State of Game Audio in India – Report from June 2024

I'm actively building & scaling the music, audio & gaming ecosystem in India. In that journey, I've met many talented folks who are interested in contributing. Here are a few observations from all the game audio efforts I’ve made in India so far (particularly from the context of audio folks. Numbers are based on all the interactions I’ve had):

💡 September 2024 report is now available here: State of Game Audio in India - Report from September 2024

🎮 🔉People already doing game audio projects:

1. Almost 90% of creatives who do game audio projects are primarily doing sound design & music for the “video” of the game. It’s a small step towards game audio, but is still the same as video post production with an added step of exporting STEMS.

2. Approximately 7% know game audio middleware and can do basic soundscape creation in it. Some of these are able to also communicate their thoughts to developers, however, they don’t necessarily understand code or game engine side of things.

3. There are less than 3% of creatives who understand game audio in all its essence from creative to technical knowledge and hands-on experience with implementing audio in game engines + audio middleware.

🎞️ 🔉People moving from linear media to game audio:

1. Now among the 90% in game audio, most folks are the linear media habitat and their comfort zone is sound design / music for visuals.

2. A lot of other folks from film industry have started exploring game audio in the past 1-2 year. It’s a good sign, however, the seriousness / true efforts lack behind. I feel this has more to do with the fact that majority of linear media audio creatives now find game audio “interesting” because the creative industry is moving in that direction and not because they want to. That said, many are finding this far more interesting.

3. The other reason why only a few of them are seriously progressing, is because of the learning curve and lack of established examples.

4. We’re in a phase where the game industry in India is scaling up and that would mean the game audio industry can too. And history is proof that mass finds something more comfortable only when they see “other successful stories” — particularly in India.

📈 So the question comes down to: would you like to be amongst the ones who set those examples or is your preference to wait and see how things work out for others? One way you can cruise through up the learning curve is by collaborating with other learners & experienced folks. Game Audio India is here to help. Note: YOU will have to put the efforts eventually. Joining the Game Audio India's Discord community, or any other for that matter, isn’t enough (or even necessary).

💡 September 2024 report is now available here: State of Game Audio in India - Report from September 2024