HP Gaming Landscape Study 2023: India’s Gaming Industry is Seeing New Opportunities and Learning Initiatives

Highlights

• HP India Gaming Landscape Study 2023 shows a rise in serious gaming and career aspirations among Indian youth.
• Earnings from gaming increasing, with many gamers viewing it as a viable career path.
• Shift in parental perception towards gaming, growing acceptance as a full-time career.
• HP introduces ‘HP Gaming Garage’, offering free online courses in Esports management and game development.

The gaming industry in India is experiencing a significant transformation, as revealed by the HP India Gaming Landscape Study 2023.

This shift is not just in the number of gamers but also in the perception and opportunities within the gaming domain, particularly regarding career options and income potential.

Key Insights from the Study

• Demographics and Preferences: The study, covering 3,500 participants from 15 cities, indicates a diversifying gaming demographic. 75% of the participants are male, while an increasing number of females are engaging in serious gaming. The age group of gamers primarily falls between 15 and 34 years, showcasing the youth’s inclination towards gaming.
• Serious Gaming on the Rise: A notable trend is the shift towards serious gaming among the Gen Z population. This shift is driven by the aspiration to turn gaming into a lucrative career and the growing recognition of gaming as a professional field.
• Earnings and Career Aspirations: The study highlights that a significant portion of gamers (52%) view gaming as a potential career path. This perspective is more pronounced among PC gamers compared to mobile gamers. The earnings from gaming have been growing steadily, with an increasing number of gamers earning in higher income brackets compared to previous years. The report states that at least 40 percent of serious gamers are earning Rs 6-12 LPA.
• Parental Perception and the Gaming Industry: The growing industry and success stories in esports have led to a more positive perception of gaming among parents. While many still prefer gaming as a hobby for their children, there’s a growing acceptance of it as a part-time or even a full-time career.

“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. 

PC Gaming Takes the Lead

In terms of gaming devices, PCs have emerged as the preferred choice for 67% of gamers, trumping mobile phones.

Gamers are willing to invest an average of over Rs 1 lakh in a gaming PC, with better FPS and display quality being the primary reasons for this preference.

The Need for Structured Learning in Gaming

A significant finding of the study is the lack of awareness about formal gaming courses in India.

About 61% of gamers are unaware of such educational opportunities, relying predominantly on platforms like YouTube and peers for skill enhancement.

There is a growing demand for structured gameplay training, with 57% of respondents expressing a desire for such programs.

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.”

HP’s Initiative in Gaming Education

In response to the growing demand for structured gaming education, HP has introduced the ‘HP Gaming Garage.’

This free-of-cost online professional certificate program on Esports management and Game development, hosted on edX, aims to provide comprehensive learning modules in 12 languages, including English, Hindi, and Telugu.

This initiative is a significant step towards fostering a skilled gaming community in India.

FAQs

What demographic shifts are observed in the Indian gaming industry?

The Indian gaming industry, as per HP’s study, shows a diversifying demographic with 75% male gamers and a growing number of female gamers. The predominant age group is between 15 and 34 years, reflecting the youth’s strong interest in gaming.

How is PC gaming evolving in India?

PCs are the preferred gaming device for 67% of Indian gamers, with many willing to invest over Rs 1 lakh in gaming PCs. This preference is attributed to better FPS and display quality offered by PCs.

What is the HP Gaming Garage initiative?

HP Gaming Garage is an initiative by HP offering a free online professional certificate program in Esports management and game development. Hosted on edX, it provides modules in 12 languages to foster skill development in the Indian gaming community.

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