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Rooter and Indonesia GTA V Masters Championship (IGMC) has partnered with SoulCity, S8UL’s Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) arm to launch the premier edition of the Indian GTA V Rumble Invitational. 

Designed to enhance competitiveness, the format will create opportunities for the teams to display their skills through decisive face-offs.
 
Dipesh Agarwal, Co-founder and COO, Rooter discusses how Rooter's decision to introduce a battle-royale format for GTA in India stems from its strategic focus on providing distinctive content to gamers in India, particularly within the realm of esports.

Edited excerpts:

What inspired Rooter to introduce a battle-royale format for GTA (Grand Theft Auto) in India?

Rooter's decision to introduce a battle-royale format for GTA in India stems from its strategic focus on providing distinctive content to gamers in India, particularly within the realm of esports. By introducing a battle-royale format within GTA, Rooter aims to push the development of more competitive and engaging play opportunities and establish new intellectual properties for an immensely popular title like GTA. By collaborating with IGMC (Indonesia GTA V Masters Championship), which has successfully-tested this format in Indonesia and SoulCity, one of the leading GTA servers in the country, Rooter is leveraging the tournament conducting expertise and community outreach capabilities these partners bring to the table, even as Rooter provides a distinctive streaming experience to the fanbase. 

How does Rooter's initiative to introduce a battle-royale format for GTA contribute to the expansion of the esports ecosystem beyond popular titles like BGMI?

The Indian GTAV Rumble Invitational not only seeks to diversify the esports landscape but also reflects Rooter's commitment to exploring innovative avenues within the gaming industry to engage and entertain its audience. The GTA server's dynamics closely resemble those of a typical battle royale game, with teams dropping off players into intense combat situations, operating with all the exciting elements like first-person-shooter style gameplay, shrinking maps and more. This extension of a generic format to GTA represents an experimental step towards diversifying the esports landscape. 

What are the key objectives Rooter aims to achieve through the introduction of the battle-royale format for GTA, both in terms of community engagement and esports development? Can you elaborate on the advantages brands can gain from partnering with esports events, particularly highlighting the unique opportunities presented by GTA 5?

Rooter aims to achieve several key objectives through the introduction of the battle-royale format for GTA. Firstly, by adopting and fine-tuning this format, Rooter seeks to expand its market reach while creating opportunities for brand partners to engage with more games. We believe GTA’s compelling storytelling, rich graphics and gameplay experience that mimics the real world creates opportunities for consumer brands in fashion, auto, food and beverages, sportswear etc to find a fit with the GTA universe. It's early days for this edition but we’ve been working with a host of endemic and non-endemic brands driving brand sponsorships, influencer campaigns, brand advertising opportunities and more around esports and aim to lock more collaborations in this space.

How does Rooter plan to support and sustain the newly introduced battle-royale format for GTA, ensuring its longevity and success within the Indian gaming community?

As this is the first edition of the India GTAV Rumble Invitational, we will be closely monitoring the feedback from the esports teams as well as the reception to this format from the community. We will continue to develop more such tournaments across online and offline formats.

Rooter introduces battle-royale format for Grand Theft Auto in India

The Indian government is currently formulating a new National Broadcast Policy (NBP) with the aim of promoting growth and innovation in the media and entertainment space. In a bid to ensure a growth trajectory for the Indian online gaming segment, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has also added the sector to the policy proposal that is currently in the consultation stage. 



While stakeholders have already submitted their written comments on the paper, in an open meeting on May 15, they put together a strong argument seeking clarity. 



Koan Advisory’s Varun Ramdas for instance pointed out that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has not yet implemented self-regulatory organisations (SROs) for the online gaming industry and due to this delay, temporary measures should be taken to address the current situation. 



He also mentioned the need for clear distinctions between legal gaming operators who offer legitimate gammon service and over companies or brands who may be involved with illegal betting and gambling activities. 



Similarly, Shreya Pandey from business and management consulting firm Primus Partners India said, “Warnings and advisories have urged for advertisements to feature only permissible online real money games and without SRP's in place, this distinction between permissible and non permissible games is impossible. This issue should be addressed in the broadcast policy,” she said.



