Market (Overall)·Updated Jun 25, 2026 by Lumikai
The Indian interactive media and gaming market reached a $3.8 billion valuation in FY24 and is projected to grow at a 20% CAGR to exceed $9.2 billion by FY29.
In-app purchase revenue grew 41% year-on-year, with the midcore segment serving as a primary growth driver after experiencing a 53% increase.
India’s gaming population has reached 590 million, including 148 million paying users who now spend an average of 13 hours per week gaming, a 30% increase from previous metrics.
The player demographic is increasingly diverse, with 44% of gamers being women and 66% residing in non-metro cities.
Real Money Gaming (RMG) faces margin compression and rising user acquisition costs due to recent GST regime changes, though 60% of RMG payers also spend money on midcore titles.
Digital payment adoption is near-ubiquitous among gamers, with 83% of users utilizing UPI or digital wallets for transactions.
The government has officially designated gaming as a 'sunrise sector' and integrated esports under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, establishing a clearer regulatory distinction between RMG and Free-to-Play titles.
The Indian interactive media and gaming market reached a $3.8 billion valuation in FY24 and is projected to grow at a 20% CAGR to exceed $9.2 billion by FY29.
In-app purchase revenue grew 41% year-on-year, with the midcore segment serving as a primary growth driver after experiencing a 53% increase.
India’s gaming population has reached 590 million, including 148 million paying users who now spend an average of 13 hours per week gaming, a 30% increase from previous metrics.
The player demographic is increasingly diverse, with 44% of gamers being women and 66% residing in non-metro cities.
Real Money Gaming (RMG) faces margin compression and rising user acquisition costs due to recent GST regime changes, though 60% of RMG payers also spend money on midcore titles.
Digital payment adoption is near-ubiquitous among gamers, with 83% of users utilizing UPI or digital wallets for transactions.
The government has officially designated gaming as a 'sunrise sector' and integrated esports under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, establishing a clearer regulatory distinction between RMG and Free-to-Play titles.