Tanushree Basuroy
Research expert covering India
Console gaming in India - statistics & facts
As India prepares to consolidate its position among the biggest video gaming markets in the world, it is almost easy to forget a time before mobile phones and online gaming. The origins of the Indian gaming industry can be traced back to the late 20th century when PC and console games had begun to make their mark globally. Despite being a niche segment of the Indian gaming industry, console gaming has remained relevant in the market and admirably so in the face of stiff competition from mobile gaming.
India’s gaming population has seen a rise in the number of paying users. This willingness to pay was further reflected in the growing number of gaming subscriptions in the country, with India ranking among the leading markets for Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus subscriptions.
A few years down the line, SEGA withdrew from the market in the face of overwhelming competition from Sony and Nintendo. The Indian gaming scene switched up from being two-dimensional to 3D with Sony’s entry in the market. From then on, games such as FIFA, Mario Kart, Counter Strike, Call of Duty and DOTA gained popularity among Indian gamers. With the growing purchasing power of the middle class, game consoles such as Wii, PlayStation, and Xbox can be found in more Indian households than before. Market forecasts also suggest the continued growth of game console revenues largely contributed by PlayStation, and Xbox close at its heels.
Video games: a stroll down memory lane
Some of the earliest and fondly remembered game consoles in India were produced by Mitashi Edutainment, a Mumbai-based video game distributor formerly known as Maze Marketing. In 1998, the company successfully partnered with Japanese gaming giant SEGA to introduce both hand-held and in-home consoles that used cartridges and cassettes, at affordable prices to the Indian market. This was also around the time when other major players such as Nintendo, Sony, and Namco Bandai were trying to penetrate the market.A few years down the line, SEGA withdrew from the market in the face of overwhelming competition from Sony and Nintendo. The Indian gaming scene switched up from being two-dimensional to 3D with Sony’s entry in the market. From then on, games such as FIFA, Mario Kart, Counter Strike, Call of Duty and DOTA gained popularity among Indian gamers. With the growing purchasing power of the middle class, game consoles such as Wii, PlayStation, and Xbox can be found in more Indian households than before. Market forecasts also suggest the continued growth of game console revenues largely contributed by PlayStation, and Xbox close at its heels.
Adapting to a mobile-loyal user base
While mobile gaming continues to reign supreme due to ease of access and affordability, a fair share of Indian gamers uses consoles. Another reason most Indian gamers prefer playing on smartphones is the plethora of games to choose from on the app market. Casual games make up for the lion’s share of mobile game downloads with shooting and simulation games raking in the most revenue. Interestingly, the potential of the mobile gaming market has moved PC and console game publishers to release mobile versions of their games. The rise of e-sports in India also saw games such as Counter Strike and DOTA 2 included as events in national and international tournaments.
