fbpx
Wikipedia

Video games in India

October 24, 2023

Video gaming in India is an emerging market since India is experiencing strong growth in online gaming, making it one of the top gaming markets in the world. Over the past few decades, the Indian gaming industry has gone from close to nonexistent in the 1990s to one of the top markets globally in the late 2010s. In 2019, the online gaming market in India was estimated at ₹6,200 crore (US$780 million) with an estimated 300 million gamers, a 41.6% increase from 2018.[3] As of 2021, it is one of the top five mobile gaming markets in the world. By the third quarter of 2020 there were more than 7.4 billion mobile game downloads.[4] The industry is projected to reach 510 million gamers by 2022.[5]

Online gaming market of India by revenue per platform in FY 2017.[1][2]

  Mobile (85%)
  PC / Laptop (11%)
  Tablets (4%)

Video game development in India is still underdeveloped compared to other Asian countries, such as China and South Korea.[3] However, the growing amount of gamers in India has attracted interest from global video game companies. As investments from international video game companies continue to rise, more global game studios such as Ubisoft and Microsoft Games have opened offices in India.[6][7] Local Indian game studios are also steadily growing. India went from 15 game development studios to 275 from 2009 to 2021.[8][9] The growing presence of video games in India has led to bans and regulations on gaming imposed by the Indian government.[10][11][12]

History Edit

Growth of gaming devices Edit

In India, video games used to only be available at video game parlours, where games came in the form of coin-operated machines.[13] In the 1990s, 8-bit NES clones that ran on cartridges were introduced to India. Each cartridge contained many classic games like Super Mario Bros or Contra.[13] These game consoles allowed people to play games inside their homes, which sparked the initial growth of the popularity of video games in India.[13]

In the mid-to-late-90s, sales in personal computers and the Sony PlayStation skyrocketed and replaced the 8-bit consoles.[13] Players were also now able to download games like The Sims on PCs rather than purchase cartridges.[13] The PC remains one of the most popular devices for games today, with 87% of surveyed gamers preferring it over mobile gaming.[14] The PlayStation also remains fairly popular, though not as much as the PC since console games tend to cost more.[13]

In the 2000s, mobile devices became more common in India. This caused a huge growth in gaming because most smartphones had access to mobile games.[13] In 2020, there were 696 million smartphone users, compared to 2013 where there were 76 million users.[citation needed] India expects to reach 970 million users by 2025.

Growth of the gaming industry Edit

Cyber cafés, which are cafés offering public Internet access, contributed to the growth of India's video game market. In 2006, there were over 100,000 cyber cafés, 40% of which were used to play online games.[15] In 2008, there were 180,000 cyber cafés, but by 2017, the number declined to 50,000. One of primary reasons for decline was the IT Act, which caused licensing issues and other restrictions.[15][16]

 
Indian cyber cafés provide access to computers and gaming.[17]

Video game studios have been sprouting in India, most notably in Bangalore, which is often called the "Silicon Valley of India." In 2009, there were only 15 game development studios in India.[8] As of 2021, there are 15,000 game developers and 275 game developing companies in India.[9] Technology and gaming companies began investing in India's gaming industry after seeing its potential.[citation needed] Large game conventions began to be hosted in India when its industry was projected to earn ₹4,200 crore (US$530 million) in 2014. Indian colleges also began offering game design and development courses to students, which led to younger generations joining the industry and an increase in game developers.[13]

Local industry Edit

Video games produced in India Edit

The first PlayStation 2 video game completely created in India, Hanuman: Boy Warrior, was based on Hindu mythology and followed the story of the Hindu God Hanuman.[18] This game was developed by Aurona Technologies Limited, a gaming studio located in Hyderabad.[18] The release of the game was controversial because it was criticized for disrespecting the Hindu religion.[19] Hindu leader, Rajan Zed, was vocal in the criticism of the game.[19]

Hanuman was later followed by Don 2: The Game, a tie-in to the film of the same name. Besides being released for the PlayStation 2 (also serving as the final PAL region release for the console overall), Don 2 was also released for the PlayStation Portable.[20]

Nowadays, many studios in India derive most of their income from outsourcing to foreign companies. Though most of the studios work on mobile games, there are a few working on projects on PC and consoles, such as Bangalore-based Tentworks Interactive.[21] Tentworks Interactive recently revealed India's first major PC game title, City Block Builder, that is set for release in 2021 at the EGX gaming expo.[22] City Block Builder won Best of EGX (2019) in London by Cultured Vultures Magazine, marking the first time that an Indian title has won such an award at a foreign expo.[23]

Integration of Indian history and culture Edit

The indie game scene in India has been growing recently as more studios develop games that draw on Indian history and culture. Asura, a PC game created in 2017 by Ogre Head Studio, draws on aspects of Indian mythology.[24] The game is not only popular in India, but also in the U.S., China, and Japan.[25] Asura won the Game of the Year award at the 2017 NASSCOM Game Development Conference.[26]

Holy Cow Productions and Nodding Heads Games, two Indian-based game studios, are also working to create games drawing on Indian history and culture.[26] In July 2020, prime minister Narendra Modi called for more video games based on Indian culture as they had "huge potential" to promote national pride.[27] A month later, Nodding Heads Games released Raji: An Ancient Epic, an adventure game inspired by Indian folklore, on the Nintendo Switch and received positive reviews globally.[28]

Political and social commentary Edit

Studio Oleomingus, a gaming studio based in Chala, Gujarat, creates video games that comment on India's history and politics.[29] The games make use of surreal and fantastical visuals and environments to evoke Indian children's literature.[29]

