Gaming is becoming more than just a way to pass time for Gen Z, with most young gamers in India saying it helps them connect with like-minded people. According to a new study by Infinix India and CyberMedia Research (CMR), 97% of serious gamers and 85% of casual gamers said gaming helps them build connections and find communities. The study surveyed 2,057 smartphone users aged 16 to 25 across 16 Indian cities. Released ahead of the Infinix GT 50 Pro launch on October 27, the findings highlight how friendships, shared gaming sessions and online communities are shaping young Indians’ gaming habits.The study examined two distinct gaming audiences: Serious Gamers, who spend more than 12 hours gaming weekly, typically in sessions exceeding 120 minutes, and Hyper-Casual/Casual Gamers, who play up to 11 hours a week, generally in sessions of up to an hour.The findings reveal a generation for whom gaming extends well beyond entertainment. Gaming is no longer a boys’ club. Nearly one in three are women, with female participation reaching 36% among hyper-casual gamers, which reflects how gaming has become a mainstream social activity across gender lines.Miraj Gupta, CMO, Infinix India, said, “For years, conversations around gaming smartphones have largely been about performance, frame rates and benchmarks. But gaming today is also about people. It is friends coming together for a quick gaming session after work, couples finding a new way to spend an evening, or siblings waiting to play their favourite game together. The Infinix–CMR study reinforces what we have been observing: Gen Z doesn’t just play games, it plays together. With the GT 50 Pro, we’re taking that understanding beyond the smartphone and building an ecosystem that makes gaming more connected, flexible and social. Because the future of mobile gaming isn’t just about how well you play, but also about who you play with.”Prabhu Ram, Vice President – Industry Research Group, CyberMedia Research (CMR), said, “Gaming is increasingly becoming a way for India’s Gen Z to connect, build communities and express its identity. Its influence extends well beyond gameplay, shaping how young consumers discover games, evaluate devices and personalise their experiences. Yet battery drain and overheating remain persistent constraints. For device makers, the opportunity lies in delivering a more complete gaming experience, where sustained performance complements the social and personal dimensions of play.“
Key findings of the Infinix-CMR study
- One of the major findings of the survey is that socialising has emerged as one of the leading motivations for mobile gaming. Nearly half of both gaming audiences cite socialising with friends and others as a reason to play, including 45% of Serious Gamers and 51% of Hyper-Casual/Casual Gamers.
- For 97% of Serious Gamers, gaming helps them connect with like-minded people and communities. The sentiment is equally strong among Hyper-Casual/Casual Gamers, with 85% agreeing.
- Gaming decisions are heavily shaped by trusted circles. Among Serious Gamers, 88% identify friends, family and gaming communities as major influences on their choice of games. This extends to device consideration as well, with word of mouth (67%) and recommendations from friends and family (66%) emerging as important influences.
- Some of the most meaningful gaming moments happen when friends come together after a long day. The study found that 51% of Serious Gamers and 49% of Hyper-Casual/Casual Gamers stay up late to try game updates or play with friends. That connection also creates a sense of missing out. Around 40% of Serious Gamers report feeling left out when they miss gaming conversations, while 54% of casual gamers experience some level of disconnection. Gaming, for many, has become an ongoing social conversation they want to remain part of.
- For Gen Z, how they play is increasingly a reflection of who they are. A 92% of Serious Gamers believe they can express their personality better through gaming. Further, 87% of Serious Gamers and 79% of Hyper-Casual/Casual Gamers say their gaming setup represents their identity. This extends into virtual worlds, with 82% of Serious Gamers saying their in-game avatars, skins and outfits reflect their personal style.
- While gamers are investing more time and identity into their gaming experiences, device limitations continue to interrupt play. Battery drain affects 62% of Serious Gamers, while 60% of Hyper-Casual/Casual Gamers report overheating as a concern.
- As mentioned above, the survey comes ahead of the Infinix GT 50 Pro launch on October 27. The smartphone is teased to come with its “Game Together” ecosystem, bringing together a gaming smartphone, GT NX Controller, GT NX Station, MagCharge Cooler 2.0 and cloud gaming capabilities.
