Photo Credit: SEPC India
India marked a significant milestone on the global gaming stage with the inauguration of the India Pavilion at Gamescom 2025, one of the world’s largest gaming and digital entertainment fairs held at Koelnmesse, Cologne, on 20 August. The pavilion, organised by the Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC), aims to highlight India’s growing prowess in gaming, animation, VFX, comics (AVGC), and e-sports.
A Strong Diplomatic Presence
The inauguration was attended by senior Indian representatives, including Abhishek Dubey, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Berlin; Dr. Dinesh Antill, First Secretary (Economics & Commerce); Vibha Kant Sharma, Acting Consul General of India in Frankfurt; and Bhupendra Nikhurpa, Consul (Commerce & Political) at CGI Frankfurt. SEPC leaders including Chairman Karan Singh Rathore, CoA member Deepak Deopa, Director General Dr. Abhay Kumar Sinha, and Senior Director Chandranshu Awasthi also participated, interacting with Indian exhibitors.
“This initiative will have a profound impact on game developers, empowering them with new opportunities, resources, and a global platform to showcase their creativity and innovation,” said SEPC Chairman Rathore.
Showcasing India’s Gaming Potential
With around 25 Indian companies participating, this year’s pavilion marks the largest-ever Indian presence at Gamescom. The SEPC described the initiative as a step towards positioning India as a hub for digital creative services exports while promoting global collaborations to expand the nation’s gaming footprint.
The pavilion reflects India’s youthful industry ecosystem, technological innovation, and creative talent, with platforms such as Wavesbazaar enabling outreach.
New Partnerships and Global Push
On the sidelines of the event, SEPC signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with online gaming platform WinZO to promote the export of Indian gaming technology and intellectual property (IP).
The collaboration will focus on startup incubation, funding, monetisation, and talent development, while leveraging WinZO’s Global Centre of Excellence (GCoE), established with DPIIT, to attract foreign investment.
According to the India Gaming Report 2025, India accounts for 20% of the world’s gaming user base and 15.1% of global gaming app downloads. The domestic industry, valued at USD 3.7 billion in 2024, is projected to grow to USD 9.1 billion by 2029, with nearly 1,888 startups and USD 3 billion in FDI attracted over the past five years.
Gamescom 2025 in Context
Gamescom remains one of the biggest gatherings for the gaming industry. Last year’s edition drew nearly 335,000 visitors and 1,500 exhibitors. This year, Nintendo returned after a hiatus, showcasing its record-selling Switch 2 console, while Microsoft’s Xbox division displayed new portable hardware expected later in the year. Sony, however, opted out of the 2025 edition.
Despite high-profile launches, the industry faces headwinds, with job cuts and studio closures continuing to affect global players. Microsoft announced in July it would cut 9,000 jobs, impacting studios like King, the developer of Candy Crush.
India’s Growing Role in Global Gaming
The India Pavilion at Gamescom builds on efforts initiated in 2024, when SEPC first organised a national showcase in Cologne. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasising the importance of the gaming sector as a driver of innovation and exports, India is steadily moving from being just a gaming market to becoming a game creator for the world.
“This pavilion is not just about participation; it is about positioning India as a future leader in gaming and digital entertainment exports,” said Dr. Abhay Kumar Sinha, Director General of SEPC.
Key Takeaway: The India Pavilion at Gamescom 2025 reinforces India’s ambition to lead in gaming, AVGC, and e-sports, while providing its developers a premium platform to showcase innovation, attract global collaborations, and expand their footprint in the USD 300 billion global gaming industry.
