Gaming Industry Calls For Government Action Over Google’s Arbitrary Policies

At the July 21 meeting called by a Parliamentary panel, the skill-based gaming industry called for the government’s intervention to curb the ‘arbitrary’ policies of tech giant Google.

The gaming industry reportedly alleged that Google prohibits Indian skill-games from listing on its platform, while allowing a free hand to foreign gaming apps.

The meeting was convened by BJP MP Jayant Sinha-led Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance and was attended by top executives of homegrown tech startups such as Zomato, MakeMyTrip and OYO. The panel is examining the ‘anti-competitive behaviour’ of big tech giants.

According to IANS, the gaming industry told the panel that Google does not allow Indian online skill-based games, but the tech major promotes its own platform Play Pass and other Chinese and western games.

The group also informed the committee that Google tries to dissuade users who directly download online gaming apps by showing warning messages. This, the industry body said, unfairly prevents other Android app stores from advertising on its platform and limits consumer choice.

Essentially, the gaming industry’s contention relates to Google-owned Android’s near total monopoly over the mobile operating system market in India.

As per reports, All India Gaming Federation CEO Roland Landers represented the gaming industry at the discussion.

The scathing criticism of Google comes at a time when the tech giant has been under fire for its alleged ‘anti-competitive’ practices. In January, the Competition Commission of India (CCI) ordered a probe into the US-based major for alleged abuse of dominant position.

Later in March, the competition watchdog found Google Play Store’s billing policy ‘unfair’ and ‘discriminatory’, and said that the app marketplace kept some of its own apps out of the Google Billing Payment System (GBPS).

Google charges a commission of 15-30% on app developers. Critics have pointed out that high commission in price-conscious markets could wreak havoc on small startups. 

Google has also been in the dock for allegedly putting its own products ahead of others. Critics have pointed out that Google stifles competition by measures which include higher ranking for its products on searches or by stalling bug fixes on competitor apps. 

Google has been facing antitrust probes not only in India but also in a plethora of other countries including the US, Europe, Japan, Australia, and the Netherlands.

The gaming startups are looking to break the stranglehold of tech giants. India’s online gaming segment is growing 28% year-on-year (YoY) and reached a market size of INR 101 Bn in 2021.