Lawyer and tech policy advisor and head at All India Gaming Federation (AIGF) said that verification process by the self regulated bodies is necessary. 



“The other major concern in the online gaming sector is that the users are not able to see which are safe, trusted games and which are not.here should be visible marks on each platform from which users can identify between legal and illegal gaming platforms,” he said. 



“Apart from the implementation of appropriate laws, it is also essential to provide the necessary impetus to the domestic gaming sector, and particularly to upcoming Indian game developers,’ AIGF has said in their response to the consolation paper on the subject. 



There are other issues too raised by stakeholders. 



For instance, The Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports in their written submission to TRAI on the consultation paper they had recommended avoiding regulatory overlap between the IT Rules and the National Broadcasting Policy.



“The amended IT Rules have been drafted following extensive stakeholder consultations, and incorporate principles aimed at fostering an open, safe, transparent, and accountable online gaming environment. In light of the promulgation of these Rules, the MeiTY is best positioned to effectively govern, administer, and regulate the online gaming industry in India through the said Rules,” they had said. 



Thus, at present, according to the body, the pressing requirement is the operationalisation of the amended IT Rules, in harmonisation with such regulatory measures and in furtherance of the broader goals of user safety, transparency, disclosure and integrity in online gaming. 



As per their recommendation, in addition to the current three-tier regulatory structure specified in the IT Rules, MeitY may consider adopting regulatory models that include a three-tier regulatory framework akin to Over-The-Top (OTT) platforms, introducing a registration mechanism mandating all online gaming intermediaries to register with MeitY or any other regulatory framework which may be deemed appropriate by MeitY.



According to industry reports, the online gaming community in India comprised of 42.559 crore gamers in FY 2023, which was second largest after China.From FY20 to FY23, the online gaming segment in India experienced a CAGR of 28 percent culminating in a market size of Rs16,428 crore in FY23. It is suggested that it will reach Rs 33,243 crore in FY28, at a 15 percent CAGR.


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Sony Group Corporation and Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), the company behind PlayStation, announced the new leadership structure of SIE, following the departure of CEO Jim Ryan. Effective June 1, 2024, Hideaki Nishino will be appointed CEO of SIE’s Platform Business Group, and Hermen Hulst will be appointed CEO of SIE’s Studio Business Group. Hiroki Totoki, who has been serving as interim CEO of SIE, will serve as Chairman of SIE in addition to his role as President, COO and CFO of Sony Group Corporation. Nishino and Hulst will report to Totoki and intend to collaborate closely to strengthen each core business while maximizing synergies at SIE.

“Sony Interactive Entertainment is a dynamic and growing business that delivers incredible entertainment experiences through the connection of content and technology. These two leaders will have clear responsibilities and will manage strategic direction to ensure the focus remains on deepening engagement with existing PlayStation users and expanding experiences to new audiences,” said Hiroki Totoki, Interim CEO, Sony Interactive Entertainment, President, COO and CFO, Sony Group Corporation.

Nishino is currently SVP, Platform Experience Group, and leads the team responsible for developing the experiences and technology within PlayStation products and services. The Platform Experience Group pushes the boundaries of play in many ways, including the innovations in PlayStation 5, the immersiveness of PlayStation VR2, and connecting millions of people on PlayStation Network. In his new capacity as CEO of the Platform Business Group, Nishino will continue to be responsible for technology, products, services, and platform experience. He will also oversee third party publisher and developer relations and commercial operations, including sales and marketing of hardware, services, and peripherals.

“We will continue to connect players and creators through world-class products, services, and technology. We always strive to grow our community even bigger with innovation in every area at Sony Interactive Entertainment,” said Hideaki Nishino, SVP, Platform Experience Group. “I am honored to be appointed such an important role alongside Hermen. By working more closely together, we will be positioned to build incredible experiences for an ever-expanding audience now and in the future.”