Missing-Game for a Cause is a role-playing video game produced in India by Leena Kejriwal and Satyajit Chakraborty.[30] The game's storyline allows players to experience life of a victim of human trafficking.[31] The game was created to raise awareness about human trafficking in India, where there are 98 million victims of human trafficking.[31] The game won NASSCOM's Indie Game of the Year Award in 2016 and has over 500,000 downloads.[31]

Mobile gaming Edit

Mobile gaming in India has grown exponentially because of inexpensive smartphones, high-speed 4G internet connection, and convenient access.[32][33] As of 2019, India is one of the top five mobile gaming markets in the world in terms of number of users. In 2019, online gaming in India was estimated at ₹6,200 crore (US$780 million) with an estimated 300 million gamers.[3] The Indian gaming market is expected to grow from ₹8,900 crore (US$1.1 billion) in 2021 to ₹22,300 crore (US$2.8 billion) by 2023.[32]

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Mobile (PUBG Mobile), a battle royale game published by Tencent Games, became the most popular mobile game in India in 2018.[34][35] As of January 2020, India became PUBG Mobile's largest market in the world with 175 million downloads, which is 24% of all PUBG Mobile players worldwide.[36]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in the number of Indian mobile gamers because of the stay-at-home orders.[37] From April 2019 and June 2020 when COVID occurred, the Google Play Store saw a 51% increase in mobile game downloads and the iOS App Store saw a 20% increase.[32] Within the first 9 months of lockdown in 2020, India became the largest consumer of online games with 7.3 billion downloads.[38] Indian gaming industry is though at its infancy till now, but leading Indian gaming companies like Red Apple Technologies are taking bold initiatives to maximize jobs in gaming sector while up skilling Indian students with advanced training on game engines.

Esports Edit

In February 2021, the hashtag #RecognizeEsportsInIndia trended on Twitter, which caught the attention of the Indian government.[39][40] A few weeks later, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced esports as an official sport and the Esports Federation of India (ESFI) as its governing body.[39][40] Before this announcement, esports were considered a demonstration sport in India.

At Asian Games 2018, Tirth "gcttirth" Mehta from Bhuj, Gujarat won India's first esports medal for Hearthstone, one of the six game titles selected for the competition.[41] He bagged the bronze medal at this demonstration event.[42] Karan “Jin Kazama” Manganani from Jaipur was placed 4th for Clash Royale at the same tournament.[citation needed] These two, along with Moinuddin Amdani and Abhinav Tejan, have been recognized by the ESFI as the top 4 esports athletes and will represent the country at "global competitions".[citation needed]

In February 2022, INOX Leisure partnered with Esports Federation of India (ESFI) to exclusively host and promote ESFI tournaments in its cinemas across the country.[43]

Esports revenue in India grew by 29% from ₹750 crore in 2020 to ₹970 crore in 2021. The number of players doubled to 600,000 in 2021, while the viewership grew to 2 million hours in the same year. The number of players is projected to reach 1 million in 2022, of which 20 percent would be female.[44]

BGMI Launch Party Edit

After Krafton, a South Korean video game company, launched Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) in India, they hosted BGMI Launch Party, the first BGMI esports tournament to celebrate the game's official release.[45][46] The tournament took place from July 8, 2021, to July 9, 2021. It was exclusive to the most popular Indian gamers, such as Adii "Dynamo" Sawant and Chetan "Kronten" Chandgude, split into 18 teams of 4.[45] The event was live-streamed on the official BGMI Facebook and YouTube pages and reached a peak of 547,888 viewers at a time, deeming it a success.[47]

On both days, teams played three matches on the game maps Erangel, Miramar, and Vikendi in that order.[46] On the first day, Team Snax won all three matches, taking the lead with 76 points.[46][48] On the second day, Team Snax won the first match, but Team Jonathan and Team Maxtern won the second and third matches respectively.[46]

Team Snax, made up of players Raj "Snax" Varma, Samir "Kratos" Choubey, Randeep "Attanki" Bhallar, and Daljit "Daljit SK" Singh, emerged in first place with a total of 127 points and received ₹3.3 lakh (US$4,100) of the ₹6 lakh (US$7,500) prize pool.[47] Team Kronten was the runner-up with a total of 63 points.[47][48]

BGMI India Series Edit

Following the success of the Launch Party, Krafton will be hosting its first BGMI India Series esports tournament.[49] The tournament was supposed to start in July 2021, but it was delayed due to increasing hackers.[50] The India Series is open to all Indian residents who are at least 16 years old and platinum-ranked or higher.[51] BGMI is currently only available on Android devices.[49][51]

A total of ₹1 crore (US$130,000) makes up the prize pool. The prize money will be distributed to the top 16 teams with the first place team earning ₹50 lakh (US$63,000).[49][51] There will also be an additional award for the team with the most kills and four individual awards to recognize outstanding players: MVP, The Lone Ranger (longest survival time), The Rampage Freak (most kills), and The Redeemer (most revivals).[51][52]

The series will have five stages: In-Game Qualifiers, Online Qualifiers (consisting of three rounds), Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and Grand Finale.[53] There will also be a Loser Bracket for teams that did not advance after the Quarter-Finals for another chance to qualify for the Semi-Finals.[52] In each stage except the In-Game Qualifiers, the remaining teams will be split into groups, and the best number of teams in each group will qualify for the next round.[53][52] The tournament will span over three months beginning with the qualifying events.

