Even various reports from different agencies have clearly indicated huge growth opportunities in days to come. “The Indian gaming sector has witnessed tremendous growth over the past few years, and we expect this momentum will continue in the years to come as the industry has received official recognition and support of the Indian government. According to a report, the number of Indian gamers is expanding at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12% and is expected to jump to 700 million in FY25 compared with 507 million in 2021,” commented Nitish Singal, Head, Personal Systems (Consumer), HP India.
Nitish further added, “This development will also lead to more opportunities for gamers to participate in national and international tournaments, which will help them gain valuable experience and exposure. Furthermore, the expansion of the eSports industry in India will also be driven by the growing popularity of mobile and laptop gaming that has become increasingly popular among youth. India is all set to emerge as the top 3 PC gaming countries in the world.”
Initiatives for Accelerating Esports Industry Growth
HP has a diverse range of gaming products that are very popular among gamers. Talking about its efforts to contribute for the growth of Indian esports industry, Nitish said, “At HP, we are deeply invested in elevating and evolving the gaming community –to foster creativity and innovation while creating a safe environment for every type of gamer. As a brand, we analyze and understand consumer behaviour and continue to push progression in gaming for each category of gamers. No matter what type of gamer – professional, enthusiast, mainstream - HP has the gaming solution for everyone.”
Nitish added, “Our existing portfolio has the OMEN and Victus series. OMEN is built for the high-end gamers, while Victus caters to the casual gamers. With HyperX, we have also developed industry-leading gaming accessories to provide an ecosystem of products that complement our devices, providing an unmatched gaming experience. To provide the experience of PC gaming in India, we introduced Omen Playground stores. The stores aim to allow a free of cost hub for emerging talent in the Indian gaming industry to engage in the latest technological innovations.”
Major Challenges for Gamers to Grow Professionally
“Gaming business has grown tremendously over the course of the pandemic, but India still requires a robust system to support the sector. According to the HP India Gaming Landscape Study 2022, two-thirds of serious gamers see a career in gaming in India, largely owing to good earnings prospects. While India’s youth now is adopting gaming for content creation, streaming and game developing, there are some challenges because of which gamers find it hard to carry gaming as a profession,” commented by Nitish when asked about challenges.
Nitish further commented, “Currently, there is lack of official training or certification program for gamers in India. According to the HP India Gaming Landscape Study 2022, only 2% of respondents have received formal training in gaming. While most gamers rely on personal skill enhancement to upgrade their gaming performance, 32% follow a gaming star to enhance their skills. As large industry players, we need to come together to support the growth of gamers and provide them with more learning opportunities.”
Support Required from Government to Drive eSports Industry Growth
While in his closing statement, Nitish said, “The government has been very proactive in recognising the importance of esports as an industry and supported the esports to develop. We feel that like other physical sports, India has tremendous talent in the smaller towns, and it would be great if government could help in building more learning and upskilling opportunities for the esports athletes.”