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India Remains Asia's Fastest Growing Market; Report

JJ Rankin | Sep 22, 4:53 AM | 6 min read

Highlights

Niko Partners projects India video games revenue across all platforms to reach $868 million in 2023
The number of gamers in India across all platforms is forecast to reach 444 million in 2023
31% of the 444.4 million gamers will spend on video games in 2023, with annual ARPPU reaching $6.38.

Last year, the Indian Games Market by Niko Partners revealed that in 2022 there were 396.4 million gamers in India and also projected more than 630 million players in 2026, who will generate $1.4 billion in revenue. The 2023 report which came out recently shows that India has retained its title as the fastest-growing video games market in Asia with gaming revenue on the rise, projected to increase 21% YoY in 2023 to $868 million. India has emerged as a mobile-first market this year as 96.8% of total gamers play on a smartphone or tablet.

The report confirms better Internet connectivity, higher disposable income and low-cost smartphones are key to the growth of India's gaming sector. Moreover, the report states that the number of gamers in India across all platforms is set to reach 444 million in 2023, and 641.2 million by 2027. This will be a whopping 343% increase from 2017.

India Emerges As A Prime Target For Game Developers And Publishers

Esports is gaining momentum according to the report. 71.8% of the total gamers have engaged with Esports by either playing an Esports game, watching or participating in a tournament. The return of BGMI and Free Fire is expanding the landscape for Esports with more official tournaments, higher prize pools and more brands entering the market.

India has emerged as a mobile-first market this year as 96.8% of total gamers play on a smartphone or tablet. The report confirms better Internet connectivity, higher disposable income and low-cost smartphones are key to the growth of India's gaming sector. In fact, as Pokémon Go recently launched its Hindi language support for Indian gamers, Omar Tellez, VP for Emerging Markets, Niantic, shared how the Indian market has pushed the envelope for mobile gaming.

"India has shown us that console games are not a new world, you have to be on the mobile side of the equation,” he said during a recent event in Delhi. "India has shown us away in terms of what mobile gaming is, and how mobile gaming is done."