Have you played a lot of video games developed in India lately? Probably not. It’s even hard to find examples outside of Raji: An Ancient Epic which had the chance to participate in the Square Enix Collective program and then be promoted by Nintendo as part of a temporary exclusivity. While they thought they had the opportunity to shine in the eyes of the world, the Indian studios of Ubisoft had much less luck with the remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, whose development responsibility was removed from them. for the benefit of Ubisoft Montreal. In this context and while the Indian market only has eyes for mobile video games, Sony Interactive Entertainment still hopes to witness the creation of quality local games with the announcement of its India Hero Project.
After the dragon, the tiger
” As part of our drive to ensure that PlayStation remains the best place to play, we are committed to developing regional incubation programs capable of identifying new developers around the world. The India Hero project is the result of this commitment and our confidence in the Indian games market. commented Radhika Thakur, Director of Market Strategy for Sony Interactive Entertainment India. “*Through mentorship, training and investment in these projects, PlayStation strives to lower the barrier to entry and showcase the most incredible talent emerging from India. We are pleased to announce this new initiative and our call for applications. »
Creators based in India can therefore consult the FAQ available here and submit their application to be part of the program and obtain financial and marketing support from PlayStation. The most promising games might even be published directly by Sony Interactive Entertainment, such as Lost Soul Aside and Convallaria under the China Hero Project.
According to the latest report from the specialist institute Niko Partners, India is the fastest growing market in Asia. Powered by mobile (98% of players use this platform), the Indian market generated $405 million in 2022 thanks to the support of 396 million players. Projections for 2026 show $1.4 billion in revenue and 630 million players, but no stats are available for the tiny console market. However, we know that the PlayStation brand, which has been officially present for 20 years, is largely dominant there.