Government Regulations Edit

Bans on Chinese games Edit

In March 2019, PUBG Mobile was banned in the Indian state of Gujarat after the local government decided the game was "too addicting and violent" and a distraction during exam season.[54] A number of students were caught playing the game and arrested.[55][10] After the exam season ended, the ban was lifted in some cities.[54]

Amidst the ongoing 2020 China–India skirmishes, on June 29, 2020, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang was officially banned in India along with other 58 Chinese apps like TikTok, UC Browser, and Xender due to privacy concerns.[56] Mobile Legends: Bang Bang was one of top grossing mobile games in India.[57] On September 2, 2020, the Indian government banned PUBG Mobile, PUBG Mobile Lite, and over 100 other Chinese apps.[10] They believed the apps were "stealing and surreptitiously transmitting user data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India."[58][59] India prohibited the use of PUBG Mobile under the Information Technology (IT) Act Section 69A.[60] India is one of several countries to have banned PUBG mobile in 2020, including China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Korea, Jordan, Nepal, Israel, and Iraq.[60]

In response to the 2020 ban on PUBG mobile, Krafton, a South Korean video game company, created Battlegrounds Mobile India.[61] This game differs slightly from the original PUBG mobile game due to cosmetic changes, but eliminates governmental concerns about the previous app being created in China. Battlegrounds Mobile India does not allow players under the age of 18 to play more than three hours a day without parental consent.[62] Minors are also not allowed to spend over 7000 INR a day on the game’s store.[62]

Bans on online wagering games Edit

The governments in several Indian states have imposed bans on online gaming which involve wagering money.[11][12] In Andhra Pradesh in 2020, online gaming regulations were created in response to concerns about gamers resorting to suicide because of financial debts from gaming.[63] In 2021, the Tamil Nadu government announced a ban (which was subsequently deemed unconstitutional by the Madras High Court) on online versions of games of skill like Chess, Trivia, Fantasy, Rummy and Poker.[12] In Karnataka, a hub of the Indian tech industry, a ban on online betting games was also proposed in 2021.[11] Karnataka's ban has been extended to online games that require users to pay an entry fee.[64] Due to Karnataka’s importance in the Indian technology and gaming field, this ban has raised concerns about how it affects on the Indian gaming industry and triggered protests against it.[11][64]

Piracy Edit

India has the most pirated games globally[citation needed]. Before India's game industry upsurge, mainstream video game publishers did not recognize India as a serious market.[13] This led to the spread of pirated, secondhand, and knock-off cartridge games because international game companies had little control in India.[13] The average consumer primarily played pirated games because of its low cost and the lack of access to original games.[65] However, now that PC and console gaming are more popular in India and games on those platforms cannot be pirated, piracy rates have been steadily decreasing. Now, many people prefer original games because of its access to software updates and different game modes.[13]

