Mumbai-based underDOGS Studio has unveiled Mukti, a powerful first-person narrative adventure game that is putting India’s indie gaming scene on the global map. Backed by Sony’s India Hero Project, Mukti tells a hard-hitting story with authenticity, heart, and real gameplay — not flashy teasers.
Set in mid-2000s India, Mukti follows Arya, a young woman exploring a mysterious museum once owned by her grandfather. As she uncovers secrets surrounding his disappearance, she also confronts a darker issue — human trafficking.
Director and founder Vaibhav Chavan emphasized that Mukti isn’t just another game: “It’s real gameplay, running on real hardware. No cinematic fluff.” The game’s debut trailer, released on May 21, 2025, showcased in-engine footage and quickly gained traction globally, crossing 200,000 views within 24 hours and featuring on platforms like PlayStation Global and IGN.
Sony’s Support: Beyond Funding
Mukti is a product of Sony’s India Hero Project — a program aimed at empowering promising Indian developers. Vaibhav highlighted how crucial Sony’s involvement was:
“They didn’t just give us funding. We had weekly calls with their engineering and production teams — people who’ve worked on AAA titles. That mentorship was transformative.”
The collaboration also introduced underDOGS to international development pipelines, which helped them create a polished, optimized experience that already runs smoothly on PS5 and PC — even in pre-alpha.
Rooted in Indie Values
Despite rising expectations, Vaibhav remains grounded:
“We’re proud to call this an indie game. We’re not chasing AAA labels — we’re focused on a strong, emotional, narrative-driven experience.”
Inspired by titles like Firewatch, What Remains of Edith Finch, and Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, Mukti leans heavily into storytelling and exploration, staying away from traditional combat-focused mechanics.
Decade of Passion, Years of Craft
Founded in 2011, underDOGS Studio began with browser games before moving to mobile and now, console and PC development. The 15-member team, based in Mumbai, includes industry veterans and is led by Vaibhav — a computer engineer turned game designer with a background in theatre.
“Narrative is in my roots,” says Vaibhav. “With Mukti, we’re telling a story that matters, using the most powerful storytelling medium today — games.”
Built for PS5 and PC Gamers
Mukti will launch on both PlayStation 5 and PC. It will include modern features like haptics and adaptive triggers on PS5 and full controller support on Steam, along with achievements and family sharing. Pricing is still under review, but Vaibhav confirmed regional pricing for Indian audiences is a key consideration.
PC System Requirements
Minimum Specs:
- OS: Windows 10 (64-bit)
- CPU: Intel Core i5-9400F / AMD Ryzen 5 3500
- RAM: 8 GB
- GPU: NVIDIA GTX 1650 / AMD RX 570 or RX 6400
- Storage: 40 GB
Recommended Specs:
- OS: Windows 11 (64-bit)
- CPU: Intel Core i7-12700K / AMD Ryzen 7 7700
- RAM: 16 GB
- GPU: NVIDIA RTX 4060 Ti / AMD RX 7700 XT
- Storage: 40 GB
Mukti Means “Freedom” — And That’s the Goal
The name Mukti, meaning “freedom”, reflects the game’s mission — to break creative and industry boundaries. According to Vaibhav, this is just the beginning:
“We’re looking at transmedia — films, books, more games. We want underDOGS to be a storytelling powerhouse, not just in India, but worldwide.”
He concludes with a call to action:
“Add Mukti to your wishlist. Every wishlist shows the world that stories from India matter.”