WHO WE ARE
GDAI is India’s national industry body for game development, bringing together developers, studios, publishers, technology firms, investors, academic institutions and esports entities. Built by and for the industry, GDAI strengthens India’s game development ecosystem and helps position the country as a global hub for interactive entertainment.
WHAT WE DO
GDAI supports the game ecosystem through events, state chapters, game jams, talent programs, policy engagement, international partnerships and community platforms. From student creators to established studios, GDAI drives collaboration, knowledge sharing and market access to build a stronger and more globally competitive industry.
WHY IT MATTERS
India has over 500 million gamers, nearly 20% of the world’s gaming population but contributes 1% of global gaming revenue. Player spending crossed $1 billion in 2025 and the gamer base is projected to reach 724 million by 2029. GDAI works to close this gap by building talent, championing original IP, driving policy and creating global opportunities for the industry.
SHAPING THE FUTURE
As India’s gaming industry grows, a unified ecosystem becomes essential. GDAI fosters collaboration, supports original IP creation and connects people, ideas and opportunities across the value chain. By creating the conditions for long-term growth, GDAI helps the industry compete globally with greater clarity, direction and scale.
Working closely with stakeholders, policymakers, and ecosystem partners to support stronger and structured development. Focused on dialogue, representation, collaboration and enabling long-term, holistic industry growth.
Connecting Indian developers with the global ecosystem and bringing international companies into India’s game development landscape. Enabling collaborations, market access, exposure, and opportunities across markets.
Building future talent through industry-led learning and mentorship. Focused on bridging the gap between education and real-world game development through practical exposure, collaboration and skill-building initiatives.
Supporting and celebrating women across the ecosystem. From community building to mentorship, visibility and recognition, this initiative creates space for stronger representation and meaningful industry participation.
India’s largest and oldest game development conference, bringing together developers, studios, publishers, investors, and global voices to shape the future of game development in India and beyond.
Backing early-stage studios with mentorship, industry access, strategic guidance and network support. The program helps teams navigate challenges, refine ideas and build stronger networks to help take their studios forward.
An immersive program for creators to explore, experiment and build. Designed to support individuals and teams in developing original ideas with industry guidance.
GDAI Game Connect champions gaming by empowering individual institutions to host jams, helping foster talent and open access through industry-vetted challenges, mentorship opportunities and professional evaluations.
Positioning India as a major contributor to the global gaming economy by enabling studios to scale and compete internationally.
Creating large-scale employment opportunities across development, design, technology and allied sectors.
Building a thriving ecosystem of studios across India, from indie creators to globally competitive companies.
Driving growth, innovation and collaboration to establish India as a leading centre for game development worldwide.
GDAI is the national industry body for India’s game development ecosystem. It grew out of the India Game Developer Conference (IGDC), which began in 2008 as a small gathering and became South Asia’s leading game development conference. Building on that foundation, GDAI was formed in 2024 to give the industry a unified voice, representing studios of all sizes, indie teams, giving them a voice on policy, growth and the global stage.
GDAI has three membership categories:
Indie – Small studios with fewer than 15 employees and revenue of ₹1.5 crore or less. ₹500/year.
Corporate – Established studios with 15+ employees or revenue above ₹1.5 crore. ₹10,000/year.
Investor – Investors or firms financing the gaming industry, registered in India. ₹25,000/year.
GDAI serves 200+ member studios across five key pillars – Policy, Education & Skilling, Incubation, Market Access, and Community Building. From grassroots talent initiatives and state chapters to global representation at events like Game Developers Conference, Gamescom, and Tokyo Game Show, we support India’s growing game development industry. Besides our flagship event IGDC, Developer Day, Game Connect and Women in Games are our initiatives to foster talent, community and industry growth.
Visit gdai.in/become-a-member and fill out the form for your membership category. Memberships run for 1, 2 or 3 years. Fees start at ₹500/year for Individual and Indie members.
GDAI has 3 types of membership plans:
1. Corporate
2. Indie
3. Investor
For more details and membership benefits please go to https://gdai.in/membership/
IGDC – India’s biggest and oldest game developer conference. IGDC 2026 is scheduled for 28–29 October in Chennai.
Developer Days – Single-day city events across various cities in India.
Game Connect – Industry-academia collaboration through college game jams, with winners receiving IGDC tickets and studio internships.
Women in Games – Celebrating and strengthening women’s presence in the gaming ecosystem.
Game Jam Titans – School-level game development competitions nationwide.
Global Connect – India’s presence at GDC and other international platforms.
Yes. The Individual membership is open to any Indian resident – including students and beginners – for ₹500/year.
Game Connect is specifically built for college students, with game jams, faculty-guided participation and industry exposure. The Road to Game Jam alone drew 5,500+ registrations from 1,650+ colleges across 453 cities. There’s a clear place in GDAI for people at the very start of their journey.
GDAI’s 21-member governing council – formed in February 2026 – brings together studios, publishers, platforms, esports organisations and tech providers to engage policymakers on the issues that matter: taxation, responsible gaming, IP protection and ease of doing business.
GDAI also works directly with the Government of India on initiatives like the WAVES ‘Create in India Challenge’, shaping programs that open real opportunities for the developer community.
Follow GDAI across all channels:
• Website: gdai.in
• Instagram: @gdaindia
• LinkedIn: Game Developer Association of India (GDAI)
• X (Twitter): @GDAI_in
• Discord: discord.com/invite/yyMgkyMnRq
• IGDC: indiagdc.com