See also Edit

References Edit

  1. ^ "India's online gaming ind eyes Rs 11,900 crore revenue by FY23". The Economic Times. 4 March 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  2. ^ "KPMG - The evolving landscape of sports gaming in India" (PDF). March 2019.
  3. ^ a b c "KPMG in India's Media and Entertainment report 2019" (PDF). KPMG.
  4. ^ "Beyond the tipping point - A primer on online casual gaming in India" (PDF). KPMG Assets.
  5. ^ "New Generation Gaming". Env Media. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  6. ^ "Ubisoft announces new studios in Mumbai and Odesa". VentureBeat. 22 March 2018. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  7. ^ Bhowmick, Sharmila. "Taj theme & gaming team: Microsoft's new office in Noida is a story of two firsts". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  8. ^ a b Zeiler, Xenia (May 2017). "Indian Video Games and Cultural Heritage" (PDF). Research on India in Finland: Past, Present, Future: 85–87.
  9. ^ a b "The gaming industry in India: A boom waiting to happen". DATAQUEST. 25 September 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Liao, Shannon (14 March 2019). "Police in India arrested ten students for playing PUBG". The Verge. from the original on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d Chander, Vishwadha; Kalra, Aditya (24 September 2021). "India's Silicon Valley state seeks to ban online gaming, worrying booming industry". Reuters. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  12. ^ a b c "Legislation to ban online games like rummy, poker soon: Tamil Nadu law minister". The Indian Express. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "India's Video Gaming Revolution". www.sunday-guardian.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  14. ^ "PC gaming gaining preference among India's gaming community, says HP report". @businessline. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  15. ^ a b Singh, Harsimran. "Growth of cyber cafes declining sharply". The Economic Times. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  16. ^ www.ETtech.com. "The last cyber cafes of India - ETtech". The Economic Times. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  17. ^ "Indian Navy". Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  18. ^ a b Thompson, Michael (20 April 2009). "First PS2 game produced in India garners Hindu protest". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  19. ^ a b Thompson, Michael (24 December 2009). "When religion and games intersect—and how it often goes badly". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  20. ^ "Now, a video game on 'Don 2'". CNN-News18. 8 December 2011. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  21. ^ "Tentworks Interactive". Tentworks Interactive.
  22. ^ "City Block Builder will be playable at EGX". www.egx.net.
  23. ^ "EGX 2019: 5 of the Best Games We Played". 25 October 2019.
  24. ^ Soni, Jitendra (4 September 2020). "The best games on PC from Indian creators". TechRadar. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  25. ^ "Hyderabad-based indie game Asura a rage in China". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  26. ^ a b "One level up: Indie games are playing on desi history, poetry, myth". Hindustan Times. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  27. ^ "India's prime minister appeals for games based on "Indian culture and folk tales"". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  28. ^ "India needs an industry where games like Raji can thrive". GamesIndustry.biz. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  29. ^ a b Ong, Alexis (22 September 2020). "'Video games are a great place for politics': meet India's modern magical realists". the Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  30. ^ Anderson, T. R.; Slotkin, T. A. (15 August 1975). "Maturation of the adrenal medulla--IV. Effects of morphine". Biochemical Pharmacology. 24 (16): 1469–1474. doi:10.1016/0006-2952(75)90020-9. ISSN 1873-2968. PMID 7.
  31. ^ a b c "#TheTraffickingTrap – "Missing"- A Humane Game for a Cause – Railway Children India". Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  32. ^ a b c Singh, S. Ronendra. "Mobile gaming market in India to touch $3 billion by 2023". @businessline. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  33. ^ "Why Is Mobile Gaming One of the Most Popular Industries in India?". Nagpur Today : Nagpur News. 25 March 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  34. ^ Singh, Ananya Bhattacharya, Kuwar. "Charted: India's obsession with Chinese online game PUBG". Quartz India. Retrieved 11 April 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ Pocket-lint (12 April 2021). "What is PUBG Mobile and why is everyone talking about PlayerUnk". www.pocket-lint.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  36. ^ Partleton, Kayleigh; Writer, Staff. "PUBG Mobile shoots through $1.5 billion in lifetime revenue". pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved 11 April 2020.
  37. ^ "Lockdown sees surge in mobile gaming in India". @businessline. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
  38. ^ "Big Bang Growth of India's Gaming Industry". The Economic Times. 7 June 2022. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  39. ^ a b Bridge, The (24 February 2021). "Esports to be Officially Recognised by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA)". thebridge.in. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  40. ^ a b Chakladar, Rishab (10 February 2021). "Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is set to officially recognize Esports as a Sport". TechnoSports. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  41. ^ "23-Year-Old Gamer From Gujarat Won India's 1st Ever E-Sports Bronze Medal At Asian Games 2018". India Times. 4 September 2018. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  42. ^ Mehra, Ashwin (30 January 2023). "From Underground to Mainstream: The Recognition of Esports by the Indian Government » Agami Esports". Agami Esports Blog. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  43. ^ "INOX partners with Esports Federation of India; aims to rake in revenue of Rs 5-8 crore". Financialexpress. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  44. ^ "Big league beckons: Esporting in India fast approaches a turning point". The Economic Times. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  45. ^ a b "Krafton announces 'The Launch Party' tournament for Battlegrounds Mobile India - Esports". Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  46. ^ a b c d Ahmed, Wasif (9 July 2021). "BGMI The Launch Party: Overall Standings and Points Table". Dot Esports. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  47. ^ a b c Rawat, Aditya Singh. "Team Snax Wins Inaugural BGMI Tournament 'The Launch Party'". AFK Gaming. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  48. ^ a b Pattanayak, Rishi Pratim. "BGMI Launch Party Winner: Team Snax Wins the tournament with 4 consecutive chicken dinners | Gamzo". Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  49. ^ a b c Verma, Shubham (15 July 2021). "Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2021 esports tournament announced with Rs 1 crore prize pool". India Today. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  50. ^ Banerjee, Debolina. "Krafton reveals new BGMI logo in latest social media post". www.sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
  51. ^ a b c d "Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2021 Announced With Rs. 1 Crore Prize Pool". NDTV Gadgets 360. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  52. ^ a b c Dasgupta, Romit (16 September 2021). "Battlegrounds Mobile India 2021 — All You Need To Know". Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  53. ^ a b "Battlegrounds Mobile India: Battlegrounds Mobile India esports tournament announced: All details". Gadgets Now. Retrieved 28 October 2021.
  54. ^ a b Mukherjee, Amritanshu. "PUBG ban lifted from Ahmedabad, police still worried about side effects of the game". India Today. from the original on 12 April 2019. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  55. ^ "PUBG Mobile Ban: You Will Get Arrested For Playing The Battle Royal Game in These Cities in India". News18. 14 March 2019. from the original on 14 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  56. ^ "TikTok stops working for users in India; alert shows working with India govt". The Indian Express. 1 July 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  57. ^ "Master the Meta: India bans PUBG Mobile & 117 other apps - what will happen next?". pocketgamer.biz. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  58. ^ "India-China dispute live updates: PUBG among 118 mobile applications banned by government". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  59. ^ Bai, Saritha (2 September 2020). "India Bans 118 China Apps Including PUBG, Alipay and Baidu Search". Bloomberg News. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  60. ^ a b "Not just in India, PUBG Mobile was banned in these countries in 2020". Business Today. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  61. ^ Campbell, Ian Carlos (17 June 2021). "PUBG Mobile returns to India after ban with green blood and a new name". The Verge. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  62. ^ a b Sidhwani, Priyansh (7 May 2021). "Battlegrounds Mobile India Has Restriction For Under-18 Gamers Like 3 Hours a Day". TechStory. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  63. ^ "Andhra Pradesh Passes Gaming Amendment Bill To Ban Online Games". NDTV.com. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  64. ^ a b IANS (6 October 2021). "Karnataka's online gaming ban leaves the gaming industry disappointed". Business Standard India. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  65. ^ *Deka, Maitrayee (2016). "Bazaars and Video Games in India" (PDF). BioScope: South Asian Screen Studies. 7 (2): 172–188. doi:10.1177/0974927616668005. S2CID 151653264.

