There is no denying that Covid-19 has had a great impact on the game industry. Games have become immensely popular with the outbreak of the pandemic and the start of home isolation. This has led to the development of gaming studios in India and other countries too.

The Indian gaming market flourishes and it is expected to boom even more over the next few years. Therefore, for every game development studio in India, it is definitely positive news.

Since India has one of the largest game-loving populations, there will be the development of new games and an increase in smartphone users. Side by side the game developers will come with new and creative ideas to enhance the gamer’s experience across all the popular platforms such as PlayStation Xbox and more.

How Was The Gaming Industry Before Covid-19?

Even before the outbreak of the endemic, India was moving fast in the gaming industry. People between the age group of 16 and 25 are prone to playing mobile and video games. This age group is also frequent internet users that enabled them to access varieties of games.

Earlier people used to think gaming as a sort of leisure activity with no positive side. But that perception is changing with time and more creative and cool games are in the market. People now love to play games not just out of boredom only. Gaming is also a great scope for a new-age career. From game developers to game testers, there are multiple opportunities within the gaming industry now. This is why there is a rapid growth for game art outsourcing companies in India.

Impact of Covid-19 On Gaming

When the coronavirus pandemic started in India, people experienced home isolation and self-quarantine mode. During this time, people started to pick playing games on their smartphones as one of the best activities. While on lockdown, when you cannot hit the gym, or meet a friend at a pub, playing games becomes your real friend.

The lockdown phase saw a tremendous hike in the gaming app download. Games like Ludo King, Candy Crush, Clash of the Clans became extremely popular.

Major Games Played During Pandemic

Some of the most popular games that were played during the pandemic are:

• Call of Duty.
• Battlegrounds.
• Mortal Kombat 11.
• Star Wars Jedi.
• Grand Theft Auto.
• Pokemon Go.
• Garena Free Fire.

Along with this, millions of PC players enjoyed the Nintendo Simulation Game Animal Crossing and Ultimate Knockout.

Since video games are a unique part of artistic expression, there are different ways to interact with the theme and characters of the game. Every element of a game such as graphics, animation, sound effects and other creative elements have become an escape for many during the pandemic.

How Games Have Become a Social Platform?

One of the major concerns of people was the inability to talk and socialise with people. Apart from the social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, games also act as a great social media platform. Two different players playing the same game online can interact and become game buddies.

Player friends are very common with the rise of video games and mobile gamers. This need for social interaction has increased the playtime. People now spend more hours on games. This has led to a big transformation in the gaming industry where various game companies are expanding games to foster communications and friendship.

Positive Effects of Games During Pandemic

Games have a more positive impact on the mind during Covid-19 pandemic. One of the most essential aspects is that games provide a platform to hang out virtually. You make friends online and can foster social behaviour. Some games such as overcooked or Portal 2 have positive effects on the development of cooperative behaviour. Some games promote empathy in both children and adults.

Most importantly, games can truly become a way to relax and feel stress-free. Be it negative emotions such as depression and anxiety, games have the ability to bring emotional stability. Games also induce happiness and teach players how to solve problems and accept challenges.

Growth of Gaming Industry

There is an unprecedented growth in the gaming industry with the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic. This has led animation outsourcing companies to come up with new business models and exciting games to maximise revenues.

More player’s engagement means more demand for newer and better versions of games. So it only seems like a booming industry with tremendous growth potential in the future.

Wrapping Up:

Even with the end of the pandemic, it is likely that the gaming world will continue to flourish. It is just a matter of time to see how things fold.