Commenting on the report, Shiva Nandy, Founder and CEO of Skyesports, said: “The latest Niko Partners 2024 India Gamer Behavior & Market Insights Report aligns with our internal assessment of India’s gaming landscape. As gamers increasingly prioritize enjoyment and are willing to invest in games that meet their expectations, it’s clear that the industry is evolving rapidly. At Skyesports, our focus on a diverse range of titles catering to mobile and PC gamers aligns perfectly with this trend. We believe that the growth in gamer spending and engagement will drive the expansion of esports, capture the attention of global publishers, and attract more viewers and brands to the esports ecosystem. At this rate, in a few years, we envision an Indian gaming community where multiple titles enjoy popularity across different genres and platforms. We’re excited to be at the forefront of this transformation and remain committed to fostering a vibrant esports ecosystem.”
This strong growth, which Niko Partners says is the fastest among all the markets it tracks, is driven by a rise in player spending. 77.3% of PC gamers reported in Q1 2024 that they spent more on PC games compared to the same period last year. This figure is higher than for mobile and console gaming.
With a growing economy, increased smartphone penetration, and esports tournaments, Niko Partners expects gaming engagement to grow further, leading to higher Average Revenue Per User (ARPU).
Two-thirds of Indian gamers now prioritize enjoyment, which is driving increased spending on games that meet their expectations. Super-hardcore gamers spend 2.2x more per month than casual gamers, with female gamers spending 8.5% more than males.
Additionally, the report highlights that 65.4% of gamers are involved in esports, with esports fans spending 12% more on games than non-esports participants.
“In 2024, India’s gamers are more discerning and more willing to spend money on gaming than they were just a few years ago,” said Lisa Hanson, CEO of Niko Partners. “The 5-year CAGR of 11.1% that we forecast for India’s video games industry (to $1.4 billion by 2028) is based on trends including increased playtime and spending, greater engagement with esports, increased investment from the private sector, and support from both central and state governments to build the video games and esports industry.”
Skyesports, one of India’s leading esports companies, is already capitalizing on these trends, boasting a diversified portfolio of games and IPs, while continuously investing in PC games. Currently, the company is working with THE FINALS, an exciting FPS game available on PC and console, for its esports tournaments and has also announced a ₹14.6 Crore roadmap for Counter-Strike 2, another PC game in 2025. Earlier this year, it organized the LG UltraGear Skyesports Champions Series for the mobile battle royale title Battlegrounds Mobile India. The tournament recorded high levels of viewership, with a peak concurrent viewership of more than 100,000 and over 1.9 million watch hours.
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