Bibliography Edit

  • Bendik Stang, Morten A. Osterholt et Erik Hoftun, The Book of Games, Volume 2 : The Ultimate Reference on PC & Video Games, Book of Games, 2007, p. 397 (ISBN 9788299737821)
  • Maitrayee Deka, (2016). Bazaars and Video Games in India. BioScope: South Asian Screen Studies. 7 (2)

October 24, 2023
video, games, india, video, gaming, india, emerging, market, since, india, experiencing, strong, growth, online, gaming, making, gaming, markets, world, over, past, decades, indian, gaming, industry, gone, from, close, nonexistent, 1990s, markets, globally, la. Video gaming in India is an emerging market since India is experiencing strong growth in online gaming making it one of the top gaming markets in the world Over the past few decades the Indian gaming industry has gone from close to nonexistent in the 1990s to one of the top markets globally in the late 2010s In 2019 the online gaming market in India was estimated at 6 200 crore US 780 million with an estimated 300 million gamers a 41 6 increase from 2018 3 As of 2021 it is one of the top five mobile gaming markets in the world By the third quarter of 2020 there were more than 7 4 billion mobile game downloads 4 The industry is projected to reach 510 million gamers by 2022 5 Online gaming market of India by revenue per platform in FY 2017 1 2 Mobile 85 PC Laptop 11 Tablets 4 Video game development in India is still underdeveloped compared to other Asian countries such as China and South Korea 3 However the growing amount of gamers in India has attracted interest from global video game companies As investments from international video game companies continue to rise more global game studios such as Ubisoft and Microsoft Games have opened offices in India 6 7 Local Indian game studios are also steadily growing India went from 15 game development studios to 275 from 2009 to 2021 8 9 The growing presence of video games in India has led to bans and regulations on gaming imposed by the Indian government 10 11 12 Contents 1 History 1 1 Growth of gaming devices 1 2 Growth of the gaming industry 2 Local industry 2 1 Video games produced in India 2 2 Integration of Indian history and culture 2 3 Political and social commentary 3 Mobile gaming 4 Esports 4 1 BGMI Launch Party 4 2 BGMI India Series 5 Government Regulations 5 1 Bans on Chinese games 5 2 Bans on online wagering games 6 Piracy 7 See also 8 References 9 BibliographyHistory EditGrowth of gaming devices Edit In India video games used to only be available at video game parlours where games came in the form of coin operated machines 13 In the 1990s 8 bit NES clones that ran on cartridges were introduced to India Each cartridge contained many classic games like Super Mario Bros or Contra 13 These game consoles allowed people to play games inside their homes which sparked the initial growth of the popularity of video games in India 13 In the mid to late 90s sales in personal computers and the Sony PlayStation skyrocketed and replaced the 8 bit consoles 13 Players were also now able to download games like The Sims on PCs rather than purchase cartridges 13 The PC remains one of the most popular devices for games today with 87 of surveyed gamers preferring it over mobile gaming 14 The PlayStation also remains fairly popular though not as much as the PC since console games tend to cost more 13 In the 2000s mobile devices became more common in India This caused a huge growth in gaming because most smartphones had access to mobile games 13 In 2020 there were 696 million smartphone users compared to 2013 where there were 76 million users citation needed India expects to reach 970 million users by 2025 Growth of the gaming industry Edit Cyber cafes which are cafes offering public Internet access contributed to the growth of India s video game market In 2006 there were over 100 000 cyber cafes 40 of which were used to play online games 15 In 2008 there were 180 000 cyber cafes but by 2017 the number declined to 50 000 One of primary reasons for decline was the IT Act which caused licensing issues and other restrictions 15 16 nbsp Indian cyber cafes provide access to computers and gaming 17 Video game studios have been sprouting in India most notably in Bangalore which is often called the Silicon Valley of India In 2009 there were only 15 game development studios in India 8 As of 2021 there are 15 000 game developers and 275 game developing companies in India 9 Technology and gaming companies began investing in India s gaming industry after seeing its potential citation needed Large game conventions began to be hosted in India when its industry was projected to earn 4 200 crore US 530 million in 2014 Indian colleges also began offering game design and development courses to students which led to younger generations joining the industry and an increase in game developers 13 Local industry EditVideo games produced in India Edit The first PlayStation 2 video game completely created in India Hanuman Boy Warrior was based on Hindu mythology and followed the story of the Hindu God Hanuman 18 This game was developed by Aurona Technologies Limited a gaming studio located in Hyderabad 18 The release of the game was controversial because it was criticized for disrespecting the Hindu religion 19 Hindu leader Rajan Zed was vocal in the criticism of the game 19 Hanuman was later followed by Don 2 The Game a tie in to the film of the same name Besides being released for the PlayStation 2 also serving as the final PAL region release for the console overall Don 2 was also released for the PlayStation Portable 20 Nowadays many studios in India derive most of their income from outsourcing to foreign companies Though most of the studios work on mobile games there are a few working on projects on PC and consoles such as Bangalore based Tentworks Interactive 21 Tentworks Interactive recently revealed India s first major PC game title City Block Builder that is set for release in 2021 at the EGX gaming expo 22 City Block Builder won Best of EGX 2019 in London by Cultured Vultures Magazine marking the first time that an Indian title has won such an award at a foreign expo 23 Integration of Indian history and culture Edit The indie game scene in India