India's Ascent as a Global Gaming Powerhouse

India's video game industry is at a major turning point. For years, we were known as the world's back office—a place to get development work done affordably. That's changing, fast. Today, we're becoming a powerhouse for creativity and money in our own right.

The best way to think about this shift is with a simple metaphor: "From Gully Cricket to Digital Arenas." Just like the passionate, informal spirit of a neighborhood cricket match, our local gaming culture—full of energy and community—is now shaping a massive, professional global industry.

The term "Digital Akhadas" reimagines India's vibrant local gaming hubs as modern-day wrestling arenas. Just as traditional akhadas were grounds for physical training and competition, these digital spaces are where a new generation of gamers connect, hone their skills, and transform the community-driven spirit of "gully cricket" into professional esports.

This is all happening because of a unique "two-lane" approach that’s building a strong, self-sustaining gaming world right here in India.

The Two-Lane Highway Powering Indian Gaming

The industry’s incredible momentum is like a highway with two lanes, both speeding forward but deeply connected.

• Lane 1: The Global Engine Big international companies like Ubisoft and EA are no longer just outsourcing basic tasks to India. They are now relying on Indian talent centers (their GCCs) for crucial, creative work on their biggest blockbuster "AAA" games. This puts our developers right at the heart of the world’s most advanced gaming projects.

• Lane 2: The Homegrown Revolution At the same time, a new wave of Indian studios is rising up, focused on creating their own original games and stories. These are "Bharat-Spec" games—built with authentic Indian culture, characters, and narratives designed to win over millions of Indian players first, before taking on the world.

So, what connects these two lanes of Indian gaming? What’s the fuel for this whole revolution?

It's us. The community.

Here in India, gamers are no longer just sitting on the sidelines; we're in the game, helping to build it. This powerful "Community Engine" has a few key parts:

• The Creators: Thousands of streamers on YouTube and Loco who build the hype and show us what's cool.

• The Competitors: College esports leagues are turning campus rivalries into a serious training ground for the next generation of pro players.

• The Co-Developers: The direct line between us and the game makers, where our feedback on Discord or in early tests actually shapes the final product.

This isn't just about fun. This active partnership helps new studios test their craziest ideas, reduces the risk of making a game that flops, and ensures the final product is something we’re all excited to play.

Technology helps, of course, but here in August 2025, it’s the passion and energy of our community that is India’s true superpower in the gaming world.

The Community is the Engine

What truly connects these two lanes and fuels the entire system? The community.

Gamers in India are no longer just passive consumers; they are active partners. This powerful "community engine" is made up of:

• Content creators and streamers on YouTube and Twitch.

• College esports leagues building the next generation of pro players.

• Direct feedback loops where players talk straight to developers.

This active community helps new studios test ideas, reduces the risk of a game flopping, and ensures that the final product is exactly what players want to play.

The Tools and the Roadblocks

This revolution is being made possible by game-changing technology. Generative AI is making it cheaper and faster to create amazing game worlds, while cloud gaming means people can play high-end games without needing an expensive PC or console.

However, it’s not a perfectly smooth ride. The industry still faces major roadblocks:

• A funding gap that makes it hard for ambitious games to get the money they need.

• A shortage of highly experienced senior talent to lead big projects.

• Unclear government regulations that can make investors nervous.

India's Digital Playground: What We're Actually Playing

To understand Indian gaming, you just need to look at what’s on our screens. Our digital world is split between intense, competitive battlegrounds and fun, social games that everyone from your cousin to your grandmother can enjoy.

The Mobile Juggernaut

Mobile is king, and here’s what rules the kingdom:

• The Battle Royale Titans: Two games dominate the charts. BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) is a cultural phenomenon, loved for its realistic action and massive esports scene. Garena Free Fire Max is just as huge, famous for its quick 10-minute matches that work perfectly on almost any phone.

• The Game Everyone Plays: The phenomenal Ludo King proves that the biggest market of all might be our classic family board games. With over a billion downloads, it shows that making a simple, social, and familiar game is a guaranteed recipe for success.

• The Global Legends: Of course, massive international hits like Call of Duty: Mobile, Clash of Clans, and Subway Surfers also have a permanent home on millions of Indian phones.

The Unofficial National Sport: Cricket

In India, cricket isn't just a game; it's a religion. Our video games are a constant battle for who can deliver the most authentic experience.

On mobile, it’s a duel: WCC3 focuses on making it feel like you're watching a live TV broadcast with real commentary, while Real Cricket™ 24 focuses on letting you play as your favorite licensed superstars.

Beyond the Boundary: The Rise of Other Sports

While cricket is king, other sports are quickly building their digital empires:

• Football: EA SPORTS FC™ Mobile is the leader, made even more popular by including our own Indian Super League.

• Kabaddi: This is the next big 'Bharat-Spec' hit. Fueled by the hugely popular Pro Kabaddi League, mobile kabaddi games are tapping into a massive and passionate fanbase.

• Untapped Goldmine: With successful pro leagues for Badminton, Wrestling, and Table Tennis, there are more uniquely Indian sports games just waiting to be made.

The PC & Console Frontier

While a smaller group, our PC gamers are incredibly dedicated and influential. Their world is dominated by global competitive hits like Valorant, Dota 2, and League of Legends, which have spawned thriving local esports scenes. At the same time, there's a huge appetite for stunning single-player adventures like Cyberpunk 2077, proving that premium, high-end gaming has a strong future here.

Just How Big is the Indian Gaming Scene?

So, let's talk numbers, because they tell a powerful story. The Indian gaming market is one of the fastest-growing in the world.

One major report predicts it will skyrocket from $3.8 billion today to $9.2 billion by 2029. To put that in perspective, gaming is on track to be bigger than 30% of India's entire "new media" market, which includes everything from Netflix and Spotify to Instagram.

(Why do different reports show different numbers? You might see lower forecasts, like $1.5 billion or a different $3.8 billion. That’s mainly because some reports include Real Money Gaming—like online poker—while others only count traditional video games. Either way, everyone agrees on one thing: the growth is explosive.)

The undisputed king of this market is mobile gaming, bringing in nearly 78% of all revenue. But the most exciting trend is in how these games are making money. For a long time, it was all about ad revenue. Now, that's flipping.

Revenue from In-App Purchases (IAP)—players buying items, skins, and battle passes inside games—is growing at an astonishing 44% a year. This boom is being led by massively popular games like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and Garena Free Fire. It’s a crucial sign that Indian gamers have matured from just tolerating ads to being willing to pay for premium experiences they love.

Conclusion

India’s gaming journey is no longer about catching up—it’s about leading. From the passion of gully cricket to the scale of global digital arenas, we’re shaping an industry powered by community, creativity, and culture. With mobile at its core, esports on the rise, and homegrown studios telling our own stories, India is poised to be not just a participant but a global powerhouse in gaming’s next chapter.