Sandhya Devanathan on gaming as key to India’s $1 tn digital economy

At the 2024 Indian Gaming Convention in New Delhi, Sandhya Devanathan, Meta's Vice President and India Head, delivered a speech, highlighting India's rapid digital growth and identifying the gaming industry as a crucial factor in the nation's transformation into a $1 trillion digital economy. She began by acknowledging India's vast potential and shared personal experiences that shaped her view of gaming's significance.

Devanathan mentioned two key moments before she assumed her current role that earned her the status of "cool mom" with her son. First, her work in gaming within the Asia-Pacific region gave her significant bragging rights, especially with her son, who is now 16. Second, she spoke about how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, gaming helped keep her family connected across India and the U.S., illustrating the role of gaming in fostering human connection—a core value for Meta.

She expressed Meta's excitement for the gaming sector's future, seeing it not just as entertainment but also as a crucial contributor to economic growth. With India poised to become an $8 trillion economy, $1 trillion of which will be backed by digital advancements, Devanathan threw a light on gaming's significant role. She noted that out of India's 820 million internet users, 400 million engage in gaming—a number projected to double, driving employment and economic growth.

By 2028, India's gaming ecosystem is expected to encompass 700 million gamers, generate 300,000 jobs, and produce $8 billion in revenue. Meta views gaming as integral to its mission of connecting people and fostering innovation.

Devanathan outlined three ways Meta contributes to the gaming ecosystem:

1. Platform Innovation: Offering tools and platforms to nurture creativity.
2.Empowering Communities: Supporting strong gaming communities on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, helping developers succeed.
3. Delivering Value:  Providing gaming companies, both large and small, with the best resources to sustain growth.

She emphasized Meta’s role in helping gaming companies expand their reach through platforms like Facebook and Quest, as well as its recent launch of the Meta Quest 3, which has already seen strong sales. Meta’s audience network boosts in-app purchases and ads, and its AI tools have been pivotal in expanding the reach of gaming companies. She further noted that AI has been central to the gaming industry and that Meta's platforms help partners unlock its full potential.

Devanathan also highlighted Meta's commitment to building communities, citing the success of gaming agency 8bit, and Meta’s efforts to promote gender diversity and inclusion in the gaming world.

She concluded by discussing Meta's role in driving business outcomes for gaming companies through popular features like Reels, WhatsApp for business messaging, and AI discovery tools. AI, she noted, is transforming game development and user engagement, with Meta’s open-source AI models and tools like Meta Movie Maker leading the way in AI-powered gaming innovation.

In closing, Devanathan reaffirmed Meta's dedication to supporting the gaming industry through AI advancements, community building, and business growth.