For a long time, Indian games were considered children’s entertainment. Due to high hardware costs and limited digital penetration, the country has also missed the craze for PC and console games. However, due to the rapid spread of smartphones, changes in consumer behavior, low-cost high-speed Internet access, and more digital payments, India has established itself in the field of mobile gaming.

The pandemic has further accelerated this growth due to the lack of alternative offline entertainment options. Today’s revenue is 136 billion rupees and 433 million players, and the market is expected to reach 290 billion rupees and 649 million players by 2025.

Investor interest in this field is also increasing. Nazara chose an IPO, MTG acquired PlaySimple for US$360 million, and WinZo raised US$65 million in Series C financing, all in 2021. As the ecosystem grows, it also opens up more opportunities for startups to take advantage of:

Midcore and Hardcore Games
Casual games help non-game players join the gaming trend. However, as these players mature, they seek deeper stories, more content, and advanced game mechanics. Mid-core game sub-genres, such as RPG (role-playing game) and MOBA (multiplayer online battle arena), provide a more immersive experience, and interest and expansion in this sub-genre are increasing.

The subgenre that won the hearts of the Indian masses is Battle Royale. The rise of games such as Garena Free Fire and PUBG (about 200 million players before being banned), and the subsequent proliferation of games such as FAU-G indicate that the market for such games is large and growing.

In addition, localized games (such as Bhai The Gangster for mobile devices and Raji for consoles and PCs) have obvious appeal, and these games were developed for Indian audiences. As India becomes more familiar with mainstream games and metaverse concepts, the rise of midcore is inevitable.

Social Gaming
Multiplayer games allow people to interact and compete digitally while having fun. Games like Roblox go one step further, launching an “experience platform” where friends can hang out, build a world and even raise pets. Even Gucci has a virtual store where users can purchase items for their virtual characters.

As users spend more time on digital platforms, they seek a social environment, which provides plenty of opportunities to integrate social elements across genres.

Gaming Publishers
India now has a large number of local game developers. However, the lack of commercial channels limits the influence of local and small-scale developers. This is where publishers step in and market to their target groups.
Since the app store democratized game distribution, developers have been able to publish games directly. However, this comes at the cost of some in-app purchases on the Google Play store. This also narrows the scope of effective marketing between development and app store listings.

Online games have a strong influence outside the first-tier cities, so Indian publishers are required to carry out relevant localized marketing to maintain diverse player participation even in changing trends.

Game Streaming
Users like streaming games for similar reasons as gamers: entertainment and social interaction.

Today, people trust platforms like YouTube, and creators like Tanmay Bhat popularize streaming by playing games like chess, and other games on their channel. PUBG players like Carry Minati and Team SouL have also gained recognition through streaming.

Game streaming company Loco recently raised $9 million to improve its technology and provide more interactive features. As e-sports is recognized as a sport by the Olympic Association of India, streaming media will develop further. This will promote gaming as a profession and strengthen the ecosystem.

Challenges
While online games are advancing by leaps and bounds, they also have their own setbacks. It is difficult for game developers to find outstanding talents. In addition, India’s gaming population is growing but fragmented, which poses challenges for distribution.

In addition, although the average income per paying user (ARPU) is increasing, it is much lower than in other countries. This has also led to the limited institutional capital deployed so far. The past five years have grown rapidly, mainly in casual games and real-money games. With the maturity of game players, the increase of ARPU through microtransactions, and the withdrawal of game companies, the industry is maturing. The next phase of growth in mid-core/hard-core games is expected.

Credits: Inc42