With the increase of influence of gaming and esports in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi gathered a meeting with seven of the nation’s gaming creators. Among them were figures such as Naman “Mortal” Mathur, Animesh “Thug” Agarwal, Mithilesh “MythPat” Patankar, Payal “Payal” Dhare, and Anshu “GamerFleet” Bisht. This gathering aimed to discuss the trajectory of the Indian gaming industry and explore avenues for its advancement.
The meeting highlighted the government’s recognition of gaming as an important cultural and economic force. With India boasting between 450 and 550 million gamers and the gaming sector generating $3.1 billion in revenue in FY23, the Prime Minister’s engagement signals a crucial moment for the industry’s future.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacts with top Indian Gamers
PM Modi also tried his hand at a few games. pic.twitter.com/QT11YwOZfp
— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2024
Game developers who participated in the meeting expressed optimism about the Prime Minister’s plans, asserting that his outlook would impact gaming in India. Animesh Agarwal and Mithilesh Patankar, known by their aliases 8bitThug and MythPat respectively, took to Instagram to share their excitement, describing the conversation with PM Modi as indicative of changes on the horizon.
Naman “Mortal” Mathur, a figure in the Indian gaming community renowned for his expertise in Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), emphasized the importance of the Prime Minister’s support for the gaming community. Mortal, who has a following on YouTube and co-owns iQOO Soul, praised PM Modi’s vision for the gaming landscape in India.
Similarly, Payal “Payal” Dhare, one of the female gamers in the country with over 3.63 million YouTube subscribers, expressed her gratitude for being part of the discussion. Dhare lauded PM Modi for recognizing the voices of female gamers and promoting inclusivity within the industry.
The meeting also featured Tirth Mehta, Ganesh “SkRossi” Gangadhar, and Anshu “GamerFleet” Bisht, each contributing their perspectives and experiences to the dialogue on the future of Indian gaming.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the gaming creators of his administration’s support and commitment to nurturing the gaming and esports ecosystem in India. His pledge to provide assistance and create environments for the industry’s growth was met with enthusiasm by the participants.
With projections indicating growth for the Indian gaming market, reaching Rs. 231 billion by 2025, stakeholders are anticipating the implementation of PM Modi’s reforms, which are expected to benefit the country’s gaming industry.