Hulst is currently serving as SVP and Head of PlayStation Studios, and responsible for developing content across many devices including PlayStation consoles and PCs and bringing video game IP to new mediums such as film and television through PlayStation Productions. The PlayStation Productions team is working on several game adaptations and developed the Emmy award winning television series, “The Last of Us,” an adaptation from an award winning game. In his new role as CEO of the Studio Business Group, Hulst will be responsible for the development, publishing, and business operations of SIE’s first party-content.

“I am thrilled to lead the studio business group and continue to build on our success with PlayStation 5, while preparing for the future,” said Hermen Hulst, SVP, Head of PlayStation Studios. “The video game industry is one of the largest entertainment industries in the world and has been built on the marriage of content and technology, and I look forward to continuing to push the boundaries of play and entertainment.”


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Sony restructures leadership of games business; PlayStation gets Hideaki Nishino and Hermen Hulst as new CEOs

In a strategic move, Pravis, established by ex-Momspresso founder Vishal Gupta and Prashant Sinha, has acquired a significant stake in StreamO, an ad-tech gaming platform. This venture is set to explore the substantial business potential of the rapidly growing gaming sector, particularly in engaging the GenZ demographic.

StreamO, founded by Tushaar Garg in 2021, is at the forefront of connecting brands with gamers and their live watchers, reaching a vast network of over 20,000 gamers and a GenZ subscriber base exceeding 300 million. With global game video content on platforms like YouTube reaching 120 billion hours of viewership in 2022 and India's consumption rates doubling the global average, the opportunities for brand engagement are immense and largely untapped, highlighted the company.

Following their exit from Momspresso to Honasa (Mamaearth), Gupta and Sinha leveraged their experience to create Pravis, a growth marketing firm. Now, as co-founders of StreamO, they are poised to bring their deep insights from building internet products and influencer relationships to the forefront of the gaming industry, stated the company.

Vishal Gupta, co-founder of StreamO, comments on the unique challenge presented by the GenZ audience, "Gaming presents an unprecedented opportunity to reach the GenZ audience, a demographic that is notoriously difficult to engage through traditional media. With StreamO, we are positioned uniquely to leverage the explosive growth of live gaming platforms and the passionate GenZ communities they nurture. Tushaar is one of the thought leaders in the gaming space in India and we are delighted to partner with him in this journey."


Prashant Sinha, also co-founder, reflects on his experience and future plans, "Drawing from our learnings from Momspresso's MyMoney platform, we understand the dynamics of micro-influencer and brand interactions very well. With StreamO, we aim to apply these insights to expand and deepen our brand engagements by 10X in the next 12 months. StreamO's innovative methods are in perfect alignment with Pravis’ vision for the future of this industry and we are excited about the possibilities this partnership with Tushaar opens up."


Tushaar Garg, founder and chief executive officer of StreamO, highlights the company’s achievements and upcoming goals, "StreamO has already set a benchmark in the gaming community by fostering authentic connections between brands and gamers. With the addition of Vishal and Prashant, we are excited to propel this success to new heights. Their expertise in influencer marketing and strategic brand partnerships will be instrumental in accelerating our growth and business."


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Pravis acquires a stake in StreamO, an ad-tech gaming platform

The gaming industry pulsates with the energy of vibrant communities and gamers hailing from diverse backgrounds. Young demographics in regions like South Asia, the Middle East, and LATAM, fueled by a mobile gaming boom, represent a goldmine for brands seeking passionate and engaged audiences. But traditional
advertising, in this crowded arena, often struggles to forge a connection. Here's where fostering trust and commitment within micro-communities emerges as the ultimate game-changer for brand growth, and leveraging Web3 and blockchain technology can be the key to unlocking its full potential.

Take the example of a brand selling high-performance mobile gaming peripherals. Instead of a scattershot advertising approach, what if they built a thriving community of mobile esports enthusiasts? Within this space, players strategize, share tips and celebrate victories. This is where the brand steps in—not as a hawker, but as a trusted ally. By offering valuable insights and showcasing products designed for the specific needs of this micro-community, the brand fosters trust—the bedrock of a lasting relationship.

