According to Niko Partners, the Indian gaming market has surpassed $1 billion and is projected to reach $1.2 billion by the end of 2026

In 2025, India's gaming industry surpassed $1 billion in revenue for the first time, marking a 14.8% increase from the previous year, reaching $1.04 billion.

Insights from Niko Partners project revenue could almost hit $1.2 billion and potentially grow to $1.77 billion by 2030, demonstrating an 11.2% compound annual growth rate over five years.

In the previous year, the gaming population reached 511 million. This is anticipated to grow past 550 million in 2026 and exceed 700 million by 2030. Notably, female gamers now make up nearly 50% of this community, an increase from 43% in 2023.

The boost in revenue and engagement is largely due to increased spending on mobile gaming, driven by the higher adoption of digital technology and improved disposable incomes in various consumer groups.

The monetization within this sector is still developing, with the average revenue per user (ARPU) hitting $2.04 in 2025 and projected to increase to $2.52 by 2030.

Niko Partners also noted a diversification within India's gaming market, where audiences are experimenting with a wider variety of genres across platforms like PC and console.

Though smaller, these niche audiences enhance engagement, offering publishers avenues to extend their reach beyond popular genres such as battle royale and casual games.

This shift also includes a rise in user-generated content, with games like Roblox and Minecraft becoming increasingly popular among younger players in India.

Moreover, the share of market revenue for non-battle royale mobile games has grown from 53.2% in June 2023 to 62.8% by June 2026.

Niko Partners anticipates that these factors, alongside increased government backing, a rise in esports participation, and more opportunities for publishers, will influence India's gaming landscape over the coming five years.

The firm also highlighted a change in Indian gamers' perceptions about generative AI. Their research shows that players are becoming more wary of AI applications by developers and fellow gamers.

Economic issues, particularly concerns over AI's potential impact on job markets, are identified as significant considerations by Niko Partners.