Niko Partners: India video games market exceeds $1bn, forecast to achieve $1.2bn by finish of 2026

India’s video games market exceeded $1 billion in income for the primary time in 2025, up 14.8% 12 months over 12 months to $1.04 billion.

According to Niko Partners, income is forecast to achieve virtually $1.2 billion and as much as $1.77 billion by 2030 – a five-year CAGR 11.2%.

The complete variety of gamers reached 511 million final 12 months. This determine is projected to exceed 550 million in 2026 and attain over 700 million by 2030. Female players now symbolize almost half of all gamers, up from 43% in 2023.

The foremost driver of elevated income and engagement was increased spending on cellular video games, supported by larger digital adoption and rising disposable incomes “among certain consumer segments.”

Monetisation for this phase “remains at an early stage,” based on the info agency, with common income per consumer (ARPU) reaching $2.04 in 2025 and forecast to rise to $2.52 by 2030.

Niko Partners additionally noticed that India’s gaming market is turning into extra numerous, with audiences exploring a broader vary of genres throughout platforms resembling PC and console.

Although smaller, these audiences drive engagement, offering publishers with the chance to develop past mainstream genres like battle royale and informal titles.

This development contains elevated user-generated content material, with platforms resembling Roblox and Minecraft gaining recognition amongst youthful Indian audiences.

Additionally, non-battle royale cellular video games captured a bigger share of market income, rising from 53.2% in June 2023 to 62.8% in June 2026.

Niko Partners predicts that these areas, together with elevated authorities help, rising esports participation, and expanded alternatives for publishers, will “shape India’s games market over the next five years.”

The agency additionally reported a shift in Indian audiences’ sentiment towards generative AI. Its findings point out that gamers “are becoming more cautious about how AI is being used by both developers and players.”

Niko Partners identifies financial issues, particularly concerning AI’s affect on employment, as a key issue.