Gaming communities provide brands with a reach not limited by geographical boundaries — this presents a unique opportunity for brands. Engaging with these
micro-communities fosters a deeper understanding of gamer preferences and purchasing habits across demographics. This knowledge then fuels the creation of
targeted campaigns and products that resonate with a broader audience.

Here's where the magic happens. By nurturing a thriving micro-community, brands tap into the power of the network effect. As the community grows and thrives, it attracts even more members, further amplifying brand awareness and engagement. This creates a self-perpetuating flywheel – the more the community benefits from the brand, the more invested they become, leading to organic promotion and advocacy.

Community members become vocal supporters, sharing positive experiences and recommending products to their peers, further accelerating brand growth.
The future of community building in gaming lies in leveraging Web3 and blockchain technology. By default, gaming communities are driven by a collective of people, just like in blockchains and web3. By virtue of this similarity, it’s intuitive for the gaming community to rely on behaviours and tools that augment the collective ethos rather than a centralised ethos. By offering unique incentives and rewards through secure and transparent mechanisms, brands can further strengthen their commitment to the community. Exclusive in-game items represented as NFTs, or tournaments with on- chain prizes will serve as unique and personalised rewards. These newer avenues not only excite the community but also foster a sense of ownership and value within
the brand ecosystem.

While initial investments in community building may seem daunting, the return on investment (ROI) is immense in the long run. It&#39;s not just about immediate sales. By building a strong community, brands not only save on marketing costs but also drive retention and shoot up the lifetime value of a community member. Traditional advertising struggles to achieve this.

The gaming industry thrives on a sense of community. This approach not only drives sales but also cultivates dedicated brand advocates who communicate brand messages with unwavering commitment.

So here’s the winning formula for brands in this ever-evolving world of gaming— build genuine connections, create tailor-made experiences for micro-communities and use Web3 technology advantageously to achieve sustainable growth and imprint your presence in the hearts and minds of gamers.

The author of the piece is Ishank Gupta, Elder Member Council, Kratos Gaming Network. Views expressed are personal.

Forge new pacts: How community building and micro-communities drive growth in gaming

India is not exempt from the global trend of gaming becoming a legitimate industry. Over the years, analysts have observed a sharp increase in the number of gamers in the Indian market. It is also expected that by the year 2025, the value of the industry will be three times as to what it is today. India has always been about gaming. The unexpected surge in the gaming industry within the country took everyone by surprise. However, there were a lot of factors behind this surge including a young population, increase in the number of smartphone users and the pandemic. Online games became an important source of entertainment during the lockdown, therefore it can be said that the pandemic had the largest impact. 

The global gaming market is currently valued at over 245 billion, much more than movies and music industry. And the sheer size of the market tells us how many vast the opportunities are present. From being a developer to a marketeer, to being an esports athlete and beyond, the gaming industry offers a multitude of career opportunities in diverse fields. The range of roles is very vast. India has an advantage over other countries in terms of talent involved in gaming and is also well-equipped with the technological know-how. When it comes to animation and game development, India seems to have provided a sizable cost advantage as compared to other nations. 

Making a career out of gaming is a viable and rewarding endeavor, irrespective of your gaming experience or the skill sets that you bring. In this everchanging environment, women are not far away. Even they have joined the workforce, following their passion and aspiration. They are known to change the whole narrative of the gaming industry by becoming a part of this one upon a time - male dominated industry.

Career in the gaming industry does not only restrict itself to playing games. It is much more than that. There are a variety of roles that one can take if they are passionate about the gaming industry. A developer is known to help develop the application. The product managers help to ideate and strategize about the gaming product. The finance team helps to manage the budget and Profit and Loss (P&L). Operation team runs the day to day tasks. Marketeers, social media and community managers help to scale and promote the product. Networking helps to open up various possibilities in this field and also help in supporting the growth of the career. The roles are similar to any other category or any other traditional company and the opportunities to grow are endless today. 

