It’s not a secret that the online gaming industry has taken the world by storm. This is especially true recently because of the global pandemic that shook the world and forced people to stay indoors. As more and more people have resigned to locking themselves in their homes to curb the spread of the pandemic, many house dwellers have been forced to think of new ways to keep themselves busy and entertained while at home. Some people turned to exercise and fitness. Others turned to arts and crafts. A lot of people decided to read more books and watch more movies. But a huge bulk of people happened to turn to online games.
While the online gaming industry has indeed taken the world by storm, the Indian gaming market, in particular, has been really going strong. Back in 2016, the online gaming industry in India was valued at around $290 million. Now, experts say that the industry could be worth as much as $1 billion in 2021, just in India alone.
Different Online Games
Due to the sheer size of the gaming industry itself, it also comes with specific subcategories that a group of players can lump themselves into. Of course, there are popular multiplayer strategy games like DoTA 2 or League of Legends. These games are immensely popular and have very dedicated fan bases that even engage in high-money competitions worldwide. Then, there are the sports games like NBA 2k that also have a strong following online. People all over the world flock to different servers via their gaming devices to play against one another. After that, there are also the different war-simulation games like Call of Duty or Battlefield that have also developed cult followings over the years. Aside from having incredibly immersive story modes and single-player campaigns, these games also allow for players to duke it out online in a variety of different match setups.
Battle royal games have also been incredibly popular lately. There are games like Fortnite and PUBG, which are dominating in many different spaces. Whether on consoles, PCs, or mobile devices, these are games with a huge following of fans who play rather consistently and competitively every day. These battle royal games have been really popular lately because of their immersive worlds and exciting gameplay. Then, there are also open-world games like World of Warcraft or Grand Theft Auto. These kinds of games allow people to enter a virtual world wherein they can play as specific characters and perform fun missions and quests.
But then, other online games have caught the attention of a lot of gamers as well. Casino websites like Betnero offer players the opportunity to gamble with real money to mimic the traditional casino experience. This comes as a great sigh of relief for casino patrons who haven’t been allowed to go to traditional casinos because of the pandemic. There are also other games like Among Us that have gained significant traction in the online space. In fact, when American politician AOC streamed a game of Among Us on her Twitch account, it became one of the most-watched Twitch streams of all time.
The Numbers Behind Online Gaming In India
- There are more than 1.3 billion people in India as of the latest census. Out of the 1.3 billion, more than 409 million of them use the internet frequently. And out of that 409 million, an estimated 120 million people are consistent online gamers.
- More than 75% of gamers in India have said that they play online games as a way to relieve stress and relax after a stressful day.
- The gaming population of India is predominantly male. Nearly 83% of gamers in India are men, while the other 14% are females.
- Around 60% of Indian gamers spend money on in-app or in-game purchases that are supposedly designed to enhance the gaming experience.
- Most gamers prefer to use their mobile phones as their primary gaming devices in India.
Game On!
Gaming in India has undoubtedly broken ceilings and reached heights that were never even thought to be possible in the past. And the truth is that the future only looks brighter for the industry.
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