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The Indian video gaming and esports industry, which saw unprecedented growth in 2024, is expected to continue its upward trajectory into 2025. According to Niko Partners' India Market Model Report, the Indian gaming market is projected to exceed $1 billion in 2025, with a forecasted value of $1.4 billion by 2028, growing at a five-year CAGR of 11.1%.
A major highlight for the upcoming year will be the Olympic Esports Games, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia. Following India’s stellar performance at the Paris Olympics in 2024, where the nation secured six medals, Indian gamers now have the chance to add to this achievement in the rapidly expanding esports sector. The event will raise the profile of esports in India and cement the country's position as an emerging force in global competitive gaming.
In another boost to India’s esports ambitions, chess has been announced as one of the titles at the Esports World Cup, which boasts a $1.5 million prize pool. With India’s grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju making history as the youngest World Chess Champion, Indian chess players now have the chance to shine at the event in Saudi Arabia, taking place from July 31 to August 3, 2025.
Parallel to the Olympic Esports Games and Esports World Cup, the WAVES Esports Championships (WESC), supported by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, will be another key event in 2025. The finals of three titles—Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), World Cricket Championship (WCC), and eFootball—will take place at the inaugural WAVES Summit in February 2025, setting the stage for an exciting year of esports.
As cricket and football continue to merge with esports through virtual titles, 2024 saw an increase in brand partnerships, such as Mumbai Indians teaming up with BGMI and Kolkata Knight Riders collaborating with India’s esports content giant, S8UL Esports. These collaborations are expected to strengthen the bond between traditional sports and esports in 2025.
Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and MD of NODWIN Gaming, said, “In 2025, we anticipate a growing overlap between mainstream sports and esports. Cricket will become more involved with the esports industry, whether through cricket esports titles or collaborations with IPL teams and cricketers. Similarly, Bollywood stars and musicians are expected to engage more actively with gaming and esports to connect with younger audiences, creating a fusion of entertainment and competitive gaming. Gaming will continue to be a strong pillar of youth entertainment with even deeper collaborations between gaming and elements like music, anime, and other youth-focused interests. NODWIN Gaming’s successful hosting of DreamHack India alongside Hyderabad Comic Con this year is a testament to this trend.”
The rise of gamification is also reshaping various sectors. Companies like Facebook, Netflix, Amazon, and LinkedIn are increasingly adopting gaming features to engage users, a trend that will continue to gain momentum in 2025.
Akshat Rathee added, “The rise of gamification across sectors will bring gaming elements into everyday life, further embedding gaming into our cultural fabric. It won’t be surprising if dating apps follow suit in the near future, incorporating gaming elements to create more engaging and interactive experiences.”
In 2024, the industry saw high-profile brand collaborations, with 8Bit Creatives, India’s leading esports and gaming talent management agency, securing the largest naming rights sponsorship deal in Indian gaming history with smartphone brand iQOO. This partnership represents the increasing interest from mainstream brands in India’s esports scene.
Animesh Agarwal, Founder and CEO of 8Bit Creatives, said, “In 2025, esports will continue expanding into more titles, creating opportunities for a broader range of players and audiences. As new games gain traction, regions like South Asia and MENA are expected to emerge as significant contributors to the global esports ecosystem. Content creators will play a central role in shaping fan engagement, while brands will increasingly view esports and gaming content as primary channels to connect with the ever-growing gaming-centric audience.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for India to become a global leader in video games during his Independence Day address has further fueled optimism in the sector. 2024 saw several Made-in-India games launched, with many more in the pipeline. Among these, 88 Games, the new game development division of 88 Pictures, is preparing to launch three major titles, strengthening India’s position in the global gaming industry.
Milind D. Shinde, Founder and CEO of 88 Games, said, “In 2025, we expect deeper integration of cutting-edge technologies like generative AI and extended reality (XR) into game development. These technologies will reshape how games are developed and consumed, enhancing storytelling and interactivity. For 88 Games, 2025 will be pivotal as we gear up for the launch of our first PC and console game.”
Insights from Niko Partners’ ‘Indian Gamer Behaviour and Market Insights’ report show that 77.3% of PC gamers in India spent more on games in Q1 2024 compared to the previous year, highlighting the growing interest in PC gaming. This trend is expected to continue into 2025, with PC gaming set to expand further in India.
Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer of CyberPowerPC India, said, “The focus will increasingly shift toward sustainability and personalization in gaming technology. Cloud gaming and AI-driven performance optimizations will also drive innovation, making gaming accessible to an even broader audience. CyberPowerPC is excited about further expanding its footprint in India, especially in emerging markets.”
With these exciting developments, 2025 promises to be a transformative year for India’s gaming and esports sector.
