Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, is making a significant push into India’s burgeoning gaming industry. Sandhya Devanathan, Meta’s Vice President and Head of India, outlined the company’s ambitious strategy during the Indian Gaming Convention 2024, held in New Delhi on October 14. With an estimated 700 million gamers expected in the country by 2028, Meta sees India as a key part of its global gaming strategy and a future global gaming powerhouse.
Devanathan emphasized Meta’s commitment to fostering innovation within the Indian gaming ecosystem, which includes developers, creators, brands, and startups. “India is a key part of Meta’s global gaming strategy, and we’re committed to fostering innovation and growth within the developer community here,” said Devanathan. She further explained that Meta plans to empower creators by providing platforms like Facebook Gaming and Instagram to engage with communities and effectively monetize their content.
The company’s efforts to support India’s gaming market come at a time when the country is projected to become an $8 trillion economy, with $1 trillion driven by digital initiatives, including gaming. This expansion, Devanathan noted, will generate massive economic opportunities and help India solidify its position in the global gaming landscape.
According to Devanathan, the Indian gaming ecosystem could potentially generate around 300,000 jobs across brands, startups, and creators. She stressed the importance of advertising as a crucial component for developers and creators to grow their businesses sustainably. Meta’s platforms offer the necessary tools for developers to reach a global audience and monetize their content effectively.
Meta’s platforms are already seeing massive engagement in India, with 200 billion Reels played daily and 200 million people shopping online. These figures, according to Devanathan, show the growing integration of gaming into India’s digital lifestyle and economy. The interconnection between gaming and digital habits such as social media engagement and online shopping underscores the potential for India’s gaming market to expand even further.
Devanathan concluded her address by reiterating Meta’s long-term commitment to the Indian gaming industry. “The Indian gaming market is poised for explosive growth, and we want to be part of that journey by empowering developers and creators with the tools they need to succeed,” she said. Meta’s focus on building and nurturing the gaming community in India positions it to become a significant player in the country’s gaming ecosystem, tapping into the vast potential for growth and innovation.
With India poised to become a global gaming powerhouse, Meta’s strategy of supporting developers, creators, and startups is expected to yield substantial returns, both for the company and for India’s digital economy.
Credit: This article is based on information from Moneycontrol and statements from Meta.
Key Highlights:
- Meta is making a major push into India’s gaming industry, targeting 700 million gamers by 2028.
- The Indian gaming ecosystem could generate approximately 300,000 jobs across brands, startups, and creators.
- Meta’s platforms like Facebook Gaming and Instagram will empower developers and creators to monetize their content and reach a global audience.
- India is poised to become a global gaming powerhouse, with Meta committed to supporting the entire gaming ecosystem.