Besides the above mentioned roles, a gaming industry also offers roles and opportunities like a content creator, streamer, an esports athlete and even a caster and much more. All it takes is passion unlike any other industry and the right set of guidance. There are multiple universities abroad and even a few in India offering various courses and specializations in the field of gaming. Success in the gaming industry is also dependent on ongoing learning. This is a rapidly growing industry. It is not only advantageous but also important to stay up to date with the latest technological innovations. 

Adopting a lifelong learning mindset is the key to success and makes one an indispensable resource in this ever-growing field of gaming. By accepting these challenges and seeing them as chances of personal development, anyone can prosper in this exciting and fast-paced sector. This rewarding and successful career path is available to everyone with a penchant for creativity, a love for gaming and the flexibility to learn and develop. The future appears to be bright for those who wish to enter the burgeoning gaming industry, given the rise and ongoing development of new game genres such as cloud and internet gaming. 

In conclusion, given the fastpaced development, financial stability, job security, the gaming industry appears to be a great choice for people looking for a career. 

The author of the article is Nauman Mulla, Co-Founder & COO, STAN, a gaming community startup. Views expressed are personal.

Booming gaming industry: Building a career in gaming

S8UL, an Esports organization has partnered with KRAFTON, the creators of the popular battle royale game - Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), for the official launch of their latest game, Bullet Echo India.

Bullet Echo India is a multiplayer PvP tactical top-down shooter game, that invites players to form teams, devise strategies, and engage in adrenaline-fueled battles to emerge as the last team standing, similar to a battle royale. 

S8UL's lineup of renowned creators, including Mortal, Scout, Regaltos, Snax, JokerKiHaveli, PayalGaming, KaashPlays, and others, will create engaging content for their YouTube audiences during the official launch of Bullet Echo India. This collab is a mark of how S8UL and KRAFTON are always working together for bringing more life to the gaming experience in India. 

They had also collaborated for the launch of ‘Road to Valor : Empires’ early last year. Lokesh Jain aka 8Bit Goldy, Co-Founder of S8UL, expressed his enthusiasm by stating, “We are delighted to partner with KRAFTON for the launch of Bullet Echo India, as this gives us another chance to bring new & enriching gaming experience to the community. With KRAFTON's expertise and our deep understanding of the Indian gaming community, we are confident that Bullet Echo India will excite players across the country. I also look forward to it opening new avenues for esports athletes trying to make a mark in the competitive landscape”

Developed by KRAFTON in collaboration with ZeptoLab, Bullet Echo India is designed to captivate the Indian gaming community. Since its soft launch on April 4, the game has rapidly ascended to the top of the charts on the Google Play Store, showcasing its immense popularity among Indian gamers.

“We are excited to join forces with S8UL for our Bullet Echo India. S8UL's innovative approach has consistently set them apart, and their synergy is perfectly aligned with KRAFTON to deliver an unparalleled gaming experience that fans have been eagerly anticipating,” said Anuj Sahani, India Publishing Advisor and Head of KRAFTON India Incubator Programme.

“The partnership between S8UL and KRAFTON for Bullet Echo India showcases our credibility and equity in the industry. As a player, I am particularly excited about the prospect of introducing Indian gamers to a unique gaming experience, offering a perfect blend of strategic gameplay and action-packed battles. I believe it is a must-play title for every gaming enthusiast and will make a significant impact in the Indian gaming market,” commented Tanmay Singh aka ScoutOP, an ex-Esports athlete who is currently a gaming creator of S8UL.

With S8UL’s Co-Founder Animesh Agarwal (8Bit Thug), alongside its creators PayalGaming, and Mortal recently engaging in a groundbreaking discussion with the honorable Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, about the Esports industry, the organization continues to make waves for the development of the community. Their partnership with KRAFTON serves as a testament to their efforts to propel the growth of the Esports sector in India.

According to the FICCI-EY report titled '#Reinvent: India’s media & entertainment sector is innovating for the future,' shooting games hold a prominent position in India, generating substantial in-app purchase revenues. Also, the rising popularity of gaming influencers has contributed to the expansion of the gaming ecosystem, attracting new cohorts of players.


