5 Trends That Will Shape The Gaming & Esports Sector In 2023

The Indian gaming and esports sector has witnessed tremendous growth over the past few years, and there is no doubt that this growth will skyrocket even more in the years to come. Industry estimates predict that the number of online gaming users in India is poised to grow from 481 Mn in 2022 to over 657 Mn by 2025. With the emergence of new technologies, innovative products, and rapidly evolving content creation and consumption trends, the future of gaming and esports now indeed looks brighter than ever before.

In this article, we will take a dive into the future of Indian gaming and esports in 2023 by analysing the top five trends that we expect to see in the Indian gaming and esports ecosystem in the coming year.

The Rise And Rise Of Casual Gaming

Casual gaming is on the rise in India, with a huge number of Indians now turning to casual games for entertainment, leisure and stress relief as well. This trend is likely to spike in 2023 as more and more Indians get access to powerful gaming devices as well as improved internet connectivity.  

Notably, not only are casual games more accessible and less time-consuming as compared to hardcore gaming, but they are also becoming increasingly sophisticated and engaging. Many of the recently-launched casual game titles feature stunning visuals, immersive storylines and realistic gameplay mechanics designed to appeal to a wider range of players.  

In 2023 and beyond, the continued rise of casual gaming is likely to create a larger pool of gamers in India. As more players enter the space, more developers are likely to create content specifically targeted at Indian gamers, which in turn shall give rise to even more exciting and engaging experiences for gamers in our country.

Next-Gen Mobile Gaming Growth With 5G

No one can deny that mobile gaming has been, to date, one of the biggest drivers of the gaming and esports industry’s growth. Nowadays with more Indians owning smartphones and having access to high-speed internet, the popularity of mobile gaming is soaring constantly. 

While the number of Indian gamers playing mobile game titles is obviously expected to increase, its growth and popularity will be further fueled by the increasing availability of affordable 5G plans and devices in India.

In fact, with the increased proliferation of 5G networks in India in 2023, gamers can expect to experience faster speeds, lower latency, and better connection stability while playing their favourite mobile games. This in turn could make mobile gaming even more enjoyable for Indian gamers, leading to an even bigger increase in its popularity.

The Emergence Of Cloud Gaming

One of the biggest trends expected in 2023 is the widespread acceptance of cloud gaming. Cloud gaming has been around for a few years now, but it is expected to really take off in India over the next two years. 

This type of gaming makes use of streaming technology to allow gamers and gaming creators to play high-end video games without having to own or install the game. Instead, the game is stored on remote servers and the video is streamed directly to the player’s device.

In India, the rapid growth of cloud gaming could make playing high-end games much more accessible and popular, since many gamers do not have access to the latest hardware. This could further open up a huge opportunity for game developers and publishers, as well as make playing games more accessible for gamers across multiple levels. 

Furthermore, cloud gaming also has the potential to improve the overall quality of gaming in India, by providing access to high-end graphics and better performance than what is available from local hardware, cloud gaming could help gamers get the best experience possible from their games. 

The Next Era Of Battle Royale Games

The Battle Royale genre of gaming has been growing in huge popularity in India since it was introduced largely in 2017. It comes as no surprise that the popularity of Battle Royale games will continue to rise over the next few years, with more investments and eyeballs captured by this segment of gaming and esports. 

In 2023, we expect to see more innovative versions of these games, with new levels and enhanced gameplay coming to the fore. We may also see increased competition in the market as more developers try to get a slice of the Battle Royale pie.

In addition, esports tournaments for Battle Royale games are already becoming massively popular in India. So, in the coming year, we expect to see more tournaments hosted in the country, as well as international tournaments featuring teams from India. These tournaments will help to spread the popularity of these games even further and allow aspiring gamers to showcase their skills.

Esports To Get Bigger And Better

The growth of esports in India has been phenomenal in recent years, and this trend will only continue with more vigour and pace in 2023. Over the past couple of years, we have seen a significant rise in the number of professional esports athletes, teams, tournaments, and organisations in the country. The emergence of many new digital platforms hosting gaming tournaments and leagues nowadays is helping to create a vibrant and competitive gaming community within India. As a result, it will be much easier for new and amateur gamers to break into the esports industry.

As the esports industry continues to grow in India and gain more recognition at national and international levels, we can expect to see more investment in esports infrastructure and support for professional gamers and teams in 2023. We can also expect to see an increase in the number of local tournaments and leagues being organised by both private companies and government agencies. Furthermore, there is a lot of room for growth in the ongoing esports boom, with more international tournaments taking place on Indian soil in 2023 and beyond.