, tall walls, and open plazas. The central area features a replica of the Shaniwar Wada’s famous cannon, which serves as the objective in the Shaniwar Wada Siege mode. The map is designed to encourage close-quarters combat in the courtyards and long-range battles on the walls.

Key Features:

Strategy Tip: Defenders should use the walls to snipers to cover the central cannon, while attackers should use the alleyways to flank and take out snipers.

2. MG Road Bazaar 🛍️

Game Modes: TDM, Capture the Point, Festival Clash

Description: Based on Pune’s bustling MG Road, this map is a vibrant bazaar filled with street food stalls, shops, and rickshaws. The map is fast-paced and chaotic, with plenty of cover and tight spaces. It’s perfect for players who like close-quarters combat and quick reflexes.

Key Features:

Strategy Tip: Use the street food stalls as cover to ambush enemies, and watch out for flanks through the narrow lanes. The central plaza is a hot spot for team fights, so be prepared for intense action.

3. Hinjewadi Tech Park 💼

Game Modes: Capture the Point, TDM, Desi Battle Royale (smaller version)

Description: Inspired by Pune’s IT hub, Hinjewadi, this map features modern office buildings, parking lots, and a central park. The map is designed for medium-range combat, with plenty of open spaces and tall buildings for snipers. It’s perfect for players who like to mix tactical play with fast-paced action.

Key Features:

Strategy Tip: Snipers should take position on the office building roofs to cover the central park, while assault players can use the parking lots to flank enemies. The glass windows can be shattered to surprise enemies inside the buildings.

4. Lavasa Lakefront 🏞️

Game Modes: Capture the Point, Desi Battle Royale (large version), Story Mode

Description: Based on the scenic Lavasa Hills, this map features a lake, hills, and small villages. The map is large and open, with plenty of long-range combat opportunities. It’s perfect for players who like to use snipers and tactical positioning.

Key Features:

Strategy Tip: Use the hills to set up sniper positions, and use the boats to quickly move between the lake’s two shores. The villages are hot spots for close-quarters combat, so be prepared to switch to a shotgun or lathi when entering them.

5. Kasba Peth Lanes 🚶

Game Modes: TDM, Story Mode, Festival Clash

Description: Inspired by Pune’s oldest neighborhood, Kasba Peth, this map features narrow lanes, old houses, and a small temple. The map is tight and claustrophobic, with plenty of cover and ambush points. It’s perfect for players who like stealthy play and close-quarters combat.

Key Features:

Strategy Tip: Use the narrow lanes to ambush enemies, and watch out for enemies hiding in the windows. The temple courtyard is a hot spot for team fights, so use grenades and gadgets to clear out enemies before entering.

6. Pune Airport 🛩️

Game Modes: Desi Battle Royale, Capture the Point, TDM

Description: Based on Pune’s Lohegaon Airport, this map features runways, terminals, and hangars. The map is large and open, with plenty of long-range combat opportunities. It’s perfect for players who like to use vehicles and snipers.

Key Features:

Strategy Tip: Snipers should take position on the runway edges or terminal roofs, while assault players can use the hangars to flank enemies. The cargo trucks can be destroyed to create explosions that damage nearby enemies.

7. Fergusson College Campus 🎓

Game Modes: TDM, Capture the Point, Story Mode

Description: Inspired by Pune’s iconic Fergusson College, this map features historic buildings, lush gardens, and wide corridors. The map is a mix of open spaces and tight indoor areas, making it suitable for all playstyles.

Key Features:

Strategy Tip: Use the gardens for flanking, and the buildings for defensive positions. The auditorium’s large windows provide excellent sniping spots, but beware of enemies entering through the back doors.

8. Pimpri-Chinchwad Industrial Area 🏭

Game Modes: Desi Battle Royale, Capture the Point, TDM

Description: Based on Pune’s industrial hub, this map features factories, warehouses, and industrial buildings. The map is gritty and urban, with plenty of cover and verticality.

Key Features:

Strategy Tip: Use the factory rooftops for sniping, and the warehouses for close-quarters combat. The railway tracks can be used to quickly move between areas, but be careful of enemy ambushes.

Seasonal and Event Maps

In addition to the core maps, Pune Aces Renegades regularly adds seasonal and event maps tied to Indian festivals and special occasions. These maps are only available for a limited time and feature unique themes and mechanics.

Examples of seasonal maps include: