Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a speech on India’s 78th Independence Day addressed the nation’s gaming industry by calling for India to establish itself as a global leader in the worldwide gaming scenario.
The PM suggested that developers should utilise the nation’s rich culture and heritage in its video games to attract the global audience. He emphasised the need for youth to take charge, lead and grow the nation’s gaming industry.
He said, “I see that a huge market has emerged in the world of gaming, but even today, the impact in the gaming industry, especially on those who create and produce games, is largely foreign. India has a rich heritage, and we can bring talent into the gaming world. We should attract everyone to our gaming sector, and I want Indian children and youth to lead the gaming industry.”
Here’s what industry veterans have to say:
Nitish Mittersain (Nazara Technologies founder and CEO)
Mittersain stated that the PM’s words were a powerful boost for the industry. “I founded Nazara 25 years ago with a dream to see India make it big in the global gaming landscape. Prime minister Modi’s acknowledgment of this industry’s potential is not just a recognition but a powerful boost for all of us working towards this vision. For the prime minister to call for this goal in his Independence Day speech is both inspiring and a call to action for every developer and company in India,” he said.
Anurag Choudhary (Felecity Games founder and CEO)
Choudhary echoed the same sentiment, “With India poised to be the world’s second-largest gaming market after China and nurturing a rapidly expanding talent pool, we are not only confident but also motivated by the prime minister’s vision and encouraging words shared at the Independence Day address. This will help enhance and shape a brighter future for over 30,000 Indian game developers and publishers and we are always eager to partner and support these innovative developers on their journey to global success.”
Jay Sayta (Technology and gaming lawyer)
The lawyer emphasised that ministries and departments should work closely to realise the PM’s vision of making the country a global gaming hub. He said, “The hon’ble prime minister’s focus and emphasis on growing the online gaming sector will certainly boost the confidence of game developers, online gaming companies and investors. Hopefully, all departments and ministries will now work in close coordination keeping in mind the “whole of government” approach, and realise the prime minister’s vision of making India a global gaming hub and a key contributor to the digital economy, by formulating industry friendly policies and regulations.”
Shiva Nandy (Skyesports CEO)
Nandy suggested that the nation needs its own homegrown games to succeed and encouraged the push for local game development. “Rapid smartphone penetration and affordable internet are driving a massive influx of gaming consumers in India. However, the market has been largely dominated by foreign titles due to a lack of homegrown games. The Indian government’s recent push for local game development is a crucial step in bridging this gap. It not only fosters a thriving domestic gaming and esports ecosystem but also leads to job creation in a promising field. With India’s potential, we can soon expect locally developed games to gain global recognition, and gaming can play a crucial role in India’s growth story of the 21st century,” he said.
The nation’s game development scenario has a lot of potential with the country having a rich history and culture to bring forward to the world through the medium of video games. The push for domestic game development will certainly help the country towards achieving its vision of being a global gaming hub.