There is no room for debate while discussing the speedy upward trend of the gaming industry growth and proportionally the demand for talented game developers and designers.
India is emerging to be an important market for the gaming sector due to two key factors. One is that India’s youth population is the largest in the world and the other is that many reputed multinational gaming companies are investing in the Indian gaming industry, in turn, increasing its valuation and growth.
Let’s take into consideration that with the current status of the gaming industry, the salaries offered to fresher’s is anywhere between INR 3 lakhs to 6 lakhs per annum depending upon individual portfolio which is equivalent to an IT engineer if not more. The average national salary for senior game developers and designers is INR 12 lakhs per annum and can go up to INR 40 lakhs per annum based on their experience and skill. Compared to five years ago, the salary range has gone up with an annual growth rate of 6%. It is to be kept in mind that the gaming industry is the fastest growing industry in the world while other conventional industries are more or less stagnant. Therefore, the scope for higher salaries and bigger opportunities is never-ending.
Previously, the Indian game companies were mainly utilized for completing the outsourced work of international companies. But in recent years, with the availability of smart phones to the common man which has massively increased the scope of the Indian gaming industry, we have started developing many mobile games within India. The success of these mobile games has led to Indian game companies developing not only mobile games but also reputed AAA titles. The job opportunities have multiplied in recent years with the increase in gaming by all age groups especially the enormous youth population in India. Even in this pandemic time, the video game industry is booming as more and more people look toward gaming for leisure rather than OTT content. Multinational game companies have opened up multiple branches in India over the last five years which led to a sky-rocketing increase in the growth, employment opportunities and demand in this field.
Commenting on the Game Industry rise Rinesh Thomas, Lead Programmer, Ubisoft, India said
“Indian game industry has grown exponentially in the last few years; Indian developers are not just making games for the Indian audience but also games that are played by millions across the world. Gaming is silently becoming the main form of entertainment and a way to socialize virtually for many. The industry is booming and the appetite for games is increasing every year. These games require skilled professionals who can craft these experiences, what is lacking today is the industry and education partnerships which can bring in workplace ready professionals to the ecosystem.”
As mentioned above by an industry veteran such as Mr. Ritesh, there is much debate regarding the skills of Indian game developers. Most game companies hire software engineers and train them or graduates of gaming courses, who are found to be lacking in fundamental skills and require training too. These are the core problems that the industry faces now as the demand is increasing dramatically but companies are unable to find the correct talent and skill for their urgent requirements. Only a selected few colleges produce graduates with the necessary skill set and knowledge out of which Backstage Pass Institute of Gaming and Technology is one.
Such colleges enable practical learning and industry exposure by guiding students to build their own games and offering paid internship opportunities respectively. An increase in demand will lead to a competitive job market due to which education in game development and design has become crucial to develop the skills and nurture the talent of potential developers.
Experienced mentors to guide and develop your skills make learning a cake walk as opposed to self-learning or classroom learning. An excellent example for this is the ‘mentorship approach’ followed in a gaming college, Backstage Pass. Their alumni are working in prominent positions in multinational game companies in India, U.S, U.K, New Zealand etc. Some of the popular games their alumni were a part of are: Star Wars Squadrons, FIFA21, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and many more.
There is a lot of money being made globally by the games industry therefore; it is safe to assume that there will be a lot of money to make for aspiring game developers and designers. An incredible portfolio and skill set will take you a long way in procuring high-paid jobs as opportunities are bountiful in this industry now more than ever before.
Interested to know more about different bachelors and Advanced Diploma gaming courses offered by Backstage Pass Institute of Gaming and Technology?