S8UL partners with KRAFTON to launch multiplayer game Bullet Echo India

International Creators Day celebrated on April 23rd each year, honours individuals who create art, literature, technology, and facets of human endeavor through their creativity. Today, creators are shaping the world around us; these custodians of culture bring their unique insights into our lives in more ways than one. 

Payal Gaming aka Payal Dhare is one such creator. In March, this year, Dhare won the “Gaming Creator of the Year” award. Lat year, she won the Dynamic Gaming Creator of the Year award last year. She also received the title of Female Streamer of the Year. 

One often overlooked factor within the online gaming ecosystem in India is the statistics involving female gamers. A report that surveyed 2317 respondents found that almost 41 percent of the gamers in India were women. Notably, these gamers are not exclusively from the metro or Tier 1 Indian cities but from smaller Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. The online gaming space is also claimed by Indian women from smaller towns. In a chat with Storyboard18, Dhare talks about scarcity of female role models in the gaming industry and more.

First of all, how was it meeting with PM Narendra Modi? How do you think the government can help shape the gaming industry?

Meeting with PM Modi was an incredible honor and a once-in-a-lifetime experience. It felt surreal to be in his presence and discuss prospects for female gamers in India which made my journey so much more worthwhile. I realised that he is a great listener, and perfectly paraphrased the difference between esports & gaming content creation, something we now hope everyone will be able to understand. His vision for game development in India around Indian culture, and environmental issues enabling the right infrastructure at the grassroots level and integrating esports into the educational curriculum across schools and colleges throughout the country is is something I felt very strongly about and I hope it helps take Indian games to the global stage.


Do you aspire to transition into entrepreneurship, following the footsteps of many creators who have ventured into business?

I have not mapped out any definitive long-term plans but I am open to embracing significant opportunities as they arise. Currently, I operate ThriftXPayal, my clothing thrift store, a venture I'm committed to sustaining. However, regardless of what else I pursue, I will always stay involved in gaming and content creation, as they are my true passions.

How do you currently monetize your content, and what strategies have been most effective for you in generating revenue?

Creators have diverse revenue streams that collectively ensure sustained viability of content creation as a career. There are various avenues to monetize your content, such as YouTube ad revenue, channel memberships, Super Chat, donations while streaming, merchandise sales, and brand collaborations. Brands, both endemic and non-endemic, are increasingly seeking collaborations with creators to reach their target audience, who faithfully follow our content and streams.

What are your future plans and aspirations in terms of expanding your brand and presence in the digital space?

Currently, my sole focus is on curating innovative and relatable content that contributes to the growth of my organization, S8UL. However, my ambition is to utilize my passion for gaming and content creation to make a positive impact in the digital sphere. I aim to address the scarcity of female role models in the gaming industry and inspire young girls to pursue their dreams of a full-time career in gaming and content creation.

What was YouTube's role in your journey as a creator?

YouTube offers creators an array of tools and features that streamline content creation and amplify visibility. It serves as a platform for breaking stereotypes and empowering female gamers like me to thrive in the traditionally male-dominated gaming industry. The introduction of games on the platform called 'YouTube Playables' widened avenues for gaming creators, enabling them to engage with a broader audience, including those not actively seeking gaming content but open to exploration within the platform. 

What would you like to advise to budding creators?

To aspiring creators, I advise embracing challenges as stepping stones to progress. Stay committed, consistent, and always be yourself, as authenticity connects with people. To fellow young women starting their creative journeys, stay courageous and resilient. With dedication and persistence, you can turn your dreams into realities.

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International Creators Day: Payal Gaming on the scarcity of female role models in gaming industry

In terms of funding greener initiatives, a lot remains to be done in India. Playing for the Planet and UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE) published a Green Games Guide, which addresses how gaming companies across the board can reduce their carbon footprint and collectively achieve their climate goals. The call for action highlights the importance for the industry to act together to meaningfully limit their emissions. Indian studios and large developers should start measuring their own carbon footprints, while simultaneously funding products, projects and initiatives that help the environment. 

