Keeping in tandem with its vision to contribute to the growth of PC Gaming in India, CyberPowerPC India, a global leader in custom gaming computers who debuted in the Indian market earlier this year, has announced a unique giveaway at GamingCon 2024, one of India’s biggest gaming festivals. Two lucky attendees will have the chance to take home CyberPowerPC’s premium customised gaming rigs, the Xtreme 500 and Xtreme Arctic 500, each valued at over INR 1 lakh and designed to deliver a best-in-class gaming experience.

Taking place at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, from November 30 to December 1, 2024, GamingCon 2024 will be featuring gaming influencers, streamers, esports tournaments, cosplay competitions, a board games arena, F1 simulators, and much more.

After redeeming their event ticket for a band, attendees will receive a lucky draw coupon with instructions. First, they need to visit the CyberPowerPC booth and spin the wheel to perform an assigned task. Next, attendees must participate in other exciting activities and games. Upon completion, they will receive stamps on their coupon.

Finally, they have to enter their details on the coupon and drop it in the lucky draw box at the CyberPowerPC booth. Participants also stand a chance to win exclusive CyberPowerPC merchandise at their booth.

Winners will be announced the same day at the CyberPowerPC booth and must claim their PC within 10 seconds, or another draw will occur. The PCs will be handed over on Day 2, at the close of event hours.

Commenting on the giveaway, Vishal Parekh, Chief Operating Officer, CyberPowerPC India said, “We are excited to join GamingCon 2024 and host this amazing giveaway. At CyberPowerPC, we take pride in delivering high-performance, customised gaming PCs that offer an immersive experience, and both of the PCs featured in this contest are prime examples of that. Through initiatives like this, we aim to not only inspire and empower gamers, ensuring they have access to cutting-edge technology, but also contribute to the growth of India’s burgeoning PC gaming community. We want gamers, whether on mobile, console, or PC, to feel the power of a custom gaming rig and understand how superior hardware can transform their overall gaming experience. CyberPowerPC India invites all attendees to participate, experience the excitement firsthand, and join us in making this an unforgettable experience.”

Apart from the giveaway, attendees can explore CyberPowerPC’s innovative website at their booth and see how easy it is to customise a PC through the Configurator. Additionally, they can experience their revolutionary EZPC module, which allows gamers to quickly customise their dream PC or select the right one in just 30 seconds based on the games they play, with options for over 25 popular titles, including Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, Elden Ring, and Fortnite.

The recently released ‘Indian Gamer Behaviour and Market Insights’ report by Niko Partners shows that 77.3% of PC gamers in India spent more on games in Q1 2024 than the previous year, outpacing mobile and console gaming. Additionally, Steam reported a 150% increase in new users in India from 2019 to 2024, highlighting the growing interest in PC gaming.

The increase in spending and new users highlights gamers’ growing desire to enhance their gaming experience. By giving attendees the opportunity to not just try customized gaming PCs at their GamingCon 2024 booth but also win free ones, CyberPowerPC is dedicated to supporting the growth of India’s PC gaming community.

The recently concluded Minecraft battle, Creators Rumble, an initiative by OP Gaming, marked an electrifying debut as Team Diamond emerged as winners, showcasing exceptional skill and teamwork to secure the top spot with an impressive score of 102 points. The winning team, which included GamerFleet, Ro9nie, DevXD, and EpicDipic, outshone fierce contenders Team Gold, featuring Mr. Lapis, Siddharth, CassalFx, and Pahadi Gamer, who finished in second place with a commendable 92 points.

The tournament was a massive success, drawing over 7,400 live-viewers during the stream and reaching a massive audience of 4 million and counting. This groundbreaking event was lauded by the Indian Minecraft community as a pivotal moment in competitive gaming.

GamerFleet, part of the victorious Team Diamond, shared his excitement saying, “Competing alongside some of the country’s best gamers was exciting and a much-needed boost for the Indian Minecraft gaming community. I hope we continue to have similar tournaments in the future, as they not only bring excitement but also contribute to uplift the gaming community in India as  a whole.”

The tournament also featured appearances by gaming legend BeastBoyShub, who encouraged participants and fueled their competitive spirit. 

The tournament saw 24 Minecraft gamers, divided into six teams of four, engage in intense battles that tested their strategic prowess and creativity which made the tournament a huge success and connected deeply with the minecraft community. Fans hailed the tournament as a turning point for the Indian Minecraft community.

The inaugural Creators Rumble featured popular Indian Minecraft gamers, including  Mythpat (Mithilesh Patankar), Gamerfleet (Anshu Bisht), Piyush Joshi Gaming (Piyush Joshi), AndreoBee (Naveen Yadav), MC Addon (Dipanshu Prajapati), PSD1 (Prathamesh), EpicDipic (Deepak Kumar), ShadowShooter (Pankaj Kumar Sahoo), I.M.Kopi (Bibek Jung Kunwar), Proboiz (Paresh Solanki), Mr Lapis (Jitender Kumar), GameBeat (Nitin Tyagi), Risible Twins (Kartik and Kunal), Yug Playz (Yug Thakkar), Agnit Plays (Vinit Aggarwal), GamerJatin (Jatin Makhija), Spunky Insaan (Harshit Nema), Pahadi Gaming (Lokesh Karakoti), DevXD (Pankaj Dev), Ro9nie (Rohan Chhabra), Sidh4rth (Siddharth), CassalFx (Shrey Patel) and Dattrax Gaming (Harvest Dewangan).