has been growing recently as more studios develop games that draw on Indian history and culture Asura a PC game created in 2017 by Ogre Head Studio draws on aspects of Indian mythology 24 The game is not only popular in India but also in the U S China and Japan 25 Asura won the Game of the Year award at the 2017 NASSCOM Game Development Conference 26 Holy Cow Productions and Nodding Heads Games two Indian based game studios are also working to create games drawing on Indian history and culture 26 In July 2020 prime minister Narendra Modi called for more video games based on Indian culture as they had huge potential to promote national pride 27 A month later Nodding Heads Games released Raji An Ancient Epic an adventure game inspired by Indian folklore on the Nintendo Switch and received positive reviews globally 28 Political and social commentary Edit Studio Oleomingus a gaming studio based in Chala Gujarat creates video games that comment on India s history and politics 29 The games make use of surreal and fantastical visuals and environments to evoke Indian children s literature 29 Missing Game for a Cause is a role playing video game produced in India by Leena Kejriwal and Satyajit Chakraborty 30 The game s storyline allows players to experience life of a victim of human trafficking 31 The game was created to raise awareness about human trafficking in India where there are 98 million victims of human trafficking 31 The game won NASSCOM s Indie Game of the Year Award in 2016 and has over 500 000 downloads 31 Mobile gaming EditMobile gaming in India has grown exponentially because of inexpensive smartphones high speed 4G internet connection and convenient access 32 33 As of 2019 India is one of the top five mobile gaming markets in the world in terms of number of users In 2019 online gaming in India was estimated at 6 200 crore US 780 million with an estimated 300 million gamers 3 The Indian gaming market is expected to grow from 8 900 crore US 1 1 billion in 2021 to 22 300 crore US 2 8 billion by 2023 32 PlayerUnknown s Battlegrounds Mobile PUBG Mobile a battle royale game published by Tencent Games became the most popular mobile game in India in 2018 34 35 As of January 2020 India became PUBG Mobile s largest market in the world with 175 million downloads which is 24 of all PUBG Mobile players worldwide 36 During the COVID 19 pandemic there was an increase in the number of Indian mobile gamers because of the stay at home orders 37 From April 2019 and June 2020 when COVID occurred the Google Play Store saw a 51 increase in mobile game downloads and the iOS App Store saw a 20 increase 32 Within the first 9 months of lockdown in 2020 India became the largest consumer of online games with 7 3 billion downloads 38 Indian gaming industry is though at its infancy till now but leading Indian gaming companies like Red Apple Technologies are taking bold initiatives to maximize jobs in gaming sector while up skilling Indian students with advanced training on game engines Esports EditIn February 2021 the hashtag RecognizeEsportsInIndia trended on Twitter which caught the attention of the Indian government 39 40 A few weeks later the Indian Olympic Association IOA announced esports as an official sport and the Esports Federation of India ESFI as its governing body 39 40 Before this announcement esports were considered a demonstration sport in India At Asian Games 2018 Tirth gcttirth Mehta from Bhuj Gujarat won India s first esports medal for Hearthstone one of the six game titles selected for the competition 41 He bagged the bronze medal at this demonstration event 42 Karan Jin Kazama Manganani from Jaipur was placed 4th for Clash Royale at the same tournament citation needed These two along with Moinuddin Amdani and Abhinav Tejan have been recognized by the ESFI as the top 4 esports athletes and will represent the country at global competitions citation needed In February 2022 INOX Leisure partnered with Esports Federation of India ESFI to exclusively host and promote ESFI tournaments in its cinemas across the country 43 Esports revenue in India grew by 29 from 750 crore in 2020 to 970 crore in 2021 The number of players doubled to 600 000 in 2021 while the viewership grew to 2 million hours in the same year The number of players is projected to reach 1 million in 2022 of which 20 percent would be female 44 BGMI Launch Party Edit After Krafton a South Korean video game company launched Battlegrounds Mobile India BGMI in India they hosted BGMI Launch Party the first BGMI esports tournament to celebrate the game s official release 45 46 The tournament took place from July 8 2021 to July 9 2021 It was exclusive to the most popular Indian gamers such as Adii Dynamo Sawant and Chetan Kronten Chandgude split into 18 teams of 4 45 The event was live streamed on the official BGMI Facebook and YouTube pages and reached a peak of 547 888 viewers at a time deeming it a success 47 On both days teams played three matches on the game maps Erangel Miramar and Vikendi in that order 46 On the first day Team Snax won all three matches taking the lead with 76 points 46 48 On the second day Team Snax won the first match but Team Jonathan and Team Maxtern won the second and third matches respectively 46 Team Snax made up of players Raj Snax Varma Samir Kratos Choubey Randeep Attanki Bhallar and Daljit Daljit SK Singh emerged in first place with a total of 127 points and received 3 3 lakh US 4 100 of the 6 lakh US 7 500 prize pool 47 Team Kronten was the runner up with a total of 63 points 47 48 BGMI India Series Edit Following the success of the Launch Party Krafton will be hosting its first BGMI India Series esports tournament 49 The tournament was supposed to start in July 2021 but it was delayed due to increasing hackers 50 The India Series is open to all Indian residents who are at least 16 years old and platinum ranked or higher 51 BGMI is currently only available on Android devices 49 51 A total of 1 crore US 130 000 makes up the prize pool The prize money will be distributed to the top 16 teams with the first place team earning 50 lakh US 63 000 49 51 There will also be an additional award for the team with the most kills and four individual awards to