India’s gaming industry is accelerating across multiple fronts, with large-scale events, creator economy partnerships, and platform expansion collectively shaping a more sophisticated and globally connected ecosystem.
One of the most visible signs of this growth is the return of Gaming Thiruvizha, as Skyesports brings the festival back to Chennai on September 26 and 27, 2026, at the Chennai Trade Centre. Following its debut in 2025, the event is positioning itself as a major AVGC (animation, visual effects, gaming, and comics) and pop culture platform, uniting gaming, animation, VFX, comics, cosplay, creators, and fan communities.
For the first time, the event will also host Tamil Nadu’s first award show dedicated to gaming creators, recognising influential voices from the region.
“The future of entertainment is interactive, creator-led and community-driven. Gaming Thiruvizha reflects that future by bringing together gaming, animation, visual effects, comics, creators and fans on one platform. We are building more than a festival, we are building India’s flagship AVGC and pop culture IP that can stand alongside the world’s biggest entertainment conventions,” said Gnana Shekar, CMO, Skyesports.
“The future of entertainment is interactive, creator-led and community-driven.” — Gnana Shekar, CMO, Skyesports
Alongside community-driven events, the creator economy is gaining momentum through strategic partnerships. 8Bit Creatives has partnered with livestreaming platform KICK, becoming its first official creator agency partner in India. As part of the collaboration, 48 creators from its roster—including Raj Varma (Snax), Lokesh Karakoti (Pahadi), Siddhant Joshi (Sid), Mithul Nayak (Binks), Harsh Paudwal (Goblin), Salman Ahmad (Mamba), and Yash Soni (Viper)—have joined the platform.
“The evolution of the creator economy has pushed gaming creators to rethink how they build, distribute, and scale their content.” — Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO, 8Bit Creatives
Animesh Agarwal, Co-founder and CEO, 8Bit Creatives, said, “The evolution of the creator economy has pushed gaming creators to rethink how they build, distribute, and scale their content. Our partnership with KICK reflects this broader shift toward more dynamic and diversified creator ecosystems globally. Gaming creators today are increasingly building independent digital brands with diverse audiences, revenue streams, and creative identities, with platforms like KICK enabling greater flexibility to grow and engage communities. For us at 8Bit Creatives, this association is about enabling long-term creator sustainability and ensuring that the creators we work with are not limited by format or geography, but are instead empowered to grow globally.”
“As we continue investing in the region, we’re excited to work with creators, agencies and industry partners who share our vision for the future of livestreaming.” — Ethan Wright, Director at KICK
Ethan Wright, Director at KICK, said: “India is home to some of the world’s most talented and ambitious creators. With KICK, we’re building a platform where streamers can grow sustainable careers through fair monetisation and innovative livestreaming tools allowing them to grow stronger connections with their communities. As we continue investing in the region, we’re excited to work with creators, agencies and industry partners who share our vision for the future of livestreaming.”
KICK reports more than 500 million monthly hours watched, over 80 million channels, and more than 46 million daily live chats. Since its launch in 2022, its Partner Program has facilitated payouts exceeding $200 million, supported by a 95/5 subscription revenue split.
These developments come as new data highlights a deeper structural shift in India’s gaming market. According to a report from MIXI Global Investments (MGI), authored by Naavik, powered by Sensor Tower, with support from AppsFlyer, the country’s mobile gaming sector is maturing, with rising monetisation and a broader mix of genres.
Between 2020 and 2025, in-app purchase (IAP) revenue more than doubled, even as download volumes remained broadly steady. Combined in-app and advertising revenue reached approximately $1.1 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to $1.5 billion in 2026 and $2.4 billion by 2029.
“India has been one of the world’s largest gaming audiences for some time, but what the data now shows is a market maturing with revenue deepening, growth spreading across genres, and a widening range of players. That combination of scale and diversification is what makes this moment worth watching.” — Tomoharu Urabe, Managing Director, Investment at MIXI Global Investments
“India has been one of the world’s largest gaming audiences for some time, but what the data now shows is a market maturing with revenue deepening, growth spreading across genres, and a widening range of players. That combination of scale and diversification is what makes this moment worth watching.” said Tomoharu Urabe, Managing Director, Investment at MIXI Global Investments.
Together, these trends point to an industry evolving beyond scale, with stronger monetisation, expanding creator ecosystems, and growing cultural platforms shaping the next phase of India’s gaming growth.
