The Online Gaming industry is on a rapid rise at the moment. More and more people are getting interested in the Online Gaming Space, and it’s just the start of a long journey.
It has been a perception that gaming is related to men, but currently, women have come a long way and are showing equal interest in Online Gaming.
So here we have Amit Kushwaha, Head Brand Strategy, Gameskraft, who tells us about How female gamers are storming the male-dominated online gaming space. Here’s everything he had to say on the matter:
When it comes to playing games online, we are quick to believe that it’s a man’s world. Not at all. Women gamers are increasingly becoming a part of India’s gaming universe. They are covering ground across all segments, so why should gaming be different for them? Female gamers are already taking the industry by storm and driving growth in the online gaming industry.
The online gaming industry is taking notice of its rapidly growing female user base and waking up to the huge market potential that exists in inclusivity. According to ‘Think with Google APAC- Play like a Girl Report, 2020’, 18% of all gamers in India are women. Moreover, the number of women gamers is increasing at a faster rate than male gamers, especially during the pandemic. The ‘Play-from-Home’ concept has enabled both new and existing gamers to be able to spend more time on esports.
The gaming industry initially being a male-dominated space started witnessing a sudden influx of female gamers, a couple of years ago. Between 2017 and 2019, the number of Indian females who opened up to access the internet from their smartphones more than doubled from 19% to 42%. As per InMobi’s mobile gaming India report 2021, women now make up 43% of the entire mobile gaming audience. Among them, 12% are from the age group of 25-44 and 28 % are over 45 years. Thus, from being an all-boys space, many women gamers and streamers have now taken the centre stage.
As e-sports become more inclusive and diverse to explore, India currently has over 250 million mobile gamers and this number is expected to reach 368 million by 2022. The gaming industry in India stands at a pivotal stage and it is structured to meet the demands and expectations of all users, including female gamers. Five years ago, it would have been unimaginable for anyone to look at online gaming as a career option, however now it stands as a space with a bright future to be explored in multiple dimensions for women. Platforms like YouTube have helped women a great deal. Female gamers like Soneeta, who have reached millions of followers on YouTube, are breaking all the gender stereotypes associated with online gaming.
It is encouraging to see that many gaming platforms have taken heed of the trend and are incorporating new ways to keep female gamers entertained. There’s still a long way to go but developing the initiative and communities of practice is often the first step. Gradually the overall industry is evolving for the better and recognizing the thousands of women who are creating, playing, and hosting these games.