recognize outstanding players MVP The Lone Ranger longest survival time The Rampage Freak most kills and The Redeemer most revivals 51 52 The series will have five stages In Game Qualifiers Online Qualifiers consisting of three rounds Quarter Finals Semi Finals and Grand Finale 53 There will also be a Loser Bracket for teams that did not advance after the Quarter Finals for another chance to qualify for the Semi Finals 52 In each stage except the In Game Qualifiers the remaining teams will be split into groups and the best number of teams in each group will qualify for the next round 53 52 The tournament will span over three months beginning with the qualifying events Government Regulations EditBans on Chinese games Edit In March 2019 PUBG Mobile was banned in the Indian state of Gujarat after the local government decided the game was too addicting and violent and a distraction during exam season 54 A number of students were caught playing the game and arrested 55 10 After the exam season ended the ban was lifted in some cities 54 Amidst the ongoing 2020 China India skirmishes on June 29 2020 Mobile Legends Bang Bang was officially banned in India along with other 58 Chinese apps like TikTok UC Browser and Xender due to privacy concerns 56 Mobile Legends Bang Bang was one of top grossing mobile games in India 57 On September 2 2020 the Indian government banned PUBG Mobile PUBG Mobile Lite and over 100 other Chinese apps 10 They believed the apps were stealing and surreptitiously transmitting user data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India 58 59 India prohibited the use of PUBG Mobile under the Information Technology IT Act Section 69A 60 India is one of several countries to have banned PUBG mobile in 2020 including China Pakistan Afghanistan Korea Jordan Nepal Israel and Iraq 60 In response to the 2020 ban on PUBG mobile Krafton a South Korean video game company created Battlegrounds Mobile India 61 This game differs slightly from the original PUBG mobile game due to cosmetic changes but eliminates governmental concerns about the previous app being created in China Battlegrounds Mobile India does not allow players under the age of 18 to play more than three hours a day without parental consent 62 Minors are also not allowed to spend over 7000 INR a day on the game s store 62 Bans on online wagering games Edit The governments in several Indian states have imposed bans on online gaming which involve wagering money 11 12 In Andhra Pradesh in 2020 online gaming regulations were created in response to concerns about gamers resorting to suicide because of financial debts from gaming 63 In 2021 the Tamil Nadu government announced a ban which was subsequently deemed unconstitutional by the Madras High Court on online versions of games of skill like Chess Trivia Fantasy Rummy and Poker 12 In Karnataka a hub of the Indian tech industry a ban on online betting games was also proposed in 2021 11 Karnataka s ban has been extended to online games that require users to pay an entry fee 64 Due to Karnataka s importance in the Indian technology and gaming field this ban has raised concerns about how it affects on the Indian gaming industry and triggered protests against it 11 64 Piracy EditIndia has the most pirated games globally citation needed Before India s game industry upsurge mainstream video game publishers did not recognize India as a serious market 13 This led to the spread of pirated secondhand and knock off cartridge games because international game companies had little control in India 13 The average consumer primarily played pirated games because of its low cost and the lack of access to original games 65 However now that PC and console gaming are more popular in India and games on those platforms cannot be pirated piracy rates have been steadily decreasing Now many people prefer original games because of its access to software updates and different game modes 13 See also EditSports in India Fantasy sport in India Over view of Fantasy sport in IndiaReferences Edit India s online gaming ind eyes Rs 11 900 crore revenue by FY23 The Economic Times 4 March 2019 Retrieved 9 November 2019 KPMG The evolving landscape of sports gaming in India PDF March 2019 a b c KPMG in India s Media and Entertainment report 2019 PDF KPMG Beyond the tipping point A primer on online casual gaming in India PDF KPMG Assets New Generation Gaming Env Media Retrieved 14 July 2022 Ubisoft announces new studios in Mumbai and Odesa VentureBeat 22 March 2018 Retrieved 4 November 2021 Bhowmick Sharmila Taj theme amp gaming team Microsoft s new office in Noida is a story of two firsts The Times of India Retrieved 4 November 2021 a b Zeiler Xenia May 2017 Indian Video Games and Cultural Heritage PDF Research on India in Finland Past Present Future 85 87 a b The gaming industry in India A boom waiting to happen DATAQUEST 25 September 2019 Retrieved 4 November 2021 a b c Liao Shannon 14 March 2019 Police in India arrested ten students for playing PUBG The Verge Archived from the original on 14 March 2019 Retrieved 15 March 2019 a b c d Chander Vishwadha Kalra Aditya 24 September 2021 India s Silicon Valley state seeks to ban online gaming worrying booming industry Reuters Retrieved 3 November 2021 a b c Legislation to ban online games like rummy poker soon Tamil Nadu law minister The Indian Express 4 August 2021 Retrieved 3 November 2021 a b c d e f g h i j k India s Video Gaming Revolution www sunday guardian com Retrieved 2 November 2021 PC gaming gaining preference among India s gaming community says HP report businessline Retrieved 4 November 2021 a b Singh Harsimran Growth of cyber cafes declining sharply The Economic Times Retrieved 11 September 2020 www ETtech com The last cyber cafes of India ETtech The Economic Times Retrieved 11 September 2020 Indian Navy Retrieved 5 November 2021 a b Thompson Michael 20 April 2009 First PS2 game produced in India garners Hindu protest Ars Technica Retrieved 2 November 2021 a b Thompson Michael 24 December 2009 When religion and games intersect and how it often goes badly Ars Technica Retrieved 2 November 2021 Now a video game on Don 2 CNN News18 8 December 2011 Retrieved 10 May 2018 Tentworks Interactive Tentworks