India Cloud Gaming Market Overview, 2030

Cloud gaming, sometimes referred to as gaming-as-a-service, is a technology that allows games to be hosted on distant servers and streamed straight to a user's device, doing away with the necessity for pricey gear. It gives players the ability to play demanding games on low-spec devices like smartphones, tablets, or entry-level laptops, provided that they have a reliable internet connection. Cloud gaming has great transformative potential in India, where mobile-first use and cost sensitivity are prevalent, since it can democratize access to gaming. Platforms are increasingly localizing material and experiences in an effort to attract the Indian gaming market. This includes incorporating local payment options (such as UPI and wallets), creating culturally relevant game plots or material, and providing games in regional languages. Businesses like JioGamesCloud are customizing their services to Indian users by providing reasonably priced subscription plans and onboarding games that appeal to the local market. In order to provide improved access and content customization, multinational companies such as Microsoft xCloud and NVIDIA GeForce NOW are also looking at partnerships with Indian telecom companies. However, the widespread use of the technology is still hampered by infrastructure constraints. Despite increasing internet penetration, especially outside tier-1 cities, many users still lack access to high-speed, low-latency connections. The barriers to seamless game streaming, which demands minimal latency and reliable bandwidth, are created by inconsistent 4G coverage, slow 5G deployment, and expensive data expenses. In addition, India has a restricted number of servers available, which frequently causes increased latency as a result of routing traffic via foreign data centers. Service dependability in rural or semi-urban locations is further hampered by power disruptions and the lack of edge computing infrastructure.

According to the research report, ""India Cloud Gaming Market Overview, 2030,"" published by Bonafide Research, the India Cloud Gaming market is expected to reach a market size of more than USD 1.52 Billion by 2030. A combination of domestic and international companies is leading the gradual shift in India's cloud gaming industry. Reliance Jio's gaming business, JioGamesCloud, is a prominent local player whose goal is to bring cloud gaming to the masses at a fair price. The business is actively testing beta services that let users stream high-end games across devices without needing expensive consoles or PCs by utilizing Jio's extensive 4G and up-and-coming 5G network. In the meanwhile, despite its limited presence in India due to latency and server location problems, NVIDIA GeForce NOW is still a well-known brand among tech-savvy players. Due to rising smartphone use and improved internet infrastructure, there is a significant potential for growth in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, where demand for mobile gaming is booming. These areas are untapped markets that are looking for affordable, hardware-agnostic gaming options. The affordability and versatility of cloud gaming may be the key to opening up demand for gaming outside of India's metropolitan centers. On the regulatory front, businesses are required to adhere to the laws established by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Additionally, cloud gaming services must adhere to digital transaction compliances, local data storage standards, and app store approvals. Although India does not yet have a regulatory authority devoted to gaming, increased worries about in-game purchases and user safety may result in more stringent regulation in the future. The emergence of inexpensive subscription bundles for games is the present trend in India's cloud gaming industry. Telcom’s and OTT companies are selling these packages, which combine gaming services with mobile data plans or entertainment subscriptions in an effort to appeal to frugal customers.

Due in large part to India's mobile-first digital economy, the smartphone and tablet sector dominates the market. The most popular way for people to play cloud games on mobile devices is through inexpensive Android devices and growing 4G and 5G networks. Gaming services such JioGamesCloud are actively optimizing their platforms for mobile devices, allowing users to stream console-quality games straight to their smartphones without the need for downloads or expensive hardware. Though not as common as mobile devices for cloud gaming, laptops and PCs remain popular in semi-urban and urban regions with greater broadband coverage. Due to their larger screen sizes and compatibility with peripherals, desktops and laptops are frequently preferred by players who love more immersive or competitive games. Platforms such NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Boo steroid may be utilized on regular PCs without the need for additional gear thanks to browsers and lightweight programs. The line between hardware and streaming services is gradually blurring with the introduction of cloud gaming capabilities in gaming consoles, albeit they are less popular due to their expensive upfront cost. For instance, Xbox Cloud Gaming allows users of consoles and non-consoles alike to access games from the cloud. In India, however, console gaming is still restricted due to financial limitations. Smart TVs, VR headsets, and portable gaming consoles are becoming extra access points under the others category. Smart TVs, especially those powered by Android, are becoming more compatible with cloud gaming apps, turning living rooms into gaming centers. Although there are still just a few VR headsets and portable cloud devices, such as the Logitech G Cloud, they are mostly only available to tech adopters and fans in metropolitan areas.

