Why India Must Invest in PC Gaming and Hardware

OPINION

Why India Must Invest in PC Gaming and Hardware for a Flourishing Esports Future

The Indian gaming industry is experiencing an unprecedented surge. With over 500 million gamers and promising titles emerging from the country, India is not just a rapidly growing market but is also on the path to becoming a dominant force in video gaming. Even esports, which was once a niche subculture in the country, has now entered the mainstream with the Indian government and various state governments actively promoting it as a legitimate career path.

While mobile gaming has traditionally led the market, PC gaming is steadily gaining traction, particularly among those seeking an immersive and high-performance gaming experience. According to Niko Partners’ Indian Gamer Behaviour and Market Insights report, 77.3 percent of PC gamers in India spent more on games in Q1 2024 than the previous year, outpacing the spending growth in mobile and console gaming. Additionally, Steam reported a 150 percent increase in new users from India between 2019 and 2024, highlighting the growing adoption of PC gaming in the country. This shift is reshaping the gaming landscape while also having a significant impact on India’s competitive gaming aspirations.

Esports and the competitive edge of PC gaming

India’s esports presence on the international stage has been growing steadily, with PC based titles playing a crucial role. At the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, where esports was a full fledged medal sport, India competed in DOTA 2, EAFC, League of Legends, and Street Fighter V. The country’s best performance came in the PC title League of Legends, where the team finished fifth against the best in the region.

With esports once again being included as a medal event at the upcoming Asian Games 2026, India will have another chance to prove itself in titles like League of Legends and Naraka Bladepoint. Beyond this, the inaugural Olympic Esports Games in 2027 is expected to feature multiple PC based esports competitions, providing Indian players with a new global stage to showcase their skills.

According to a recent FICCI-EY report, the country’s total participation in esports tournaments crossed the 2 million mark in 2024 and is expected to reach 2.8 million in 2025. So, with esports being part of multiple major international events and for India to remain competitive on the world stage, high performance gaming hardware is no longer just an advantage but a necessity. In esports, victory is often decided in milliseconds, where reaction time, frame rates, and processing power define success. Without access to top tier, custom built gaming PCs, Indian players risk falling behind in a fiercely competitive arena that demands precision, speed, and fluidity.

Why high-quality custom built PCs matter

In esports, skill and strategy set players apart, but the right hardware can make the crucial difference between victory and defeat. A custom built PC allows a gamer to tailor every component to their specific needs, ensuring that their setup enhances their skills rather than holding them back. A fast paced FPS player needs high refresh rates and low latency for split second reactions, while a strategy gamer may prioritize a powerful processor for seamless multitasking. Customization ensures that every aspect of the PC, from the GPU and RAM to the cooling system and peripherals, aligns perfectly with the demands of the games a player competes in.

For those aspiring to succeed in esports, having the right hardware is just as important as practice and strategy. Many of today’s top esports professionals fine-tuned their setups to match their playstyle, and upcoming players can do the same by building a PC that supports their strengths and helps them push their limits. This level of customization does not just improve gameplay, it levels the playing field for thousands of gamers who dream of making it to the top, proving that the right tools can be the first step toward esports success.

Making PC gaming more accessible

Despite its growing popularity, PC gaming in India still faces barriers, primarily due to limited access to high performance hardware and a lack of awareness about its benefits. To accelerate adoption, the industry must focus and invest in several key areas.

One of the most effective ways to increase PC gaming adoption is by creating hands-on experience zones where gamers can test high performance PCs before making an investment. Unlike mobile gaming, which is instantly accessible, PC gaming requires a deeper understanding of hardware specifications and performance differences. Many gamers hesitate to invest in a high end PC because they have never experienced the full potential of high refresh rate displays, optimized GPUs, and seamless responsiveness.

These zones can also help gamers understand the nuances of different hardware setups, from frame rates and input lag to cooling efficiency and processing power. By experiencing these differences firsthand, players can gain valuable insight into how specific components affect gameplay and what works best for their playstyle. This, in turn, allows them to focus on particular skills they want to develop, whether it is faster reaction times in FPS games, precise controls in racing titles, or strategic multitasking in competitive strategy games. Setting up physical demo zones where they can experience different configurations and performance levels will be instrumental in helping them make informed decisions.

Alongside this, building real time configurators will empower gamers to customize and optimize their ideal gaming setups before making a purchase. Every gamer has unique needs, whether it is an esports athlete requiring ultra high refresh rates or a content creator needing a powerful GPU for rendering and editing. A configurator that allows users to experiment with different CPUs, GPUs, RAM, and cooling systems while providing real time performance benchmarks will make the PC building process more intuitive and accessible.

Equally important is educating gamers and driving awareness through community engagement. Many gamers do not fully understand how hardware enhancements impact their experience, leading them to settle for suboptimal setups. Brands, esports organizations, and gaming communities must actively educate users on the benefits of high performance gaming hardware through workshops, online content, and influencer collaborations. When gamers truly grasp the impact of higher FPS, reduced input lag, and improved responsiveness, they will be more inclined to invest in quality hardware.

Looking ahead, the Indian PC gaming market is on an exciting trajectory, with continued advancements in AI-driven performance optimizations, cloud gaming, and hardware innovations. As more esports tournaments feature massive prize pools and national representation opportunities, the demand for high-performance gaming setups will only increase.

With global brands increasingly investing in India’s gaming ecosystem, the country stands on the brink of becoming a powerhouse in PC gaming and esports. But passion alone is not enough. To truly dominate on the world stage, India must match its enthusiasm with investment in cutting edge hardware, robust infrastructure, and greater awareness. The future of Indian esports will be defined by ensuring our gamers have the tools to compete, excel, and make their mark on the global stage.

— Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer at CyberPower PC India.