With the success of the Creators Rumble inaugural edition, OP Gaming, a subsidiary of OprahFx, plans to build on this momentum, fostering opportunities for Indian creators to compete on platforms and inspiring the next generation of gamers.

Current State of the Market (2024)

How would you describe the current state of the iGaming market in Japan in 2024? Have there been any significant milestones or shifts this year?

Despite the uncertainty of how the future Police campaigns will change the iGaming landscape in Japan, the number of online casino users including sports bettors seems to be growing steadily, and more online casinos are entering the Japanese market.  One thing in common within the industry is that companies no longer hire anyone based in Japan for the Japanese market.   

What are the most popular types of games or gambling activities among Japanese players right now?

Social casino games are on the up. Besides Pachinko-type slots, Plinko, Crash and Hi-Lo are increasingly popular among casino players.

How has the regulatory environment evolved in 2024? Have there been any notable changes that impacted operators or consumers?

In 2024, the Japanese Police arrested more people than the previous years in relation to use of online casinos. Streamers have become a clear target as well as payment providers based in Japan.  Encouraged by the current Prime Minister’s support, the Police declared in August that they would investigate more iGaming affiliates and online casino operators even outside Japan.  The Police made over 100 arrests so far in 2024 in relation to use of online casinos.  

With more risks associated with promoting online casinos, streamers command higher fees than ever.  Some YouTubers are migrating to other platforms trying to avoid detection by the Police.   

What role has mobile gaming played in shaping the iGaming market in Japan, and how does it compare to desktop or other platforms?

Japan is a mobile market. Over 70% of players play on a mobile phone. As they are also technology-driven people, the usability of the casino platform on mobile phones could be the key to acquire and retain players. Those operators who study the Japanese mobile players’ behaviour and preferences would have enjoyed better results in both casino and sports betting in 2024.      

Have advancements in technology, such as blockchain or virtual reality, been widely adopted in Japan’s iGaming sector?

More and more people are shifting to using cryptocurrency when they play online casinos. The demographics of crypt users are also wider in Japan. User age could be up to 60. 

Challenges and Opportunities

What do you see as the biggest challenges currently facing operators and other stakeholders in the Japanese market?

Japan is an affiliate-driven market. The affiliate/ streamer costs are expected to increase as the risks increase.  As direct marketing i.e. through local media is limited, boosting brand awareness can be tricky. You have to come up with creative ideas and catch the right moment. 

With increasing competition from both local and international operators, how are companies differentiating themselves to attract Japanese players?

To start with, operators tend to hire native Japanese speakers to make sure the site is fully localized and to meet the needs of Japanese users. Then the branding. They also tend to offer bonuses and promotions that are appealing to Japanese users.  

Are there any notable examples of successful partnerships between operators and local entities or institutions in Japan?

Live streaming providers and fighting event organisers are known to work with operators well.

How do you think offshore and unlicensed operators affect the market landscape and trust among consumers?

Not many unlicensed operators are known or promoted in the Japanese market. 

Looking Ahead to 2025

What key trends or developments do you expect to emerge in Japan’s iGaming market in 2025?

More new Japanese players via social media would play at online casinos in 2025.  More deposits will be made in cryptocurrency.

Are there specific regulatory reforms or discussions that might significantly impact the market next year?

The Police investigation efforts might impact the market, depending on who is involved and when they happen.

With the market’s growth, do you foresee new entrants, both local and international, establishing a foothold in Japan?

I expect to see more newcomers in the Japanese market, as they have room for growth.  Having said that, they might struggle in the competition unless they have strong branding and region-specific strategies.   

How important is localization for operators planning to enter or expand in the Japanese iGaming market? What should they prioritize?

It is extremely important to have the site fully localized. It is the top priority.  Some affiliates don’t even work with you unless your site is fully localized and provides good Japanese customer support. 

What technological innovations do you believe will drive growth in the iGaming sector in Japan in 2025?

Any functionality that brings about a community feel and better usability for users. 

Insights and Predictions

Do you think Japan will ever move towards a more unified or liberal regulatory framework for online gambling? If so, what might catalyze this change?

Land casinos have been legalized and one is expected to be built in Osaka by 2030. Unfortunately, there is no sign of this new move being extended to online gambling in the near future. The government is opposed to it.

What advice would you give to iGaming companies looking to launch in Japan or expand their presence in 2025?

Look out for any new on the Police investigations on operators based outside Japan and any arrest of affiliates. You make sure to have native Japanese speakers to oversee the latest developments.  

How do you see Japanese consumers’ preferences evolving in terms of gameplay, payment systems, and interaction with platforms?

Players always liked everything fast, but now they like it faster.  Expectation of faster service in payments, game loading, support’s response, etc is higher than ever. 

They also tend to like the feeling of ‘belonging’ whether as in VIP, community chat, player-to player activities. 

Broader Market Perspectives

Lastly, what excites you the most about the future of iGaming in Japan?

As Japanese people are more familiar with international sporting events with live streaming services, I believe that the sports betting market will grow in the future.  There have been talks within the government to legalize sports betting, too.  

Sachiko West can be reached via LinkedIn.