Following the rise of digitalization, India’s gaming industry has reached new, unprecedented heights. Fundamentally, the sector’s growth has been a testament to the South Asian country’s new-found preference for smartphones and tablets as opposed to traditional consoles. So, let’s take a look at why smartphones have become the console of choice in India when it comes to video gaming pursuits of all types, from action-packed FPS to casino gaming.
Catering to the Demands of Modern-Day Users
On a global scale, there is a suggestion that, in the coming years, mobile gaming will strengthen its grip on the gaming industry, having overtaken console alternatives from a revenue standpoint for the first time in 2018, according to a report by Newzoo. However, in India, the dominance of mobiles is clear to see.
Crucially, one of the main reasons as to why India has developed a preference for mobile gaming is because of the country’s heightened presence of mobile game developers. In recent years, increasing numbers of US companies, including Glu Mobile and Zynga, a social game developer based in San Francisco, have continued to expand their South Asia-based studios. Furthermore, aside from becoming a popular destination for global developers, India has also seen a rise in the emergence of local mobile game developers.
For example, Zebu Games, a strategy-centred gaming company based in Bangalore, have developed a reputation within the country for being a highly-renowned developer. Fundamentally, the company primarily focus on creating contemporary titles for Android and iOS platforms, as per eMarketingBlogger.
Examples from the Casino Niche
Furthermore, smartphones and tablets have also been able to get the edge of their gaming competitors because of their heightened genre diverse. Along with traditional options, such as action and adventure, racing, open-world, and strategy, in addition to many more, mobile platforms are also able to offer a convenient route to those looking to play casino games. For example, Betfair has recently optimised its website in the form of a mobile app. As a result, prospective Indian players can play casino online at Betfair, which covers titles such as baccarat, blackjack, and roulette, conveniently from their mobile, with most of the casino games functional on both Android and iOS operating systems.
What Does the Future Hold?
While it remains to be seen as to how much further India’s mobile gaming industry can go in the coming years, numerous technological advancements could provide the foundations for further ground-breaking progress. In establishing itself as one of the world’s top five markets for mobile gaming, the South Asian country has become the next frontier in global gaming. Importantly, the implementation of 5G, the fifth-generation technology standard for cellular networks, which is rumoured to be launched in India by late 2020 or early 2021, is seen as a game-changer for many of the country’s markets.
Through providing consumers and organisations with access to faster, more reliable wireless networks, it could prove pivotal in making India’s mobile gaming sector more profitable. Crucially, it’s expected that lower latencies will enable multi-user gaming experiences.
“5G City auf Smartphone” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Christoph Scholz
Moreover, after launching in February 2020, the Gaming Project, an Indian cloud streaming service, could prove to the catalyst for the emergence of a new gaming aspect in the South Asian country. Although their mobile application is still in its beta phase, as reported by Hindustan Time, the eventual objective is to allow gamers to play PC and console titles on their mobiles.
A Mobile-Dominated Future May Be on the Cards
Ultimately, it seems clear that the core reason behind the rise of smartphone gaming in India relates to its convenience. Because of that, sustained developments regarding cloud services and wireless networks may result in the country’s mobile-centred gaming domination continuing for many years to come, be it casino gaming, car racing titles, or puzzle apps.
Picture Courtey – Pixabay
