KRAFTON’s Karan Pathak on India’s emergence as a hub for gaming & Esports in 2024

As we conclude another year, it is essential to reflect on the key developments, challenges, and achievements that have shaped different sectors throughout the past 12 months. The year 2024 has been marked by dynamic shifts, rapid innovation, and the continued adaptation to both external factors and emerging trends.

Adgully’s annual feature – REWIND – revisits different sectors and identifies the key developments as well gauges the long-term impacts of those developments. We speak to a cross-section of industry leaders to bring a 360-degree view of the industry landscape, the growth trends, financial performance, disruptions, innovations, challenges and more.

In this REWIND 2024 article, Karan Pathak, Associate Director of Esports, KRAFTON India, highlights the key developments that propelled the gaming industry in India in the year gone by…

Gaming and E-sports industry in India during 2024

The gaming and Esports industry in India is experiencing unprecedented growth in 2024, marked by dynamic changes in audience demographics, a surge in Esports players, increased advertiser interest, and expanding content distribution platforms. The Esports player base is projected to reach 1.5 million by 2027, underscoring the sector’s immense potential.

The gaming audience is also broadening, with Esports tournaments being regularly broadcast on television, transforming Esports into a widely recognized content genre that resonates with both younger and older audiences alike. Collaborations with global tech companies, lifestyle brands, and automobile brands in 2024 further highlight the cultural influence of gaming in mainstream entertainment and marketing.

These trends underscore India’s rapid emergence as a hub for gaming and Esports, with significant cultural and economic impacts. Indian players are increasingly showcasing their talent on the global stage through various tournaments. 2024 has been pivotal in opening up new career avenues and positioning India as a global leader in the gaming and Esports ecosystem.

Economy and the gaming/ E-sports sector

Increased digital adoption, improved internet access, and government support have significantly driven the growth of Esports in 2024. This year witnessed several state governments partnering to host Esports events, highlighting the increasing institutional recognition of gaming as a legitimate sport and career path. Notably, KRAFTON India signed an MoU with the Gujarat government to boost gaming and Esports in the state.

Furthermore, the International Olympic Committee’s decision to introduce the Olympic Esports Games in 2025 underscores the rising global stature of Esports, providing Indian talent with a world-class platform to showcase their skills.

Key trends and developments

The Indian gaming market is on a rapid growth trajectory, expected to cross $9.2 billion by FY29 with a 20% 5-year CAGR. In FY24, the country added 23 million new gamers, surpassing 590 million total gamers, while recording 15.2 billion game downloads, making it one of the world’s largest mobile gaming markets.  Additionally, the industry is poised to create up to 250,000 job opportunities by 2025, reflecting its expanding economic and cultural impact.

The rising interest in casual games has been a defining trend in 2024, with players gravitating toward accessible and engaging experiences. To cater to this growing demand, KRAFTON India recently launched CookieRun India, a casual runner game in collaboration with Devsisters with distinct Indian elements.

Additionally, the rise of homegrown games continues to gain momentum, bolstered by initiatives like the KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator, which nurtures local talent and fosters innovation in game development. As the industry evolves, we anticipate further diversification in Esports formats, making competitive gaming more inclusive and dynamic for players and audiences alike.

Major milestones achieved during the year

2024 has been a transformative year for KRAFTON India. With Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) exceeding 200 million downloads, Road to Valor: Empires sustaining its success, and Bullet Echo India joining the portfolio, we strengthened our commitment to delivering localized and immersive experiences. Looking ahead, we plan to launch 3-4 new titles in 2025 while bolstering India’s gaming ecosystem through initiatives like the KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator (KIGI) and strategic investments of over $140 million in Indian startups in the coming years. We recently launched our new game CookieRun India which is a casual runner game for the entire demography of the country.

In 2024, our flagship Esports tournament, the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGIS), concluded its third edition in Hyderabad in June. As India’s largest battle royale Esports tournament, BGIS has played a pivotal role in nurturing emerging Esports talent. This year, the event garnered an impressive 5.9 million hours of watch time on the KRAFTON India Esports YouTube channel, making it the third most-viewed Esports channel on the platform.

Additionally, our marquee tournament the Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series (BMPS), set new benchmarks with peak concurrent viewership surpassing 500,000. These achievements highlight KRAFTON India’s dedication to elevating the Esports ecosystem and engaging with the largest Esports audience in the country.

We also announced the Campus Tour Challenge, which is an esports tournament targeted towards colleges across the country. The tour, with a total prize pool of over Rs 2 crore, is bringing the excitement of Esports to college campuses, with each host college receiving over Rs 2 lakh from the prize pool. It offers students a platform to showcase their gaming skills while educating them about career opportunities in the growing Esports industry. Popular games such as Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Road to Valor: Empires, Bullet Echo India, and Real Cricket are featured throughout the tour, offering a platform for the next generation of gamers to showcase their skills.

Our core objective of this tournament is to enrich students’ exposure to the rapidly growing Esports scene, aligning with KRAFTON’s vision of driving Esports at the grassroots level. The tour, which began in August this year has already completed tournaments at several colleges, including IIT Delhi, IIT Kanpur, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology and KJ Somaiya College of Engineering, amongst others.

We also collaborated with the Paralympic Committee of India, further strengthening KRAFTON India’s commitment to supporting the growth of India’s sports ecosystem extending its support beyond Esports to traditional sports.

2024 has been a remarkable year for KRAFTON India, and we remain committed to advancing innovation, nurturing talent, and contributing to the growth of the gaming and sports ecosystems.

Also Read: KRAFTON signs an MoU with Gujarat Government