Inside India's esports boom: Why leagues, careers and homegrown IP matter more than ever
India's esports market is experiencing rapid growth, with mobile gaming revenue projected to reach $2.4 billion by 2029. The industry is shifting from standalone events to franchise-led models, supported by increased investment and clearer government distinctions between esports and online gambling.
Why it matters
The professionalization of Indian esports represents a significant shift in the country's digital economy and entertainment landscape.
NEW DELHI: If numbers alone were enough, India would already be one of the world's biggest esports markets. Around 600 million people now play games in the country. Mobile gaming (excluding real-money gaming) generated an estimated USD 1.1 billion in revenue through 2025 and is projected to grow to USD 2.4 billion by 2029.Nearly eight billion mobile games are downloaded every year. At the same time, the market has more than doubled its monetisation over the past five years, according to the India State of Play 2026 report by Naavik and MIXI Global Investments. India is also becoming one of the world's fastest-growing gaming markets.
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