Interactive City Block Builder will be playable at EGX www egx net EGX 2019 5 of the Best Games We Played 25 October 2019 Soni Jitendra 4 September 2020 The best games on PC from Indian creators TechRadar Retrieved 2 November 2021 Hyderabad based indie game Asura a rage in China The New Indian Express Retrieved 2 November 2021 a b One level up Indie games are playing on desi history poetry myth Hindustan Times 25 May 2019 Retrieved 2 November 2021 India s prime minister appeals for games based on Indian culture and folk tales GamesIndustry biz Retrieved 4 November 2021 India needs an industry where games like Raji can thrive GamesIndustry biz Retrieved 4 November 2021 a b Ong Alexis 22 September 2020 Video games are a great place for politics meet India s modern magical realists the Guardian Retrieved 4 November 2021 Anderson T R Slotkin T A 15 August 1975 Maturation of the adrenal medulla IV Effects of morphine Biochemical Pharmacology 24 16 1469 1474 doi 10 1016 0006 2952 75 90020 9 ISSN 1873 2968 PMID 7 a b c TheTraffickingTrap Missing A Humane Game for a Cause Railway Children India Retrieved 4 November 2021 a b c Singh S Ronendra Mobile gaming market in India to touch 3 billion by 2023 businessline Retrieved 2 November 2021 Why Is Mobile Gaming One of the Most Popular Industries in India Nagpur Today Nagpur News 25 March 2021 Retrieved 2 November 2021 Singh Ananya Bhattacharya Kuwar Charted India s obsession with Chinese online game PUBG Quartz India Retrieved 11 April 2020 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint multiple names authors list link Pocket lint 12 April 2021 What is PUBG Mobile and why is everyone talking about PlayerUnk www pocket lint com Retrieved 2 November 2021 Partleton Kayleigh Writer Staff PUBG Mobile shoots through 1 5 billion in lifetime revenue pocketgamer biz Retrieved 11 April 2020 Lockdown sees surge in mobile gaming in India businessline Retrieved 18 March 2021 Big Bang Growth of India s Gaming Industry The Economic Times 7 June 2022 ISSN 0013 0389 Retrieved 22 May 2023 a b Bridge The 24 February 2021 Esports to be Officially Recognised by the Indian Olympic Association IOA thebridge in Retrieved 28 October 2021 a b Chakladar Rishab 10 February 2021 Indian Olympic Association IOA is set to officially recognize Esports as a Sport TechnoSports Retrieved 27 October 2021 23 Year Old Gamer From Gujarat Won India s 1st Ever E Sports Bronze Medal At Asian Games 2018 India Times 4 September 2018 Retrieved 26 May 2020 Mehra Ashwin 30 January 2023 From Underground to Mainstream The Recognition of Esports by the Indian Government Agami Esports Agami Esports Blog Retrieved 5 February 2023 INOX partners with Esports Federation of India aims to rake in revenue of Rs 5 8 crore Financialexpress Retrieved 8 July 2022 Big league beckons Esporting in India fast approaches a turning point The Economic Times Retrieved 8 July 2022 a b Krafton announces The Launch Party tournament for Battlegrounds Mobile India Esports Retrieved 28 October 2021 a b c d Ahmed Wasif 9 July 2021 BGMI The Launch Party Overall Standings and Points Table Dot Esports Retrieved 28 October 2021 a b c Rawat Aditya Singh Team Snax Wins Inaugural BGMI Tournament The Launch Party AFK Gaming Retrieved 28 October 2021 a b Pattanayak Rishi Pratim BGMI Launch Party Winner Team Snax Wins the tournament with 4 consecutive chicken dinners Gamzo Retrieved 28 October 2021 a b c Verma Shubham 15 July 2021 Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2021 esports tournament announced with Rs 1 crore prize pool India Today Retrieved 28 October 2021 Banerjee Debolina Krafton reveals new BGMI logo in latest social media post www sportskeeda com Retrieved 5 November 2021 a b c d Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2021 Announced With Rs 1 Crore Prize Pool NDTV Gadgets 360 Retrieved 28 October 2021 a b c Dasgupta Romit 16 September 2021 Battlegrounds Mobile India 2021 All You Need To Know Retrieved 28 October 2021 a b Battlegrounds Mobile India Battlegrounds Mobile India esports tournament announced All details Gadgets Now Retrieved 28 October 2021 a b Mukherjee Amritanshu PUBG ban lifted from Ahmedabad police still worried about side effects of the game India Today Archived from the original on 12 April 2019 Retrieved 12 April 2019 PUBG Mobile Ban You Will Get Arrested For Playing The Battle Royal Game in These Cities in India News18 14 March 2019 Archived from the original on 14 March 2019 Retrieved 15 March 2019 TikTok stops working for users in India alert shows working with India govt The Indian Express 1 July 2020 Retrieved 8 September 2020 Master the Meta India bans PUBG Mobile amp 117 other apps what will happen next pocketgamer biz Retrieved 8 September 2020 India China dispute live updates PUBG among 118 mobile applications banned by government The Times of India Retrieved 2 September 2020 Bai Saritha 2 September 2020 India Bans 118 China Apps Including PUBG Alipay and Baidu Search Bloomberg News Retrieved 2 September 2020 a b Not just in India PUBG Mobile was banned in these countries in 2020 Business Today Retrieved 3 November 2021 Campbell Ian Carlos 17 June 2021 PUBG Mobile returns to India after ban with green blood and a new name The Verge Retrieved 3 November 2021 a b Sidhwani Priyansh 7 May 2021 Battlegrounds Mobile India Has Restriction For Under 18 Gamers Like 3 Hours a Day TechStory Retrieved 3 November 2021 Andhra Pradesh Passes Gaming Amendment Bill To Ban Online Games NDTV com Retrieved 3 November 2021 a b IANS 6 October 2021 Karnataka s online gaming ban leaves the gaming industry disappointed Business Standard India Retrieved 3 November 2021 Deka Maitrayee 2016 Bazaars and Video Games in India PDF BioScope South Asian Screen Studies 7 2 172 188 doi 10 1177 0974927616668005 S2CID 151653264 Bibliography EditBendik Stang Morten A Osterholt et Erik Hoftun The Book of Games Volume 2 The Ultimate Reference on PC amp Video Games Book of Games 2007 p 397 ISBN 9788299737821 Maitrayee Deka 2016 Bazaars and Video Games in India BioScope South Asian Screen Studies 7 2 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Video games in India amp oldid 1179774267, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.