Introducing GDAI, India's First Video Games Trade Association

The establishment of the India Game Developers Conference in 2008 marked a significant milestone in the Indian gaming industry, facilitating collaboration and organization among developers and showcasing their work to the global community. The formation of the Game Developer Association of India (GDAI) last month has taken this collaboration to the next level, with the nation's first games-specific trade body being led by a governing council of over 30 experienced industry leaders and a formal board of veterans. Sridhar Muppidi, co-founder of mobile developer Yesgnome, has been appointed as the first president of GDAI. According to Muppidi, the growth of the gaming industry in India has created a need for a unified dialogue with policymakers. GDAI was established to address this need, working closely with the government to address talent shortages and create an environment that fosters the success of Indian IPs on a global scale. Muppidi is supported by a team of six full-time staff members who handle GDAI's operations and explore new initiatives. The trade body has already gained significant traction, with 200 members signed up, including all of the top games studios in India, and a waiting list of over 1,000 individuals and companies. The demand for GDAI is evident, and Muppidi points to this as proof that such a body is necessary in the Indian market. Unlike other associations in related fields, GDAI focuses heavily on talent development, working with educational institutions to include game development electives and advocating for policies that attract international talent. GDAI's financial independence, thanks to initiatives like IGDC, enables the organization to take a neutral stance in policy advocacy, without being tied to specific interests. The organization's goal is to make India one of the top three game development countries in the world in terms of revenue and quality work. To achieve this goal, GDAI has plans to set up incubators with state governments to establish games development hubs across the country. The organization also aims to advise the national government on regulatory matters that may affect games companies, with the government showing interest and receptivity to the industry's concerns. GDAI will continue to run the India pavilion at international games events and grow IGDC, which has been instrumental in providing exposure for Indian developers and connecting them with global studios, publishers, and platforms. The organization aims to provide year-round support to Indian developers, from talent development and funding to policy advocacy, and elevate them on a global stage. India is a crucial emerging market with a huge population, and Muppidi estimates that 15% of all players globally can be found in India. The audience has begun engaging with games more significantly over the past six years and is starting to spend more on the pastime, creating a stable local market for Indian developers to build and refine their games while gaining the expertise needed to expand globally.