Apple Arcade has launched a new puzzle game 'Illustrated' which is from the makers of another puzzle game 'Patterned', and brought updates to a few games, including 'Grindstone'
Uttar Pradesh has emerged as the top destination for mobile gamers, followed by Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar and West Bengal, according to India Mobile Gaming Report 2022 by gaming platform Mobile Premier League released on Sunday. Odisha, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Himachal Pradesh have seen the highest increase in mobile gamers in 2022 compared to 2021. In terms of games, Ludo Dice, Snakes and Ladders, Carrom, Fruit Dart, Block Puzzle and Poker were some of the top games played by gamers across different Indian cities. In Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi, Ghaziabad and Allahabad have the highest share of gamers. "Thirty-six per cent of the total gamers in UP hail from these cities. This is the second year in a row that Lucknow has earned recognition for its gaming prowess -- last year's IMGR revealed that growth in Lucknow outpaced all metros," the report said. Last year, India became the largest consumer of mobile games in the world, recording over 15 billion .
The ministry earlier this month released draft rules for online gaming for public consultation
Rajeev Chandrasekhar added that many of the burning issues around online user harm, safety and trust, safeguarding children from addictive intermediaries or platforms will be addressed
Govt should not overregulate the gaming industry
The new regulations may make it necessary for gaming companies to install mechanisms to prevent in-game purchases by anyone below 18 years of age
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Online gaming companies will not be allowed to engage in betting on the outcome of games under the principle laid in draft rules, Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Monday. The minister said that as of now, all permissible online gaming will need to be registered with a self-regulatory organisation that will be accountable to the online gaming rules. "As per the principles laid under the rule, wagering on the outcome of game will not be allowed. All online gaming companies will have to register with the self-regulatory body that will decide on the action required to be taken as per the rules," Chandrasekhar said. The Ministry of Electronics and IT has published draft rules for online gaming companies and has invited comments on the same by January 17. The objective of the rule is to grow the online gaming sector and encourage innovation, he added. The minister said that he expects the online gaming rules to be ready in early February.
The government has proposed a self-regulatory mechanism, mandatory verification of players and physical Indian address for online gaming companies, according to the draft online gaming rules published on Monday. Online gaming companies will be covered under the new IT rules that were issued in 2021 for social media platforms. The online gaming platforms are expected to comply with the laws of the land, including any such law that relates to gambling or betting or the age at which an individual is competent to enter into a contract. "The draft amendments are aimed at addressing the said need while enabling the growth of the online gaming industry in a responsible manner," the notice said. The draft amendments envisage that an online gaming intermediary will observe the due diligence required under the rules, "including reasonable efforts to cause its users not to host, display, upload, publish, transmit or share an online game not in conformity with Indian law, including any law on
As per a gazette notification issued earlier this week, the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) has become the nodal ministry to govern online gaming industry
Enforcement Directorate carried out search operation on total 1548 bank accounts involved in cyber crimes and freezed amount of Rs 42.21 crore in case related to Mobile Gamming Application, E-nuggets
The states will also be asked to appoint grievance redressal executives and nodal contract executives
Experts also believe that taxation is not a suitable instrument for forcing disciplined behaviour among players, which is better achieved through technological interventions
The Department of Sports under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has been notified as the nodal agency for e-sports
The move is aimed at improving reporting and transparency in these sectors
The industry came under scrutiny after the proliferation of games like cards, casinos, and fantasy sports among young people led to addiction and financial losses, with some reported cases of suicide
The industry's worry is the "knee-jerk reaction" of states in regulating the industry, Barde said
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MeitY could also call for formation of a self-regulatory organisation; policy release likely in 2-3 weeks