India’s Gaming Industry Is Entering a New Growth Phase

India’s gaming industry is no longer just about casual mobile entertainment. It is steadily becoming one of the most important growth drivers within the country’s digital economy. Recent data shared through a PIB release on creative industries highlights the scale of this change.

The online gaming segment was valued at around ₹232 billion in 2024. It is projected to reach approximately ₹316 billion by 2027. This steady rise places gaming among the fastest-growing segments within India’s media and entertainment sector.

At a time when traditional media formats like television and print are seeing slow or flat growth, gaming is expanding at a much stronger pace. It shows that more people are now interested in gaming.

India’s overall media and entertainment industry stood at ₹2,502 billion in 2024. It is expected to grow to ₹3,067 billion by 2027, which is an average annual growth of around 7 percent. Within this broader ecosystem, gaming stands out as a big segment. It shows that gaming is no longer just a side activity. It is becoming part of daily digital life.

India already ranks among the largest gaming markets globally in terms of user base. Millions of players log in daily across metro cities as well as smaller towns.

Affordable smartphones and low data costs have played a major role in this growth. However, the real transformation is in the monetisation. In-app purchases, advertising revenues, esports sponsorships, and brand integrations are gradually turning engagement into measurable business value.

The sector is also becoming more organised. Domestic studios are scaling up. Esports tournaments are drawing large crowds. Streaming and community platforms are adding new revenue layers. We can see how some gamers have made a larger following and became millionaire by streaming different games on YouTube and Twitch.

Gaming is now part of the broader AVGC-XR framework, which includes Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, and Extended Reality. This classification signals that gaming is being viewed as a technology-intensive creative industry rather than a niche entertainment segment.

Government projections suggest that the AVGC sector could generate nearly 20 lakh direct and indirect jobs over the next decade. Institutions like the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies have been positioned to strengthen talent pipelines and bridge skill gaps.

This structured approach could help India transition from being largely a gaming consumption market to a global production and intellectual property hub.

Despite strong user numbers, India’s gaming ecosystem still relies heavily on global titles. The next stage of growth will depend on the ability of Indian studios to build globally competitive original intellectual property. If domestic developers succeed in creating strong franchises, India can move up the value chain. Instead of only consuming imported content, the country could begin exporting games and digital experiences.

As the industry evolves, the role of independent media and ecosystem support becomes important. We at Techlomedia Gaming are working at the intersection of players, developers, and industry observers. By covering gaming hardware, game launches, esports trends, and policy developments, such platforms help inform gamers while also giving visibility to emerging developers. We also have twitch tracker and stream charts to help gamers understand what’s the gaming traction among gamers and viewers. The data-driven approach would help publishers and gamers both.

For developers, awareness and discoverability remain major challenges. For gamers, clarity around hardware requirements, performance benchmarks, and new releases matters. Bridging this information gap supports healthier ecosystem growth.

This kind of coverage does not directly build games, but it strengthens the environment in which gaming businesses operate.

If current projections hold, India’s gaming market will comfortably cross ₹300 billion by 2027. But the real upside may extend beyond that number. We are expecting stronger domestic studios, better funding access, and improved regulatory clarity.