Some markets grow quietly. India’s gaming industry just announced itself with a bang. According to a new report from Niko Partners, India’s gaming market crossed $1.04 billion in revenue in 2025, marking the first time the country has surpassed the $1 billion mark. That’s a 14.8% jump year-on-year, and it cements India’s place as the fastest-growing gaming market among all regions Niko Partners tracks.
Gaming Numbers : Overview
| Metric | 2025 | 2026 (Forecast) | 2030 (Forecast) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | $1.04 billion | ~$1.2 billion | $1.77 billion |
| Player Base | 511 million | 550+ million | 700+ million |
| ARPU | $2.04 | — | $2.52 |
| CAGR (5-yr) | — | — | 11.2% |
What’s Fueling The Growth?
Mobile gaming remains the biggest driver, with rising disposable incomes pushing a growing segment of high-spending players. But the market isn’t just getting bigger — it’s getting more diverse. While battle royale and casual titles still dominate, Niko Partners is seeing rising engagement across a wider range of genres on mobile, PC, and console, often from smaller but higher-value audiences.
Platforms like Roblox and Minecraft are also gaining serious traction among younger Indian players, blending social interaction with creative, shareable gameplay — a format that’s proving especially popular with digitally native audiences.
Key Shifts Worth Noting
- Female participation in gaming rose from 43% in 2023 to 49% in 2026
- Non-battle royale mobile games grew from 53.2% to 62.8% of mobile revenue share since 2023
- 31.5% of players now prefer buying in-game content outside app stores
- UPI dominates payments, used by 84.6% of Indian gamers, far ahead of credit cards at 31.5%
Interestingly, the report also flags a shift in sentiment around Generative AI, with Indian players growing more cautious about its use — a trend tied partly to broader economic concerns around AI’s impact on jobs.
With government support increasing and esports engagement deepening, India’s gaming industry appears to be moving from a high-volume market into a more mature, diversified ecosystem — one that global publishers are watching closely.
For more gaming industry trends and market reports, check out our gaming section on TechnoSports.
