Mobile Gaming Dominance Continues
India's video game revolution has been steadily building momentum over recent years. Moreover, the country has firmly established itself as a key player in the global gaming landscape. According to the 2025 India Mobile Gaming Insights Report by Sensor Tower, India recorded 8.45 billion mobile game downloads in FY 2024-25, cementing its position at the top globally.
While casual genres such as Simulation, Arcade, and Tabletop continue to lead in downloads due to their accessibility and cultural familiarity, core competitive genres drive the majority of revenue. Specifically, Shooters games account for the largest revenue share. This pattern emerges from deeper user engagement and increased in-game spending among competitive players.
Developer Support and Incubator Programs
The ecosystem isn't just growing on the player side but is also beginning to build its own games. Furthermore, a recent step in that direction came from Meta, which launched the Meta Gaming Accelerator. This dedicated incubator program supports small and medium game developers across India.
At the inaugural WAVES Summit, hosted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, creators from the KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator (KIGI) presented their in-development indie games. Additionally, they showcased their work to an audience of investors, industry leaders, and gaming enthusiasts. This marked a confident shift toward greater visibility and support for Indian-made intellectual property in the global gaming conversation.
PC Gaming Platform Breakthrough
While mobile remains the dominant platform for gaming in India, one of the most significant moments this year came from the PC and console space. Therefore, this milestone was led by NODWIN Gaming, a leader in South Asia's esports and gaming ecosystem, along with Indie Game Utsav.
At the Mumbai leg of Comic Con India, a NODWIN Gaming IP, the Indie Game Utsav x Steam Sale made headlines. Notably, more than 110 Indian-origin PC games were featured on the global Steam front page for the first time. At the same event, over 40 high-quality Indian PC and console games were showcased to fans and industry stakeholders on the Comic Con show floor.
Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director, NODWIN Gaming, emphasized the ecosystem's evolution. He stated that India's video game ecosystem is evolving rapidly, and a big part of that momentum comes from the indie developer community. These creators are building fresh, culturally rooted experiences that deserve to be seen and celebrated.
Infrastructure and Technical Support
Supporting this initiative was Specter, India's first-of-its-kind backend platform developed by Dirtcube Interactive. Additionally, Specter provides tools for live ops, leaderboards, analytics, and more, allowing game studios to focus on creativity while scaling more quickly and efficiently.
Pravan Parikh, Co-Founder & Product Lead, Dirtcube Interactive LLP, noted the ecosystem's crucial inflection point. He explained that India's video game ecosystem in 2025 is seeing a surge in indie developers building original, culturally rooted games. However, to truly thrive, the ecosystem needs more than just creativity - it needs reliable infrastructure, reduced friction in scaling up, and platforms that help developers go from prototype to playable, and then from playable to profitable.
Despite its mobile-heavy origins, India's PC gaming scene is steadily gaining traction. Furthermore, this growth is supported by a growing middle class with higher disposable income. According to Niko Partners, more than 77% of Indian PC gamers increased their spending in Q1 2024, surpassing growth in both mobile and console gaming.
Hardware and Creator Influence
Contributing to this momentum is CyberPowerPC, a global leader in custom gaming computers, which recently completed its first year in India. Consequently, by offering tailored builds for both casual and competitive players, CyberPowerPC is helping make high-performance PC gaming more accessible and delivering a better experience for Indian gamers across a wide range of titles.
Vishal Parekh, COO, CyberPowerPC India, highlighted the personal connection with gaming. He commented that for many people, video games have been a constant, a way to connect with friends, compete with passion, unwind after a long day, and express who they are.
A defining aspect of India's video game growth is the rising influence of content creators and esports athletes. Moreover, according to Niko Partners, 57.2% of Indian gamers discover new games through streamers and influencers, making creator-driven content a vital part of the ecosystem's expansion.
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO, S8UL Esports, emphasized creators' crucial role in growth. He noted that India's gaming ecosystem in 2025 is more vibrant and diverse than ever and creators play a crucial role in that growth. They're not just entertainers; they're storytellers who bridge the gap between developers and players, helping Indian games reach the mainstream by adding context, emotion, and community to the experience.
S8UL, a global leader in esports and gaming content, is currently the only Indian team competing across 12 different esports titles. Additionally, it is home to some of the country's most prominent gaming creators. These creators play a key role in driving discoverability, building engagement, and shaping the cultural acceptance of gaming in India.
With increasing government support, stronger engagement from players and developers, and growing visibility for Indian-made games, India's video gaming market is well-positioned for continued growth. Furthermore, as the world's largest mobile gaming market expands into PC, console, and indie game development, it is clear on National Video Game Day that the next chapter in India's gaming story is only just beginning.
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