We’re poised to redefine the gaming experience with immersive gameplay: Harshit Jain

In the realm of gaming, where innovation knows no bounds, OnePlay seeks to reshape the landscape of cloud gaming in India. In this interaction with Adgully, Harshit Jain, Co-Founder and CEO, OnePlay, speaks about the genesis of OnePlay, its transformative impact on the gaming industry, and the exciting prospects of cloud gaming.

Could you tell us about the inspiration behind founding OnePlay? What motivated you to create a platform that offers a diverse range of games on one secure platform?

The cloud gaming market in India has grown dramatically, owing to reasons like accessible internet, affordable cell phones, and the advent of mobile gaming, particularly during the COVID-19 period. The main inspiration for us was to address the growing demand by offering an affordable choice to all gaming enthusiasts.

OnePlay fills a critical market gap by providing a low-cost alternative for gamers to enjoy high-quality gaming without the need for expensive equipment/hardware. With the upcoming 5G rollout and the exciting prospects of 6G technology, we’re poised to redefine the gaming experience with fast speeds and immersive gameplay.

How has the gaming landscape in India evolved since the inception of OnePlay in 2019? What trends have you observed in terms of user engagement and preferences?

The cloud industry itself provides numerous prospects for innovation and expansion in the gaming industry. Cloud gaming platforms' accessibility and cost appeal to a diverse spectrum of players, including casual gamers and those in areas with limited access to traditional gaming hardware. However, technological improvements like 5G networks and edge computing provide chances to improve the performance and reliability of cloud gaming platforms, hence driving the market growth.

Considering India’s young gaming population and the combination of cloud gaming with esports, live streaming, and blockchain technology, OnePlay not only meets present needs, but also anticipates future trends. The cloud gaming market is predicted to reach $20.08 billion by 2027, and OnePlay is well-positioned to drive this expansion.

OnePlay aims to provide effortless and cost-effective gaming to Indian users. Can you elaborate on how your platform addresses the challenges faced by gamers, such as hardware limitations and pricing barriers?

When it comes to online gaming, whether for individuals or groups, gamers face several challenges, including high hardware costs, no cross-platform support, device storage issues, multiplayer games are not possible if a family member or friend does not have the same hardware, device portability, and game discovery. At OnePlay, we allow gamers to play on any device, sync instantaneously, without the need for high-end gear, and provide a platform for all games under one umbrella. Not only that, but gamers may run their games from any place.

What are the potential disruptors or innovations that could significantly impact the cloud gaming sector in the coming years? What are the trends shaping this segment including the use of AI?

Technology has contributed significantly to the evolution of gaming. The shift from console gaming to cloud gaming is unquestionably a watershed moment in the industry’s technological evolution. Starting with 5G, it has improved the whole gaming experience by lowering latency and increasing speed, while advances in edge computing bring processing closer to players while improving performance. AR and VR technologies have had a big impact on the industry since they improve overall user experience. The gaming industry has improved the game's realism, graphics, and quality using AR and VR technology.

The trends that are going to shape gaming with the use of AI:

• Personalization - Personalizing the gaming experience with artificial intelligence allows games to be highly individualized based on the circumstances. Companies can use AI and machine learning to read player behaviour, adjust and build obstacles, and create tailored narratives and experiences depending on it. Personalization will keep gamers engaged and interested in the game.
• Artificial Intelligence - AI is the ultimate game changer in the industry, particularly in gaming, since each player is unique and plays differently. AI will play a larger role in personalizing gaming experiences. AI and ML technologies will transform the entire user experience by providing personalized experiences. AI will soon be able to localize games and incorporate cultural characteristics into them to make them more accessible.
• AR, VR, and metaverse gaming - AR and VR technologies are redefining gaming by providing immersive surroundings and interactions. AR and VR will help the industry blur the distinction between the virtual and real worlds. AR and VR technologies will undoubtedly make games more realistic and immersive. VR will become more accessible to users in the future as demand grows and technology advances. As technology advances, the metaverse world emerges alongside gaming, intending to combine gaming experiences with the metaverse, allowing gamers to explore the virtual world.
• NFTs in gaming -NFTs have the potential to change the gaming industry, just as they have in the arts. Gamers should expect to see the integration of NFTs with gaming assets soon, allowing them to own virtual assets. This new economic model not only allows gamers to have actual ownership of a virtual item, but it also provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to acquire unique game assets. It also opens new opportunities for commercialization. It is still early to observe a drastic influence, but the industry has only begun to address this and embrace it in its gaming ecosystem.

The convergence of cloud gaming with esports, live streaming, and blockchain technology is expected to open up new monetization avenues. How do you envision this impacting the gaming market, both for players and developers?

When it comes to the anticipated monetization possibilities created by integrating new technologies into the gaming industry for the community, cloud gaming will undoubtedly be viewed as an enabler, opening up new chances for game producers. Simultaneously, it will help to bridge the gap between hardware and users. It will allow more users to enjoy high-end games without limitations or obstacles. As a result, existing game sales will increase, and a rising number of people will come online to play more games.

Not only that but with new genres like MMO massively multiplayer, cloud gaming will create a new genre called Cloud First and Cloud Only Games, which will require hefty graphics to load on local PCs. Cloud gaming will allow players to play online and share their experiences simultaneously.

Live streaming has become increasingly popular within the gaming community. How do you see live streaming shaping the future of the gaming industry, and what role does OnePlay play in this ecosystem?

Live streaming is critical to building the loyal community that we plan to cultivate as a gaming company. We’re working on a platform that will allow gamers to effortlessly capture their gaming, meet new people, and share it in real-time. The rise of esports has pushed the concept of live streaming into gaming, and as a gaming firm, we are working to add all of the necessary live capabilities to link gamers to their viewers. As a powerful gaming platform, OnePlay plans to enhance the server to enable live streaming while also providing the finest user experience to the entire gaming community.

We want to build a strong community by combining live broadcasting, a diverse game store, and a one-of-a-kind stand-alone cloud gaming platform. The purpose of this community building is to incorporate elements such as game price discovery, integrated live streaming on YouTube and Twitch, official support for Mods and DLCs, and increased game customization for players. We also intend to reach gamers across other platforms, such as Linux, iPhone/ iPad, and LG TVs, while bundling games from other developers to increase the catalog to over 500 games.

Could you share insights into OnePlay’s partnership with telecom players in the industry? How do these partnerships enhance the gaming experience for users, and what value do they bring to the overall gaming ecosystem?

We are collaborating with several reputable telecom firms as well as Smart TVs, like Batelco (Bahrain Telecommunication Company) and Samsung, to improve the entire gaming experience for players. It is critical to have a safe, secure, and fast network connection for all games to perform well. As a powerful cloud gaming platform, we are continuously pursuing collaborations/ partnerships with telecom carriers to improve connection service.

Through agreements with telecom carriers, OnePlay is also looking into distribution channels and researching ways to offer its services to users as part of a bundle package. Companies may improve the overall gaming experience and deliver better service by forming partnerships that demand a strong connection.