At the second edition of the Indian Gaming Convention (IGC) held in New Delhi, Priyank Kharge, Karnataka’s Minister of Information Technology and Biotechnology, announced ambitious plans for the state to position itself as Asia’s premier hub for gaming and animation.
“We have all the ingredients to become the gaming capital of not just India, but all of Asia,” Kharge stated during his address, underscoring Karnataka’s commitment to fostering innovation in the gaming sector. He also emphasized Bengaluru’s reputation as a global technology cluster, ranking as the fourth-largest in the world.
Kharge outlined several initiatives aimed at accelerating Karnataka’s growth in the gaming and animation sectors. One key measure is the creation of a Center of Excellence for Gaming and the establishment of India’s first government-sponsored eSports Olympics. These efforts align with the state’s ambition to dominate the growing online gaming space, a sector Kharge believes will be central to India’s rise as a gaming superpower.
To further boost the industry, Karnataka will launch a gaming accelerator by the end of the financial year, providing support to startups and gaming ventures across the state. The Minister also highlighted Karnataka’s Elevate program, which has already funded 983 startups, including 30 focused on gaming, animation, and visual effects.
India’s gaming industry is seeing rapid growth, with the AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics) sector projected to exceed $366 billion globally, according to Kharge. Gaming makes up 54% of this market, and India’s gaming community, with over 42.5 crore gamers, ranks second-largest globally. Between 2020 and 2023, India’s online gaming sector grew by 28%, reaching a market size of Rs. 1,6428 crore. Kharge predicted that this figure will double over the next four years.
With over 1,400 gaming startups and 430 crore gaming app downloads in 2023, India’s gaming ecosystem is poised for further expansion. UPI transactions related to in-game purchases amounted to Rs. 8,370 crore, signaling the increasing popularity of mobile gaming.
Karnataka recently unveiled a new AVGC policy, aimed at nurturing talent, promoting leadership, and increasing intellectual property (IP) generation within the gaming sector. The state is establishing a physical space to foster innovation for gaming startups and aims to create numerous IPs from Karnataka.
This comprehensive policy, combined with initiatives like government grants, eSports events, and accelerated startup support, positions Karnataka at the forefront of India’s gaming revolution.
Key Highlights:
- Karnataka aims to become Asia’s gaming and animation capital, according to IT Minister Priyank Kharge at IGC 2024.
- Key initiatives include launching a gaming accelerator, a Center of Excellence, and hosting India’s first eSports Olympics.
- India’s gaming market grew by 28% between 2020 and 2023 and is projected to double in four years.
- Karnataka’s new AVGC policy focuses on developing talent and creating intellectual property in the gaming sector.