In India's expanding cloud gaming industry, streaming formats, such as File Streaming and Video Streaming, are crucial for determining the user experience and market fit. In India, cloud gaming is primarily powered by video streaming, where the gameplay is rendered on remote servers and streamed in real-time to the user's device, much like live video streaming. Because it does away with the requirement for pricey equipment and local game downloads, it's very popular in a market that's conscious of cost. By employing video streaming, services like NVIDIA GeForce NOW (limited rollout) and JioGamesCloud offer console-level performance on simple smartphones, laptops, and smart TVs. India's expanding fiber broadband connectivity and 5G deployment, particularly in metro and Tier-1 cities, are used by this strategy. The reliance of video streaming on a reliable, high-speed internet connection is, however, a barrier in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, where the quality of the internet might vary. File streaming provides a more robust solution in this instance. When streaming games, some game assets are downloaded and cached as you play, this helps to maintain a steady frame rate even when the connection is unstable. Although this approach needs some local storage and may result in higher latency than just streaming video, it offers a hybrid experience that strikes a balance between bandwidth efficiency and visual quality because file streaming lowers continuous data use, it is also more suited to areas where data costs are still a worry. Consequently, Indian businesses and mid-tier gaming platforms are investigating adaptive streaming technologies that combine both techniques depending on actual network performance. Smart switching between file streaming and video will be essential to improving the user experience and retaining users in India.

The majority of Indian gamers are in the casual category. These users are often very cost-conscious, like to play free-to-play mobile games, and favor brief gaming sessions. Cloud gaming is appealing to them because of its minimal barrier to entry, there is no requirement for pricey computers or consoles. This group is drawn to platforms like JioGamesCloud because they provide free trials, mobile-first interfaces, and easy installation. However, in places where the internet infrastructure is less robust, latency and buffering might be an issue because casual gamers may have a reduced tolerance for them. An expanding middle segment is made up of avid gamers. Generally speaking, they are more enthusiastic about gaming, prepared to pay for memberships, and frequently engage in online multiplayer games. This audience wants access to a large library of AAA games, minimal latency, and consistent performance. By offering loyalty rewards, localized material, and affordable membership packages, cloud gaming platforms are more and more focusing on this sector. Since they frequently bridge the gap between mobile and PC/console-style gaming, avid gamers are a crucial target for the development of cloud gaming. Although fewer in number, hardcore gamers have a significant impact on the direction of the market and demand immersive gameplay, high-end graphics, and minimal latency. While they usually favor specialized gaming rigs, a few are looking into cloud platforms for mobility and testing. It is probable that this market will embrace hybrid cloud-console versions and utilize cloud gaming to test out new games before buying the complete versions.

Considered in this report
• Historic Year: 2019
• Base year: 2024
• Estimated year: 2025
• Forecast year: 2030

Aspects covered in this report
• Cloud Gaming Market with its value and forecast along with its segments
• Various drivers and challenges
• On-going trends and developments
• Top profiled companies
• Strategic recommendation

By Device Type
• Smartphones & Tablets
• PCs & Laptops
• Gaming Consoles (Xbox Cloud, PS Now, etc.)
• Others (e.g., Smart TVs, VR headsets, portable gaming devices)

By Streaming Type
• Video Streaming
• File Streaming

By Gamer Type
• Casual Gamers
• Avid Gamers
• Hardcore Gamers

The approach of the report:
This report consists of a combined approach of primary as well as secondary research. Initially, secondary research was used to get an understanding of the market and listing out the companies that are present in the market. The secondary research consists of third-party sources such as press releases, annual report of companies, analyzing the government generated reports and databases. After gathering the data from secondary sources primary research was conducted by making telephonic interviews with the leading players about how the market is functioning and then conducted trade calls with dealers and distributors of the market. Post this we have started doing primary calls to consumers by equally segmenting consumers in regional aspects, tier aspects, age group, and gender. Once we have primary data with us we have started verifying the details obtained from secondary sources.

Intended audience
This report can be useful to industry consultants, manufacturers, suppliers, associations & organizations related to this industry, government bodies and other stakeholders to align their market-centric strategies. In addition to marketing & presentations, it will also increase competitive knowledge about the industry.