By Sachin Mehta
Touted among the largest gaming countries in the world, India is poised for immense growth in the years to come. According to a Statista report, the Online Games market in India is projected to reach a revenue of US$1.47bn in 2024. Also the number of users in the Online Games market across the country is expected to reach 186.0m users by 2027. With a market size spread across age groups and from cities to rural India, the industry is poised for robust growth.
One definite concept that will rule the industry in 2024 is Cloud Gaming and this is set to change the gaming landscape completely. This eliminates the requirement of hardware and allows gamers to remotely access their games which can be the most liberating experience for any player. In 2024 as India embraces the 5G network in a big way, Cloud Gaming is set to transform the way people indulge in gaming. Players can now remotely access their games from anywhere and subscribe to a plethora of services.
Gamers across the country are fast growing in numbers and also the time spent in online gaming per user has increased extensively. The year 2024 is poised to see further penetration in the user base as well as people adapting to newer and more advanced games. Technological advancements have a big role to play in terms of making the games much more personalized and immersive. Advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and use of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) has enabled a high level of hyperlocalization which has made the games more popular and immersive. Each game is tailored as per the preferences and behavior patterns of each user, and this is only going to get better and more refined in years to come. The user experience has over the years improved manifold as users can now play their games across devices. AI and data analytics plays a big role in the growth of Online Gaming and 2024 will see huge advancements in this area.
Another trend that will revolutionize the Online gaming industry in 2024 is the integration of Non-Fungible Tokens for in-gaming assets. This allows gamers to finally own real assets. This has given gamers a great option to monetize their gameplay leading to a huge spike in the popularity of Online Games. Online Games such as Casinos, Poker and Esports have over the time gained much popularity. With the use of AI, Online Games have become safer in terms of monetary transactions. AI helps in tracking possibilities of fraudulent activities much in advance and is able to warn the gamers and well as game developers. This safety net has led to more people indulging in Online Games.
With technological enhancements, monetization of games, cloud gaming and innovations transforming the online gaming industry, 2024 is bound to be a revolutionary year for India and the world. And India with its ever growing gaming community is sure to be the trendsetter for the world to watch.
(The author is Sachin Mehta, Head PR, Babu88, and the views expressed in this article are his own)
