India launches Game Publishers and Developers Association to drive its gaming and esports ambitions

• IGPDA’s first proposed partnership with Maharashtra aims to position Mumbai as a global games hub.
• Founding members include Nazara, Gametion, nCore, SuperGaming, Reliance Games, Tara Gaming, underDOGS, Aeos Games, and Dot9.
• The launch follows the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), a Centre of Excellence for AVGC-XR innovation.

The Indian Game Publishers and Developers Association (IGPDA) has been launched to support Prime Minister Modi’s vision of making India a global games and esports hub.

Backed by the new Online Gaming Bill, the IGPDA serves as India’s unified voice for publishers and developers, promoting Made-in-India IP, skill-building, and globally competitive AAA titles.

Its first proposed partnership with Maharashtra aims to position Mumbai as a games hub through supportive policies and industry investment.

Moreover, the IGPDA brought together companies shaping India’s gaming landscape, including Nazara Technologies, Gametion, nCore Games, SuperGaming, Reliance Games, Tara Gaming, underDOGS Studio, Aeos Games, and Dot9 Games. 

Long-term value 

This follows the launch of the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), a Centre of Excellence that aims to serve as a lighthouse institute for India’s AVGC-XR ecosystem, which includes innovation across animation, VFX, gaming, comics, and extended reality.

“Nazara's vision has always been anchored on IP-led growth," said Nazara CEO Nitish Mittersain. “The IGPDA aligns perfectly with this mission, ensuring Indian creativity thrives globally and creates sustainable long-term value."

Reliance Games CEO Amit Khanduja commented: “With the launch of IGPDA, we are committed to advancing the Make in India, for the World vision by producing original triple-A games that bring Indian creativity and stories to global audiences."

While India's gaming market already surpassed $1 billion in 2025, the industry itself has been thrown into turmoil after the government banned real-money gaming just days after its introduction. 

The move has also shaken investor confidence, since almost all foreign investment in India’s gaming market - $2.5bn out of $2.8bn between 2019 and 2024 - went into real-money gaming. 

As a result, leading companies like Nazara have seen their valuations hit hard, with its market cap dropping by hundreds of millions from $1.5bn to about $1.24bn in just a month.