Indian Gaming Industry Thriving, To Create 2.5 Lakh Jobs In Next 10 Years: IGR

Currently, there is a rise in the need for skilled gaming professionals and job opportunities for the same span from 50,000 to 60,000 across various roles.

Around 144 million users paid for games in 2023 and the number of paying gamers is likely to cross the 240 million mark by 2028.

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The Indian gaming industry is thriving and it has even topped the US and Brazil in terms of game downloads. According to the India Gaming Report (IGR) 2024, India’s total mobile game downloads exceeded the total downloads of the next two markets – the US and Brazil combined. In just four years, from 2019 to 2023, the number of game downloads in India soared from 5.65 billion to 9.5 billion. This growth made India's share of global game downloads to a substantial 16 per cent in 2023.

With this massive demand, the supply will have to keep up. The report predicted that the industry will generate around 2.5 lakh employment opportunities in the next decade to meet this growing demand efficiently. In 2023 itself, online gaming employed over 100,000 skilled gaming professionals directly and indirectly.

Currently, the Indian gaming industry is experiencing a rise in the need for skilled professionals, with job opportunities spanning from 50,000 to 60,000 across diverse positions such as developers, programmers, testers/artists, and customer support.

India boasts a massive, engaged consumer base of around 568 million gamers. The nation is home to around 1400 gaming companies, including 500 gaming studios, and 15,000 game developers and programmers. The number of Indian gaming companies has increased from 25 in 2015 to over 900 gaming development firms by 2023, demonstrating sustained and robust potential in the sector. The number is going to increase only as per the report which will generate employment like anything.

There is an increased dependency on mobiles though as mobile gaming contributes to 90 per cent of the gaming market in India as compared to 37 per cent and 62 per cent in the US and China, respectively.

Increased Inclination Towards Paid Games Or In-App Purchases

Around 144 million users paid for games in 2023 and the number of paying gamers is likely to cross the 240 million mark by 2028. The developers are making decent profits due to this however, to support the development of games and this industry further, investors are also chipping in. 

Between 2018 and 2021, investments in Indian gaming companies experienced a tenfold increase. Notably, 2021 emerged as a standout year, drawing investments totalling over $1.7 billion. Since 2017, Indian gaming companies have collectively raised nearly $3 billion. Projections indicate that the Indian gaming market could see the emergence of up to 10 unicorns and 5 decacorns by 2028.

Gaming Community: Age, Devices

The youth in India show a greater inclination towards gaming, especially the age group of 18-30, constituting highly active gaming users. With 68 per cent of India's population below the age of 35, this demographic forms a significant part of the gaming community.

The smartphone industry is contributing in its own way to support this growth among players. Over the past five years, smartphone RAM capacity has experienced a three to four-fold increase. This enhancement in RAM has significantly boosted the storage capabilities of mobile devices for gaming purposes. Users can now store larger and more complex games, leading developers to create games with superior graphics and performance.

Lokesh Suji, Director of the Esports Federation of India & Vice President of the Asian EsportsFederation (AESF) while talking about this growth said, "The rapidly growing Indian esports industry has indeed provided fertile ground for talent to flourish while also contributing to economic prosperity within the nation. Job openings spanning diverse roles such as developers, programmers, casters, team managers, coaches, event organizers, writers, and more, are a testament to the fact that thriving in the industry doesn't solely rely on being an esports athlete."

He added, "The inclusion of esports in last year's Asian Games, where ESFI sent the talented Indian contingent, and potentially at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2025, has further solidified its status as a legitimate and mainstream form of sporting discipline. Furthermore, with educational institutions also integrating esports into their curriculum, there is an abundance of opportunities for aspiring professionals to flourish in this landscape."