Make-In-India Games, LAN Tourneys, More: Gaming Trends That May Define 2023

Player spending in India is predicted to grow and reach the $1.4 billion mark with 630 million gamers by 2026.

Esports will make its debut as a full-fledged medal sport at the upcoming Asian Games. ( Image Source :Getty )

Scaling unprecedented heights and generating record-breaking revenues in 2022, the Indian Esports industry underwent radical changes and prospered into a billion-dollar industry. With as many as 507 million gamers, the country’s gaming market touched the $2.6 billion mark this year and will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27 percent to reach $8.6 billion by 2027, according to the recent Lumikai Gaming Report. 

The revenue numbers may be a testament to the industry’s remarkable development this year but they alone are not the standout aspects of this journey. Numerous milestones were accomplished throughout the year which elevated the industry to a higher level and transformed the general population’s perspective regarding video gaming, providing them with a positive outlook.

2022: A milestone year for Indian gaming

The most monumental of these was without a doubt, the official recognition of Esports as a multi-sport event by the Government, which ultimately differentiated video gaming from fantasy games. Years of effort from the community finally bore fruit with the revolutionary decision that opened the gates to the golden age of video gaming in India.

Then there were the heroics of India’s talented athletes who clinched a historic bronze medal in DOTA 2 at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Sim racer Muhammad Ibrahim being ranked #5 globally, and Hitesh Khorwal achieved a top 8 rank (Tekken) at the 14th World Esports Championship. Following that, the proposal of Esports as an official medal sport at the 2025 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (AIMAG) and confirmation of the Olympic Esports Week in June 2023 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) were also key triumphs for the industry on the international stage.

Additionally, the involvement of mainstream media such as INOX, OTT platforms, and TV channels that broadcasted high-profile Esports tournaments such as the BGMI Masters Series 2022, led to viewership skyrocketing and video gaming stepping into the shoes of a mainstream sport in India for the very first time. 

Big-name non-endemic brands such as Puma, Bingo, Hyundai, and many more also realized the potential of the industry and announced their arrival in the gaming market to capitalize on its lucrative prospects.

With all of these conquests enhancing the Esports landscape of the country and setting the stage for a grand slam year for the entire sector to thrive, here are five key trends to keep an eye on in 2023.

Promotion of Make-In-India video games

Game developers in the country have been toiling for years to produce video games of the highest quality that will place India on the global map alongside renowned publishers such as Netease, Tencent, Supercell, etc but have often lacked the funding to do so. 

That obstacle will now be solved with sufficient funding coming in from not only the big corporates but also from the government itself which will provide the necessary push for the video games made in the country to flourish.

As stated in the Lumikai Gaming report, Indian gaming companies have raised $2.8 billion from investors in the last five years. This number is likely to surge in 2023, motivating and presenting domestic game developers with sufficient funds to create superior, first-rate games while also leading to the promotion of make-in-India video games.

Increase in physical LAN tournaments

It has been a roller coaster ride for LAN tournaments in the country with the pandemic first and the BGMI ban after that. The lockdown got the community accustomed to online tournaments which became the norm until the world finally opened up for everyone. Esports tournaments were once again conducted on a large scale but the ban on India’s dominant gaming title BGMI sabotaged the majority of the in-person tournaments, leaving a huge question mark on their return.

However, with Esports organizations adopting the multi-roster approach and the emergence of other gaming titles such as Valorant, Pokemon Unite, and PUBG: New State, which are gaining immense popularity, LAN tournaments will bounce back strongly in 2023.

In-game player spending

The gaming community of India evolved drastically throughout 2022 and saw in-game spending soar like never before. India’s PC and mobile markets generated a player spending of close to $704.5 million with 396.4 million gamers this year, according to recent 2022 India Games Market Report by Niko Partners.

About 34 percent of video gamers in the country spent money on games in 2022, showcasing the increase in the number and willingness of both hardcore and casual video gamers in the country to pay in-game. 

Player spending is predicted to grow and reach the $1.4 billion mark, with 630 million gamers by 2026, proving that this trend is going to sustain and spike in 2023.

Asian Games

Esports will make its debut as a full-fledged medal sport at next year’s Asian Games and the entire gaming fraternity’s eyes will be on it to see which country scripts history.

India’s 18-member contingent, which secured its berth at the prestigious event through the National Esports Championships, will represent the country in five different titles — DOTA 2, Hearthstone, FIFA 22, Street Fighter V, and League of Legends. The tournament holds a lot of significance for the gaming community as the entire country will regard gamers as athletes for the very first time and unite in support to cheer for them.

Metaverse, Web3, 5G

Numerous technological advancements have taken the entire world by storm and the gaming world is no different. Providing a seamless experience for gamers by allowing them to connect with each other virtually, build and develop worlds and construct sub-games within a game, 

Metaverse has propelled VR gaming and taken it into a whole new dimension. 

Incorporating blockchain technology into gaming, Web3 has opened up new avenues for gamers to own in-game assets in the form of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), giving them total control. Another boon for the gaming world, 5G with its lower latency, high penetration, and fast speed is going to make video gaming immersive and help proliferate the number of gamers all across the country.

The Indian gaming community just saw a glimpse of these trends in 2022 but will be making their mark on the industry and have far-reaching effects in the upcoming year.

The author is the President of Esports Federation of India (ESFI)

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