One of the ways for the industry to do this would be by setting a common emissions commitment for 2030, adding “call to action” features to their games as well as participating in and sponsoring global climate events such as Conference of the Parties (COP), as per the India Gaming Report 2024 by Interactive Entertainment and Innovation Council and Winzo.

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To establish India as a global gaming superpower, it’s essential to support the Indian startups and companies to compete at the global level. As per the report, this support can come with a dedicated focus on IP creation and protection to ensure that innovative ideas are safeguarded. To unleash the full potential of India’s entrepreneurial talent, the nation must align with global standards in policy and framework. 

Providing incubation and accelerator programs for entrepreneurs is another critical component of this strategy that will offer them the resources and guidance needed to thrive in the competitive gaming industry. The talent pool, relentless innovation, increasing foreign investments, and a vibrant startup ecosystem indicates presence of a high potential sector. The right and progressive policy support can contribute to the India growth story and ensure that the country becomes a center of innovation and job creation for the global gaming industry.

Unlocking India’s gaming potential by investing in its workforce: Gaming has the potential to become India’s next growth frontier offering high employment opportunities for the youth. India can further unlock its vast gaming potential through strategic investment in workforce development. Consider this, despite being a nascent industry, the gaming ecosystem in India has shown appetite for innovation, job creation and attracting investments. The nation can identify and nurture individuals by introducing separate scholarship programs for skills that feed into the gaming ecosystem - designers, developers, cybersecurity specialists, among others. 

Furthermore, fostering knowledge transfer from the global gaming community through academia is crucial for staying updated with the industry trends. Vocational training programs and executive courses for the existing workforce can equip professionals with the skills needed for the industry’s rapid growth. Global gaming clusters in the US, China, Germany, and Australia, among others, were created and sustained through both public and private support for talent development. These measures can propel India into a prominent position on the global gaming stage, nurturing talent and innovation.

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Promoting research & development: Given the immense job creation potential and contribution to economic activity by the online gaming industry, research and development (R&D) in gaming has started attracting attention from the Indian and global gaming ecosystem. Promotion of R&D in the field of gaming will embellish India’s role in the global gaming ecosystem. To accelerate this, India can establish specialized undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs focusing on game design, development, and technology. T

These programs will not only foster expertise in areas such as AI and 3D design but also provide a structured pathway for students to become specialists in these fields. Additionally, offering career guidance and recruitment support will ensure that these gaming experts find fulfilling and impactful roles in the ever evolving world of gaming. This can be achieved through already proposed Center of Excellence, state policies on AVGC, and close collaboration among industry, government, and academia.

Making India a global hub for investments in gaming: The emerging business models and a thriving gaming community is making India a global hub for investments in gaming. India’s growing presence in the sector will disrupt the global gaming ecosystem for good. To ensure that India continues to disrupt the global gaming market and attract investments, we need to strike a delicate balance between fiscal interests and responsible entrepreneurship in the country. 

In the years to come, enhanced innovation, job creation, and direct and indirect tax revenues can only be achieved through a conducive business friendly environment. Moreover, ensuring predictability in the long-term policy framework is essential, as it instils confidence in global investors and will encourage them to invest in India’s gaming industry. By offering an encourages policy environment, India can attract substantial investments and solidify its position as a major player in the global gaming arena.

Right tools to safeguard the interests of the youth: Safeguarding the youth in the digital age is paramount, and India must outline and enforce the delineation of responsibilities among stakeholders for their protection. To address this concern, modern and advanced provisions are imperative. 

India should develop robust regulations that align with contemporary challenges to ensure the protection of children and young people in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. These provisions should encompass online safety, digital literacy, and cybersecurity, reflecting the digital challenges and opportunities of today. By establishing a comprehensive framework, India can foster a safer and more secure environment for its youth, enabling them to explore the digital world with confidence and resilience

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Can India’s online gaming sector can realize potential with policy support?

