The gaming industry today is at its peak. According to KPMG and Google’s report, the Indian gaming industry is set to add 190 million gamers by 2021. This means that the gaming sector in India is expected to reach new heights in coming years. The industry is growing at a pace wherein, one in four online gamers in India believe that gaming can be taken up as a serious profession and their passion can be turned into a full-time career.

According to a report by the All India Gaming Federation (AIGF), Online gamers believe they can learn practical life skills with online games the same way they would at their workplace. In fact, a significant chunk of Gen Z (43%) and millennials (41%) believed that friendships or relationships made online between gamers could be as meaningful as real-life friendships, AIGF concluded.

“Today, a professional gamer who has signed up with an esports company can earn anywhere around INR 5,000-45,000 per month. The 2019 India series of a popular mobile game saw the regional finalist team win INR 4,50,000,” states the report.

Around 76% of gamers said that an individual developed strong analytical abilities by regularly assessing the best way to win a game. There was an increase in reflexes by 65%, and strategy and logic by 68%, followed closely by determination by 53% and understanding risk/return by 52%; and 46% stated that memory was crucial.

Another study by Norton stated that, 81% of respondents said that online multiplayer games had improved their teamwork skills, and 71% felt that gaming had helped improve their cognitive abilities. “Varied skills like critical thinking, creative thinking, decision making, and problem-solving should be essential for one’s growth in life,” said Roland Landers, CEO, AlGF.

“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.”
The study was conducted with over 2440 Indians of all ages across Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, Patna, Indore, Lucknow, Vadodara, and Jaipur between November-December 2020.

Credit: ET Telecom