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Journalism of Courage
HP India’s latest annual Gaming Study exploring the Indian gaming market reveals that earnings from gaming are steadily rising. Compared to 2022 statistics, nearly half of the “serious gamer” respondents this year claim they are raking in between Rs 6-12 lakh annually as of 2023.
Sponsorships and highly competitive esports tournaments have emerged as lucrative income streams for the country’s gaming talent. Beyond just gaming, players are also trying their hands at related careers like influencers or esports management roles.
Covering insights from 3,000 gamers across 15 major Indian cities, the study highlights the shifting public perception around gaming. Most noticeably, players are more motivated by money and recognition than ever before, with over a quarter of respondents citing money alone as their main motivation. However, entertainment and relaxation remain the dominant pull for most, with 74% of gamers still playing for fun as their main drive.
For the first time, the study also surveyed 500 parents to gauge their attitudes toward gaming. Results found a clear positive shift – 42% of parents now approve of gaming as a hobby and 40% directly admitted they’ve softened their stance on gaming over recent years as the industry has grown more mainstream.
However, some concerns linger among parents around the stability of gaming as a career and potential social isolation for their children, according to the study. 49% of parents still depend predominantly on sources like friends and family for insights on the gaming landscape.
Beyond the changing public opinions, gaming continues expanding geographically across India and is no longer restricted just to metro cities. Gaming also spans multiple demographics now, with 75% of Gen Z and 67% of millennial respondents identifying as “serious” gamers. A sizeable 58% of gaming women respondents play regularly.
Lastly, PC still remains the preferred platform for respondents, with 67% favouring PCs over phones. In fact, the average gamer is willing to invest over Rs 1 lakh for their ideal gaming PC setup, according to the study. This is in stark contrast to the reality where an overwhelming majority of gamers in India play on smartphones.
When asked about HP India’s efforts to support gamers who aspire to become esports players, influencers, or esports organisers, Vickram Bedi, Senior Director (Personal Systems), HP India told indianexpress.com: “We have launched the HP Gaming Garage, a no-cost online professional certificate program focused on esports management and game development. This initiative aims to provide gaming enthusiasts in India with access to carefully curated online modules covering esports management, game design, and game programming.”
He added that this program, hosted on edX, is available in 12 languages, including English, Hindi, and Telugu, and that it’s designed to promote continuous learning and skill development in the rapidly growing field of gaming.
Bedi also revealed that HP has opened Omen Playground stores across India where gamers can experience PC gaming free of cost and socialise with top gamers and upskill themselves.
