How India Became Number One in the Global Gaming Industry

Over the last few years, the Indian gaming sector has rapidly grown from almost non-existent to a top global market. The industry has progressed significantly from times of coin-operated arcade games at gaming parlors to gaming consoles and, more recently, online gaming applications. With the gigantic market size of hundreds of millions of dollars, the future of the gaming industry in India appears to be very bright.

Compared to other sectors, the Indian gaming sector is expanding at a breakneck speed, even outpacing the majority of other media sub-sectors such as cinema, music, etc. Amidst several factors that have enhanced India’s growth in this field, the development of improved smartphones and expansive internet access has been a critical driving force. Overall, the Indian gaming market has developed dramatically over the years, and recent predictions indicate that the industry will grow even more rapidly in the future.

Evolution of the Indian Gaming Industry

In the early 1990s, gaming in India was exclusively accessible in video game parlors, where they were coin-operated devices and 64-bit cartridge-based gaming systems. The introduction of PCs in the late 1990s made it even simpler for individuals to download and play from the comfort of their own homes rather than buying cartridges. The PC is still a prevalent gaming device today, preferred by many players over mobile gaming.

In the 2000s, mobile devices such as smartphones became more prevalent in India. The introduction of these devices resulted in even more rapid development in the gaming industry. Today, one of the major factors responsible for the major surge in online gaming is the affordability and accessibility of mobile devices by the public. Investing in a dedicated gaming PC is far more expensive than simply purchasing a good smartphone that can play games. Aside from that, playing on mobile devices rather than PCs adds an extra degree of ease. In 2020, it was estimated that there were around 700 million smartphone users in India, up from 76 million in 2013. This figure is predicted to reach about 1 billion users by 2025 – setting up India as one of the leading gaming countries globally.

Growth of the Indian Gaming Industry.

According to several reports, India’s online gaming population has grown from roughly 250 million in 2018 to almost 400 million by 2020. This figure is predicted to triple by 2025, reaching over $3.9 billion in value. Mobile gaming, in particular, has seen the most rapid rise. Smartphones are now widely available and combined with high-speed internet connectivity – making online gaming more accessible and enjoyable.

In general, the internet has played a significant influence in the rise of India’s gaming industry. Even before the emergence of smartphones, cyber cafés have traditionally provided gamers with internet access to entertaining games in India. They contributed a great deal to the expansion of India’s video gaming business. By 2006, there were already over a hundred thousand cafés, with almost half of them being visited to play online games.

Circumvention of restricting regulations.

Certain government legislations in India, such as Chinese games restrictions and bans on betting on games of luck (primarily anti-betting legislation), have hampered the Indian gaming industry’s growth in the past. However, Indian versions of such forbidden games were created to alleviate governmental concerns and circumvent these legislations. Also, the penetration of online betting apps in India has served to avoid the government’s somewhat ambiguous anti-betting regulations.

The influence of Covid-19.

Another major factor that brought about significant growth is the Covid-19 outbreak which caused a spike in the development of the gaming industry worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic not only resulted in far-reaching changes in health care and public safety but also influenced the gaming business. As the pandemic progressed, virtual entertainment became increasingly popular among the massive Indian population to pass the time while indoors. Therefore, the demand for internet gaming witnessed enormous growth during that period. By the end of 2020, India has risen to become the world’s leading market for mobile gaming, accounting for over seven billion game installations and 17 percent of the worldwide market share for mobile gaming.

Many individuals were on the move to discover new methods to entertain and engage themselves during the lockdown, and one of the natural reactions was to turn to video games. Given that India is one of the world’s brightest tech hubs, it’s no surprise that many individuals find it simple to adopt online gaming as a means of pleasure. During the Pandemic, it is said that roughly 45 percent of users of mobile phones in India were involved in gaming. 

In addition to providing entertainment, these games also provided a sense of closeness and social engagement among players. Gamers showed a great interest in online multiplayer games with tournaments and chat features. During this period, the social side of online gaming was enough to fill the void for many people.

Conclusion

In recent years, the Indian gaming business has grown remarkably, outperforming the bulk of other media sub-sectors to become a prominent player in the worldwide gaming market. This suggests that the sector will continue to develop at a quick pace in the coming years. You can visit Parimatch for a better and easier way to bet on your favorite games.

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