New Delhi: India’s gaming industry is poised for a record year, with the number of gamers projected to surpass 50 crore (500 million)* in 2025, according to a new report by market research firm Niko Partners. The study identifies India as the fastest-growing gaming market across Asia and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA), driven by the explosive rise of mobile gaming, esports participation, and a rapidly expanding base of paying players.
The report, titled India Gamer Behavior & Market Insights 2025, reveals that 95% of gamers in India play on mobile devices, reaffirming the country’s position as a mobile-first gaming economy. Battle Royale titles continue to dominate player preferences, with **40% of respondents* saying they plan to play such games multiple times over the next year.
A key trend highlighted in the report is the increasing participation of women in gaming, now accounting for 40% of India’s gamer population, up from 22% in 2020. Niko Partners attributes this growth to greater smartphone access, diversified content, and an increasingly inclusive gaming culture.
Esports remains a powerful growth engine, with 60% of Indian gamers engaging in competitive gaming—either as players, viewers, or participants in tournaments. This underscores how esports is cementing its place in India’s mainstream entertainment landscape.
On the revenue front, player spending is set to exceed $1 billion in 2025, with approximately 126 million (26.5%) gamers identified as paying players. The firm further forecasts that spending will reach $1.5 billion by 2028, as the total gamer base expands to 724 million by 2029.
When it comes to discovering new titles, social media (58.7%) remains the top source for gamers, followed by short video apps (46.6%) and influencers or streamers (45.3%)—reflecting the growing role of digital creators in shaping game discovery and engagement.
Niko Partners’ earlier regional report, released in June 2025, projected that the Asia and MENA regions will collectively host two billion gamers by 2029, with India emerging as a key contributor to the global gaming growth story.