The intersection of digital gaming and sustainability is gradually becoming an area of responsibility from an area of interest for gaming companies, developers, and gamers alike. Loosely dubbed as “internet pollution”, online gaming contributes to 3.7 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. That being said, the nascent nature of the online gaming sector gives it the opportunity to address these issues in the long run by starting early, contributing to the national targets, and setting formal emissions targets and climate goals, stated the India Gaming Report 2024 by Interactive Entertainment and Innovation Council and Winzo. It is also pertinent to note that such responsible standards for gaming can make the Indian gaming cluster more attractive for global consumers and investors alike.

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At the global level, agencies like the United Nations (UN) are leveraging the dynamic game community for initiatives like “Playing for the Planet Alliance”. Playing for the Planet is an alliance that supports the online gaming industry in taking action to reduce its environmental impact.

To combat their overall carbon emissions, the gaming community is focusing on transforming, both the game development process and game play, into a greener venture while also creating environmental awareness. Industry players such as Sony and Guerilla Games have started initiatives like “Plant and Play” wherein trees are planted as part of game achievements for games like “Horizon Forbidden West”.68 At the global level, agencies like the United Nations (UN) are also leveraging the dynamic game community for initiatives like “Playing for the Planet Alliance”. 

Playing for the Planet is an alliance that supports the online gaming industry in taking action to reduce its environmental impact. By joining the Alliance alongside the UN Environment Program (UNEP), gaming companies (console and online) and gaming studios have made specific and measurable commitments towards reducing carbon emissions, integrating green activations in games, and supporting the global environmental agenda. They aim to do this through coordinated action through annual events such as the Green Game Jam (GGJ), which brings together the gaming ecosystem to incorporate “green activations” within their games as part of fundraising and awareness.70 Such initiatives not only engage larger audiences and create awareness, but also offer a chance to explore new avenues of game development via “green nudges” as well.

Green Innovations in Game Development

Game design itself can also be a powerful tool to drive significant change at the intersection of gaming and sustainability. Alongside in-game based donations, companies can also aim to streamline their corporate funding to assist with climate sensitive initiatives. Industry actors such as Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are aiming for ambitious environmental goals in order to address their carbon footprint. Sony is aiming for zero environmental footprint by 2050 whereas Microsoft is planning to be carbon negative by 2030.71 Studios are aiming to do this by implementing environmentally conscious products and services with regular monitoring and compliance with formal standards. Due to gaming’s (console and online) reliance on data centers which are known to be carbon intensive, the industry realizes the importance of coming up with innovative methods to reduce their carbon footprint.

In India, given the size of the online gaming industry, it is important for industry leaders to collaborate with each other and collectively address their carbon impact by streamlining investments in greener initiatives such as the GGJ. Additionally, players also need to be made aware of the issues of climate change. The way developers can address this is by creating environmentally focused games. One such 2D puzzle-based game is Samudra, which takes players across an adventure in a polluted sea to uncover truths about “surface-dweller” actions causing deepsea pollution.72 The game also offers opportunities to make offline contributions to various environmentally conscious causes and funds. This combination of in-game education coupled with offline donation practices makes the game an interactive yet impactful product that’s fun to play while creating positive change.

Gaming for Climate: Industry-Driven Initiatives

In terms of funding greener initiatives, a lot remains to be done in India. However, given the size of the industry and the diversity of online gaming companies and studios, the outlook is positive. Embracing global standards can be a good starting point for India. Playing for the Planet alongside UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE) published a Green Games Guide which addresses how gaming companies across the board can reduce their environmental footprint and collectively address their climate goals. The call for action highlights the importance for the industry to act together to meaningfully address their emissions. Indian studios and large developers would do well to start measuring their own carbon footprints, while simultaneously funding products, projects and initiatives that help the environment. A great way for industry to do this would be to target a common emissions commitment by 2030, add “call to action” features to their games while also participating in and sponsoring global climate events such as Conference Of Parties (COP) for the climate agreements.

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