The online gaming industry in India is booming due to the technology, easy availability and access to the internet. The idea of gaming and e-sports is not radical anymore. It is now widely known and is very popular among millions of Generation Z and millennials.
According to industry experts, India has over 300 million players. This development and crowd are reflected in the growing popularity of games such as PUBG Mobile, FreeFire and Valorant. Online games are now a bundled model for start-ups and established businesses, a place where professional and amateur players can work together productively.
Future and Growth of Gaming Start-ups in India
Industry stakeholders have witnessed various vital trends in the sector, driving its growth in the coming times. Here are a few.
Live Streaming and Increased Viewership
E-sports and video games are now majorly live-streamed on YouTube, Facebook Gaming, TwitchTV, etc. This is only increasing the visibility and real-time activation of e-games content. Gaming combined with immersive streaming can maximise game activity and help build a robust, extensive and diverse fan base soon.
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The COVID-19 pandemic extensively pushed digital appropriation and growth of gaming enterprises. It also led to the proliferation of the esports industry in India.
E-sports and Gaming Start-ups in Education
Many educational technology start-ups such as SplashLearn have included electronic games in their curriculum and teaching their courses in association with gaming. Additionally, with the increasing mastery in the segment, the education industry might soon provide esports degrees and certificate courses. This will rope in the best coaches, players, and gamers and form an extensive network of gamers, esports clubs and communities.
Increased Use of Mobile Devices
According to a report by BARC & Nielsen, mobile gaming users per week expanded to 68% during the lockdown phase from 60% in pre-COVID times. The time people spend playing mobile games each week has increased from 151 minutes before the pandemic to 218 minutes currently. With the bolstering popularity and widespread use of the internet, games have opened a new market that allows start-ups to enter the market through their products and entertaining gaming ventures.
Cloud Gaming
The successful development of Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform-as-Service (PaaS) has led to the introduction of the Sport as a Service (GaaS) model. This model has the potential to transform the gaming industry. It is expected that the new trends will introduce much professional e-sports equipment via this industry model shortly. This service also allows players to play online on personal computers or mobile devices from anywhere.
Millennials – the Largest Demographic
Millennials and Generation Z are more actively involved in the development of the e-sports industry than anyone. According to Nielsen’s market research, 71% of gamers who regularly watch games on YouTube and other video-sharing programs are Millennials. This youth population includes the most active digital athletes with an average age of around 35 years. Analysts approximate that 2021 might be the year when gaming reaches an inflexion point as an entertainment medium.
How can gaming start-ups capture these opportunities?
With your innovative gaming solutions and indigenously developed video games, you can vastly grow into a potential source of mainstream entertainment. Video games are growing into a storytelling medium, which used to be the sole preserve of cinema, television, and print media, as is majorly witnessed in the made in India game FAU-G.
Gaming and fantasy sports are also seeing explosive growth. And this hasn’t gone unrecognised by the government. The NITI Aayog has called for a self-regulatory organisation only for online fantasy sports in India. Such developments are characteristic of the growth potential associated with the industry. Above all, India has the potential for converting into a video gaming hub going into the future.
