A recent study by HP India reveals a growing trend of Indians pursuing gaming as a career option. This year’s Gaming Landscape Study found that one in three respondents are considering a career in gaming, up from one in four in last year’s study. This upward trend is particularly evident among PC gamers, with 56% considering gaming as their primary career choice.
The study also highlights the increasing financial viability of a gaming career. Over 45% of serious gamers surveyed earn more than ₹6 lakhs per year, and a significant 40% of those who have made gaming their primary or secondary career choice fall within the ₹6,00,000 to ₹12,00,000 per year pay scale.
To support this growing interest in gaming careers, HP India is launching a free online professional certificate program on Esports management and game development. The HP Gaming Garage will be available in 12 Indian languages and will feature instruction from renowned industry experts, including game designer, author, and adjunct professor at Rochester Institute of Technology Ian Schreiber, managing director at EsportsX and adjunct professor at Emerson College Kevin Mitchell, and professor and game director at Artemisia College of Art & Design Raja Ravi.
Additional Key Findings:
- Gaming adoption is surging in smaller towns across India.
- PC gaming remains the preferred platform for most gamers (67%), with smartphone gaming accounting for 33%.
- Casual gamers spend between 6 to 11 hours per week gaming, serious gamers spend between 11 to 23 hours, and professional gamers clock in over 23 hours.
- The gaming audience is dominated by millennials and Gen Z demographics, with 75% of Gen Z gamers and 67% of millennial gamers actively playing video games.
- There is a growing acceptance of gaming as a career option among both men and women, with 74% of active male gamers and 58% of active female gamers identifying as “serious” players.
Overall, the HP India Gaming Landscape Study 2023 paints a picture of a thriving gaming industry in India with promising career prospects for aspiring gamers.
