Why India is Not Building Games Like Black Myth: Wukong
India becomes the second-largest gaming community, with over 396 million gamersSource: KPMG Gaming Report 2023. The Indian gaming market is already generating approximately USD 15.36 billionSource: Indian Gaming Industry Report 2024 and is expected to reach USD 35.59 billion by 2030Source: PwC Global Entertainment & Media Outlook. Despite this growth, India has very few AAA-quality games. Let’s explore why.
1. Limited Gamer Support for Developers
While India has a massive gaming audience, only around 10% of gamersSource: NASSCOM Gaming Report 2023 play on PC and consoles, whereas 90% prefer mobile gamingSource: Statista India Gaming Insights. This imbalance affects the development of high-quality AAA games.
2. Key Reasons Behind the Lack of AAA Games in India
A. Lack of Resources
Mobile devices are significantly cheaper than gaming PCs and consoles, making them the preferred choice for the majority of Indian gamers.
B. Lack of Investment in AAA Games
The majority of Indian gamers prefer free-to-play games, leading Indian gaming companies to rely on ad-based monetization instead of premium game sales.
C. Lack of Funding
Indian game developers are incredibly talented. Many have worked on AAA titles such as GTA 5Source: Rockstar Games Developer Credits, Red Dead Redemption 2Source: LinkedIn Developer Profiles, and Assassin’s CreedSource: Ubisoft Studios India. However, publishers and investors in India are declined to fund AAA games because they require years of development and do not guarantee immediate profits.
3. How India Can Build a Thriving AAA Gaming Industry
- Increasing PC and Console Adoption: More Indian gamers should shift to PC and console gaming.
- Government and Private Investment: Funding and incentives can boost the gaming industry.
- Encouraging Game Purchases: Gamers should support premium games over free-to-play models.
- Building a Game Development Ecosystem: More training programs and collaborations are needed.
Conclusion
India has a massive gaming community with immense potential. However, to see AAA game development flourish, we need better support for developers, increased funding, and a shift in gamer preferences towards PC and console gaming. With the right efforts, India can produce world-class games that rival global hits.
Support Indian Gaming IndustryWritten by: Elagon