–The growth of the Esports industry is benefiting the Indian gamers’ community with diverse career opportunities and increased earnings, as per the HP India Gaming Landscape Study 2023. The study covering 3000gamers across 15 Indian cities, highlighted that along
with fun and relaxation, gamers are now drawn to gaming for earning money and recognition. The study for the first time covering 500 parents, also highlights a positive shift in parents’ attitudes towards gaming in the last few years.
“As India emerges as one of the top three PC gaming countries globally, we are committed to empowering and enabling gamers through constant innovation and cutting-edge tools. This study allows us to develop a deeper understanding of the gaming landscape and provides colour on the passion and aspirations of the gaming community”, said Ipsita Dasgupta, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, HP India market.
Income from Gaming on the rise: The earnings from gaming are growing in India as compared to 2022, with nearly half of serious gamers respondents claiming to earn -between 6 to 12 lakh per annum in 2023.
Roles Gamers are eyeing in the future: Sponsorships and Esports tournaments have emerged as significant income sources, showcasing the growing importance of the gaming community. The gaming industry in India is also helping gamers try their hands at various career options. Apart from being a gamer, the respondents indicated having eyes on being an influencer or esports management in the future.
Vickram Bedi, Senior Director, Personal Systems, HP India market said, “It is encouraging to see the esports industry growing and providing diverse career opportunities to gamers. We believe that Indian youth has the potential to not only make it big at global esports arena but also to tap on entrepreneurial opportunities in the industry. We, at HP, are introducing initiatives like HP Gaming Garage to help them grow and inspire the budding gamers.”
Parents’ perspective on gaming turning positive: The study reveals a positive shift in parent’s perspective towards gaming, with 42% of the respondents approving of gaming as a hobby. 40% of parents participating in the study admitted that their perception of gaming has turned positive in the last few years, mainly due to the growth of the industry.
However, concerns about the stability of a gaming career and the potential for social isolation persist among parents. The study shows parents have inadequate information -about gaming prospects in India, as 49% of them depend on friends & family for information.