Metaverse, VR, 5G, More: Top Trends That Will Reshape India’s Fantasy Gaming Industry

India had 390 million (approximately) online gamers in 2021 and by 2023, that number is predicted to hit 450 million.

VR aim is to give players an impression that they are actually present in the game.

The rise in smartphone usage can be attributed to the convenience of Internet accessibility. India had more than 749 million internet users in 2020, and Statista projects that number will increase to more than 1.5 billion users by 2040. The gaming ecosystem has completely shifted as a result of greater internet accessibility. Gamers could only participate in a small number of events in the past, but thanks to technological advancements, they can now connect and take part in gaming events all over the world.

Video games, esports, console gaming and fantasy gaming are largely being practised in the modern-day gaming industry. Live streaming and gameplay's social component are to blame for the increase in online gaming. Through video game-focused streaming platforms, viewers can readily interact with specific players and teams, and social media has made it feasible for those connections to flourish. According to a Statista analysis, India had 390 million (approximately) online gamers in 2021 and by 2023, that number is predicted to hit 450 million.

In addition, due to the increased smartphone penetration and easy access to the Internet, mobile gaming has become a new fad which has added to the popularity of fantasy gaming. 

Key trends that will reshape the fantasy gaming industry

AR and VR gaming

There is no denying the fact that we are currently in the heyday of gaming, where gaming is more of an experience. Augmented and virtual reality has totally changed the concept of gaming. The idea is to provide real-world stimulations to the user with the motive to enhance the gaming experience. 

VR headsets, hand controllers, and wearable technology are all part of VR gaming devices whose ultimate aim is to give players an impression that they are actually present in the game. Furthermore, AR adds digital elements like sounds and objects to the player's actual environment, which increases the immersion of the entire gaming experience.

Metaverse gaming

Metaverse is a real-time example of delivering exotic gaming experiences by utilizing modern technology. The goal is to give users a three-dimensional world in which they can interact with the objects in their immediate surroundings.

Additionally, playing games in the metaverse is a great way to earn money. In the metaverse, NFTs are utilised as a kind of exchange that let you buy or sell items, buy new characters, or transfer the currency you earn in one game to another.

Competitive multiplayer gaming

Multiplayer gaming is the new gaming trend that has been gaining a lot of traction lately. In fact, recently plenty of multiplayer gaming platforms have come into being, providing gamers with the opportunity to play and in-game interact with other participants from anywhere in the world. Not only that, multiplayer gaming platforms also enable user to play with their friends, which used to be impossible in the traditional gaming scenario. It is safe to conclude that multiplayer mobile games have established themselves as a popular gaming trend and will do so in the future as well.

5G inception in gaming

When it comes to online gaming, delivering a smooth gameplay experience is key. In a mobile-first gaming market like India, the 5G rollout is sure to enhance this experience exponentially. Ultra-fast response times, zero latency between input and game response, seamless multiplayer gaming and the shift to cloud gaming solutions are some of the potential by-products of India’s 5G journey. As the services are rolled out across the entire nation, they will attract users from the heart of ‘Bharat’ to participate in online gaming in a seamless manner. Increased bandwidth will also make significant strides in revolutionizing streaming experiences of online games which is an upcoming opportunity that has already been tapped in the west.

Bridging the gap between skill-based mobile gaming

Online gaming has become the latest haven for players to prove their mettle. Fanning this excitement are tournaments that challenge young gamers and help the industry grow. Skill-based mobile gaming is already poised to gain over 50% of the global gaming market share by 2020. Despite being a fast-growing industry, skill-based gaming still faces legal roadblocks countrywide because of low awareness and ensuing confusion with chance-based gaming and gambling. 

The road ahead

Both the participation and revenue of the Indian gaming industry have changed significantly during the last several years. During the rise in gaming, it's critical to keep Covid-19 in particular in high respect. Moreover, the way that people view gaming has also been dramatically altered by new gaming genres like esports, cloud gaming, and mobile gaming. Thus, future growth in the Indian gaming industry is anticipated as a result of the country's rapid digitalization and change, rising internet usage, and growing smartphone penetration.

(The author is the founder of Super4, a fantasy cricket app)

Disclaimer: Fantasy sports game may be habit-forming or financially risky. Play responsibly. The information contained herein is merely based on parameters including but not limited to players’ past performance & records, players’ fitness & availability, ground conditions, weather conditions, etc. An individual intending to participate in any such fantasy sports game on any platform shall have to use his/her own skill, wisdom & judgement while creating a fantasy team. Accordingly, reader discretion is advised.