From streaming platform to gaming commerce powerhouse – How Rooter transformed 85M gamers into a ₹82 crore revenue machine
The Indian gaming industry just witnessed a seismic shift. Rooter, the country’s pioneering game streaming platform, has shattered growth expectations with a staggering 120% year-on-year revenue surge, catapulting from $4.5 million to $10 million in annual revenue. But this isn’t just about numbers – it’s about a complete transformation that could redefine how gaming platforms operate in India.
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The Numbers That Tell an Incredible Story
Revenue Explosion: From ₹38 crore (FY24) to ₹82 crore (FY25)
Growth Rate: 120% year-on-year increase
User Base: 85+ million active gamers
Current ARR: $24 million and climbing
Profitability Timeline: Expected within current financial year
Average User Spending: ₹2,400 per month on platform
These aren’t just statistics – they represent a fundamental shift in how Indian gamers engage with digital platforms and spend their money on gaming experiences.
From Streaming to Shopping: The Strategic Masterstroke
What makes Rooter’s growth story truly fascinating isn’t just the impressive revenue figures, but the strategic pivot that made it possible. The platform evolved from a pure streaming service into what CEO Piyush calls a “full-fledged content to commerce ecosystem.”
The Gaming Commerce Revolution
Rooter’s expansion into gaming commerce has become their secret weapon. The newly launched Rooter Shop offers gamers exactly what they crave:
- Gaming Currencies: Direct access to in-game credits and coins
- Vouchers and Gift Cards: Flexible spending options across multiple games
- Premium Gaming Experiences: Tools to level up gameplay instantly
This strategic move tapped into a behavior pattern that many missed: Indian gamers are increasingly willing to spend money to enhance their gaming experiences through microtransactions and in-app purchases.
Riding the Wave of India’s Gaming Spending Boom
Rooter’s timing couldn’t have been more perfect. The company is capitalizing on a massive market transformation:
Market Size Evolution:
- 2021: $300 million in-app purchase market
- 2025: Projected to surpass $1 billion
- 2029: Expected to reach $4.3 billion
With average users spending ₹2,400 monthly on the Rooter platform, the company is perfectly positioned to capture a significant share of this exploding market.
The Path to Profitability: More Than Just Revenue Growth
While the 120% revenue growth grabs headlines, Rooter’s journey toward sustainability is equally impressive:
Financial Discipline:
- 63% reduction in losses over 12 months
- Clear path to profitability within FY25
- Targeting 4X growth by FY26
This combination of explosive growth and improved financial discipline sets Rooter apart from many high-growth startups that prioritize expansion over sustainability.
What This Means for India’s Gaming Ecosystem
For Gamers
Rooter’s success validates the growing sophistication of Indian gaming audiences. Gamers are no longer just passive consumers – they’re active participants willing to invest in premium experiences, currencies, and content.
For Publishers and Brands
With over 100 brand partnerships and 85+ million engaged users, Rooter has created a powerful ecosystem where publishers can:
- Access India’s largest gaming audience
- Monetize through multiple revenue streams
- Leverage community engagement for growth
For the Industry
Rooter’s transformation from streaming to commerce proves that successful gaming platforms must think beyond content consumption to create comprehensive ecosystems that serve multiple user needs.
The Ambitious Road Ahead: $90 Million GMV Target
CEO Piyush has set an ambitious target: achieving a $90 million Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) run rate by March 2026. This represents a massive scaling of their commerce operations and suggests even more aggressive growth ahead.
Strategic Focus Areas
Leadership in Gaming Content: Maintaining dominance in the streaming space while expanding commerce Exponential Commerce Growth: Scaling Rooter Shop to become a major revenue driver Publisher Partnerships: Creating new growth opportunities for game developers and publishers
Why Rooter’s Success Matters Beyond Gaming
This growth story reflects broader trends in India’s digital economy:
Monetization Evolution: Moving from advertising-only models to diversified revenue streams User Behavior Shift: Indians increasingly comfortable with digital transactions Platform Maturity: Gaming platforms evolving into comprehensive digital ecosystems
The Competitive Advantage: Size Meets Strategy
With 85+ million users, Rooter has achieved the scale necessary to make commerce profitable. But scale alone isn’t enough – their strategic focus on gaming-specific commerce creates a defensible moat that’s difficult for competitors to replicate.
Looking Forward: The Next Chapter
As Rooter approaches profitability and eyes its $90 million GMV target, several factors will determine continued success:
Market Expansion: Can they maintain growth as competition intensifies? User Retention: Will gamers continue spending ₹2,400 monthly as options multiply? Product Innovation: How will they evolve the commerce experience to stay ahead?
The Bottom Line: A Template for Indian Gaming Success
Rooter’s 120% growth story isn’t just about one company’s success – it’s a blueprint for how gaming platforms can thrive in India’s rapidly evolving digital landscape. By understanding user behavior, diversifying revenue streams, and maintaining financial discipline, they’ve created a sustainable growth model that others will undoubtedly try to replicate.
For India’s gaming industry, Rooter’s transformation from streaming platform to commerce powerhouse signals a new era where successful platforms must think beyond content to create comprehensive gaming ecosystems. With 85+ million users and ₹82 crore in revenue, Rooter has proven that Indian gamers are ready to pay for premium experiences – and smart platforms are ready to deliver them.
As the Indian gaming market continues its explosive growth toward $4.3 billion by 2029, Rooter’s strategic evolution positions them at the forefront of this transformation. The question isn’t whether they’ll hit their $90 million target – it’s how much further they can go.
