Gaming – Page 9 – storyboard18

How gaming has expanded beyond modes of entertainment

Telangana could be the first state in India to introduce comprehensive esports policies.

This month marked National Video Game Day and so Siddharth Nayyar, co-founder and CRO, Max Level, reflected on how video games provide with a medium to express creativity and sometimes to build social connections.

Indian gaming industry awaits tax exemptions, SEZ in upcoming budget

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be presenting the Budget on July 23, Tuesday

Recently, a consortium of 70 Indian gaming companies wrote to the PMO and I&B Ministry suggesting a reduction of GST on video games to a 12 percent bracket to promote sustainability and better cash flow for game companies, as well as exemptions on import/customs duties, IGST, and any cess for proprietary hardware development kits used for testing and developing video games.

Cheating scandal hits Philips OneBlade BGMI Cup, Nodwin bans three teams

Recently, Nodwin Gaming disqualified and banned three teams from the Philips OneBlade Battleground Mobile India Cup 2024 for cheating by using unauthorized and unethical methods during the official esports tournament.

CS Esports, Falcon Esports, and RK Esports were banned for using third-party software in their initial five matches. Interestingly, they were among the top four teams in the overall standings after Day 1.

Indian esports ecosystem slows down. Who is to blame?

India's gaming industry is second-largest after China with the community comprising 500 million gamers

In India, the esports ecosystem revolves around two major game titles, Krafton’s Battleground Mobile India (BGMI) and Riot Games’ first-person shooter (FPS) game Valorant. Valve’s Counter-Strike 2 has yet to make a significant impact.

Women outpace men at workplace in India’s gaming industry: Report

Incubators serve as a platform for young game developers and studios, providing critical resources like game development tools, testing environments, and infrastructure. Specialized gaming incubators can guide these startups on creating video games for local and global markets, helping them overcome entry barriers and thrive.

India’s gaming sector experienced a 20-fold increase in overall workforce between 2018 and 2023 with 97.56 CAGR

Indian gaming consortium writes to PMO, I&B Ministry seeking tax relief and clear classification

The representation letter to the Prime Minister’s Office and to the office of the Minister of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) was signed by 70 companies from the Indian video games and esports industry.

The consortium has made 10 suggestions to the newly formed government which includes reducing the GST on video games to a 12% bracket to promote sustainability and better cash flow for game companies, exempt import/customs duties, IGST, and any cess for proprietary hardware development kits used for testing and developing video games.

EXCLUSIVE: Ampverse Shuts 7Sea Esports; Founder says ‘can’t see growth trajectory in India’

Currently, 7Sea Esports has shut down its operations in India. The founder of 7Sea esports claimed that he cannot see a growth trajectory in esports as a segment in India.

Currently, 7Sea Esports has shut down its operations in India.

Sachin Tendulkar, Adar Poonawalla-backed JetSynthesys to exit from Skyesports?: Exclusive

In 2023, Skyesports organized India's first-ever franchise-based Esports League, Skyesports Masters, in which 8 franchise teams participated for a prize pool of Rs 2 crore.

In August 2021, JetSynthesys acquired Skyesports, later renaming it Jet Skyesports, with the aim of building esports at the grassroots level in India.

India’s iGaming: Taxed to extinction, or a catalyst for change?

If the Supreme Court denies the requested relief, the consequences for the online gaming industry could be severe. The industry may be driven underground, with more businesses operating in gray areas, writes Aruna Sharma, Development Economist and retd Secretary GoI.

This tax is contentious because the total wagered amount includes both entry fees and prize money, which do not fit neatly into the definitions of goods and services, writes Aruna Sharma, Development Economist and retd Secretary GoI.

Telangana sets the stage for India’s distinct esports policies: Exclusive

In addition to the basic rate of 30 percent, a health and education cess at the rate of 4 percent of the amount of tax is levied. Thus the effective tax rate on lottery winnings comes up to 31.2 percent. (Image sourced via Unsplash)

Stakeholders met Telangana’s IT Minister to address issues like taxation on esports prize pools, distinguishing between skill-based and chance-based games, regulating gaming content creators and establishment of regulatory bodies.