Online gaming has risen above the impression of being an entertainment activity, with players accepting the fact that it assists them with bringing in cash and develops life skills, according to a new report from the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF).

As indicated by the study, which was conducted on more than 2,400 Indians ranging from the age of 18 to 44 who played online games, about 26% of respondents said online games act as stress busters while 24% consider it to be means to earn cash, while 13% accept that online gaming can teach significant skills and improve cognitive ability.

Around one in every four gamers imagined that online gaming can be taken up as a profession and this shows the change in the present industry. Lockdowns and social distancing during the previous year saw an expanding number of individuals transform their passion for gaming into a full-time career. As per facts, an expert gamer, joined with an esports organization, can procure Rs5,000-45,000 every month. Gaming competitions can bring an individual or a group prize cash which can be just about as high as Rs4.5 lakhs.

“Varied skills like critical thinking, creative thinking, decision making and problem-solving are essential for one’s growth in life. Through this research, we sought to understand whether consumers genuinely realize the value of mobile gaming. This study has helped us conclude that gaming is a way to collaborate, engage, and it is becoming a sector where people want to build their careers,” said Roland Landers, CEO, All India Gaming Federation.

Around 76% of gamers accepted that by regularly evaluating the most ideal approach to win a match, they foster solid analytical skills. More than half (57%) felt that an individual could hone analytical skills with online games in a similar way they would through an entire day in the working environment — 57% of men and 56% of women agreed with this assumption. While 40% of men accept that the greater part of online gaming skills is valuable to real-life encounters the number drops to 34% for women.

Curiously, gamers likewise uncovered that they displayed a more ideal disposition towards their online gaming partners in contrast with their real-life work connections. 56% of gamers said they were bound to be straightforward with their gaming partners than with their work colleagues (51%). The thing that matters was more articulated among Gen Z (5%) versus those over the age of 45 (2%). Most respondents (70%) guaranteed that the smartphone is the gadget of decision for playing online games with gaming progressively being viewed as a type of revenue by both casual and professional gamers.

Credits: Mint