Cloud computing and instant browser platforms are dismantling the hardware dependency that defined gaming for decades, opening access to a billion new players.
Gaming is moving off the shelf and into the cloud, reaching players that consoles and app stores never could. (Photo: File)
New Delhi: The gaming industry has historically been defined by hardware. Access required the right console, sufficient local storage, and in many cases a significant upfront cost. Two developments are now changing that: cloud computing infrastructure that streams processing power to any device, and browser-based platforms that allow games to load and play directly in a web tab without installation.
Cloud infrastructure expands access
Cloud gaming routes processing to remote servers rather than the player's device. Xbox Cloud Gaming, NVIDIA GeForce Now, and Amazon Luna each expanded their infrastructure in 2025, using artificial intelligence to manage graphics rendering and reduce latency, according to a global gaming market analysis by Tech Research Online. Mid-range smartphones can now run titles that previously required dedicated gaming hardware.
India's average smartphone selling price fell to $274 in the first quarter of 2025, according to Mordor Intelligence. The country added 4,112 new 5G base stations in December 2025 alone, bringing the national total to 518,854. India has approximately 517 million gamers, representing around 20 per cent of the global gaming user base, according to demandsage.com. The India gaming market is projected to grow from $5.02 billion in 2026 to $9.89 billion by 2031, according to Mordor Intelligence. India's Union Budget 2026 also allocated Rs 250 crore for animation, visual effects, gaming and comics talent development, reflecting the government's growing focus on the digital gaming sector.
Browser platforms remove the installation step
Browser-based gaming allows players to load and play a game directly in a web tab. HTML5 and WebGL enable games to run across desktops, tablets, and mobile phones at production quality, according to TechFundingNews. The global browser games market is projected to reach $9.03 billion by 2029, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 3.1 per cent, according to The Business Research Company.
The scale these platforms have reached illustrates the demand: Poki, a self-funded 65-person company, recorded 100 million monthly active players and 1 billion gameplays in a single month in 2025, figures that place it alongside major console platforms, according to Access Newswire.
A broader shift across the industry
Cloud-streamed titles, browser platforms, and mini-games embedded within apps such as Telegram, YouTube, and Discord all reflect a wider move away from hardware-dependent distribution, according to a Naavik industry analysis. Advertising-supported games accounted for 46.18 per cent of India's total gaming revenue in 2025, with rewarded video ad completion rates exceeding 90 per cent, according to Mordor Intelligence. The India gaming market is expected to maintain a compound annual growth rate of 14.52 per cent through 2031.
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