Level Up: India's Online Gaming Landscape Braces For A Thriving Future

While the online gaming industry is rapidly emerging in India, the virtual gaming influence can be traced to 2000, when Super Mario Bros, a video game franchise captured a majority of Indian hearts. Back then there were no smartphones and even computers and laptops were not commonly used devices, but still many experienced and explored the gaming adventure. Today with digitalisation, technology and artificial intelligence (AI), switching to the game-on mode is the easiest. With access to high-tech devices, the world is breathing virtual games and so does our country. The internet gaming impression is changing - the platform is now not just restricted to entertainment or time-spending mediums, but it has developed into a business source. An earning channel not limited to the developers but also open for the players, claims reports. But experts too have a perspective on, ‘A Future Of Online- gaming In India’. Let’s look deeper into the same.

India - An Online Gaming Powerhouse

With over 750 million active internet users in 2022, India has emerged as the powerhouse in the world of gaming with nearly 500 million individual gamers calling the nation their home. It is undeniable that the gaming industry has become a key driver of the Indian economy, shared Vinit Karnik, Head – Sports, Esports and Entertainment, GroupM.

He said the growth of the gaming market in India is truly remarkable, thanks to the efforts of influencers and gamers alike. With affordable internet access and widespread smartphone adoption, the industry is experiencing a significant boost. It is projected to surge to a staggering 8.6 billion by 2027.

Karnik also highlighted the fascinating growth of online gaming in two-tier cities, which is again an interesting trend. The entertainment head added that according to the latest Internet Mobile Association India report, by 2025, around 650 million mobile gamers will not only be a part of the Indian virtual gaming industry but would also significantly contribute towards other sectors like, mobile gadgets, IT services and consoles, among others.

Gaming Engagement

Online game engagement refers to the player’s commitment to the gaming activities thus bringing significant business revenues. Furthermore, nearly 8 per cent of the earnings come from users’ gaming engagement, according to reports.

Commenting on the gamers playing engagement, Piara Singh Gambhir, Deputy General Manager at Paytm Ads said, “Approximately 20 per cent of the Indian population is mobile gamers with significantly diversified gaming habits.” He emphasised that on average, over 44 per cent of paid players are engaged 17 hours per week in online gaming activities thus developing a bond and connectivity within the playing platform.

The Rise Of Online Gaming During Pandemic

As per reports, the majority of existing and new gamers got into virtual games during the pandemic, thus creating an online gaming boom that expanded the industry by 26 per cent between 2019 and 2021. The report further suggested that online gaming became an escape for many during the scary Covid scenario. It was during this time that many non-players also switched to online playing, making the gaming majors launch new games, which almost floated the gaming industry with money.

A broader shift is also observed from television to gaming. Today, many prefer to play online games over watching TV, said Piyush Chhaperwal, Vice President of Sales – India and Emerging Market, AnyMind Group.

Reports and research support the online gaming surge post covid but even if we look at our homes, we can observe the gaming boom, reiterated Chhaperwal, adding “If we have teenagers at home, we can surely see how inclined today’s kids are to the virtual gaming zone, which in turn, highlights the bright future of the gaming market. He even cited the example of his 14 years old son who prefers playing online games over watching TV.