KJCKorea
Journal Central

This study compares the growth trajectories and policy orientations of the gaming industries in India and China. Both countries experienced a rapid expansion of their gaming sectors during periods of economic growth and digital transformation, yet the growth sources and government roles diverge sharply. China’s game industry evolved under a state-led model that combined protectionism with technological learning, enabling domestic developers to dominate the national market and expand globally. In contrast, India’s growth has been driven primarily by its young population and the widespread adoption of the mobile internet, but inconsistent regulations and a low monetization structure have limited qualitative progress in India’s case. The findings suggest that for India to achieve sustainable development in its gaming sector, greater policy coherence, investment in domestic development capabilities, and the creation of a selfsufficient industrial ecosystem are essential.

This study analyzes the sociopolitical context of mobile gaming in India and examines how online games influence patterns of social network formation, levels of social trust, and attitudes toward openness among young mobile-game users within the highly segmented Indian society. The analysis is based on survey results from a university student population. Measures included items related to social consciousness―such as trust, tolerance, identity, fairness, and perceptions of inequality―as well as questions concerning quality of life and mobile-gaming behavior. The findings show that among young adults with mobile multiplayer gaming experience, the social significance of games, now firmly established as e-sports, has become noticeably prominent. Respondents reported that mobile games “enhance teamwork and cooperation,” “enable communication with others,” and “promote a spirit of challenge.” Importantly, in India, where friendship networks are often strongly restricted by caste boundaries, mobile gaming has enabled young players to experience achievements based on individual performance within anonymous cyber spaces and through cooperative interactions with diverse participants. In other words, the results confirm that mobile games in India are opening possibilities for interactions and exchanges across heterogeneous social groups.