Niko Partners: India games market exceeds $1bn, forecast to reach $1.2bn by end of 2026

India’s games market exceeded $1 billion in revenue for the first time in 2025, up 14.8% year over year to $1.04 billion.

According to Niko Partners, revenue is forecast to reach almost $1.2 billion and up to $1.77 billion by 2030 – a five-year CAGR 11.2%.

The total number of players reached 511 million last year. This figure is projected to exceed 550 million in 2026 and reach over 700 million by 2030. Female gamers now represent nearly half of all players, up from 43% in 2023.

The main driver of increased revenue and engagement was higher spending on mobile games, supported by greater digital adoption and rising disposable incomes “among certain consumer segments.”

Monetisation for this segment “remains at an early stage,” according to the data firm, with average revenue per user (ARPU) reaching $2.04 in 2025 and forecast to rise to $2.52 by 2030.

Niko Partners also observed that India’s gaming market is becoming more diverse, with audiences exploring a broader range of genres across platforms such as PC and console.

Although smaller, these audiences drive engagement, providing publishers with the opportunity to grow beyond mainstream genres like battle royale and casual titles.

This trend includes increased user-generated content, with platforms such as Roblox and Minecraft gaining popularity among younger Indian audiences.

Additionally, non-battle royale mobile games captured a larger share of market revenue, rising from 53.2% in June 2023 to 62.8% in June 2026.

Niko Partners predicts that these areas, along with increased government support, rising esports participation, and expanded opportunities for publishers, will “shape India’s games market over the next five years.”

The firm also reported a shift in Indian audiences’ sentiment toward generative AI. Its findings indicate that players “are becoming more cautious about how AI is being used by both developers and players.”

Niko Partners identifies economic concerns, especially regarding AI’s impact on employment, as a key factor.