HIGHLIGHTS
- Vi Games is a collaboration between Vodafone Idea and Nazara Technologies.
- The new service provides mobile games from ten popular genres.
- Last year, Vodafone Idea expanded its music and video content offerings.
Vodafone Idea launched its gaming service on Monday, in collaboration with mobile game developer Nazara Technologies. The service, called Vi Games, is said to provide more than 1,200 Android and HTML5-based mobile games spanning 10 categories straight through the Vi app. Vi Games offers gaming titles to both prepaid and postpaid clients. While certain games need a membership, Vodafone Idea is also providing over 250 free games on the platform to all of its subscribers.
Vi Games offers mobile games in the following genres: Action, Adventure, Arcade, Casual, Education, Fun, Puzzle, Racing, Sports, and Strategy. There are numerous games based on Disney cartoons and movies, such Big Hero 6 Bot Fight, Castle of Illusion, Ducktales Remastered, and Disney Kickoff.
Vodafone Idea's gaming material is divided into three categories: Platinum Games, Gold Games, and Free Games.
Gold Games are offered via a Gold Pass, which includes 30 game titles for Rs. 50 for postpaid customers and Rs. 56 for prepaid users – good for 30 days. Platinum Games, on the other hand, will be available through a Platinum Pass for Rs. 25 for postpaid customers and Rs. 26 for prepaid users. Free Games, on the other hand, are accessible as free-to-download titles via the Vi app.
Vodafone Idea intends to gradually expand the Vi Games concept with social gaming and e-sports. The primary goal of the new service appears to be to increase average revenue per user (ARPU) and remain competitive with Airtel and Jio.
"We are seeing a huge increase in gaming consumption in India, with more than 95 percent of gaming aficionados adopting mobile devices to enjoy a broad variety of content," stated Avneesh Khosla, Chief Marketing Officer, Vodafone Idea, in a news release. "We regard gaming as a primary priority area of our digital content strategy, and we hope to construct a complete play embracing most aspects of gaming in order to position Vi as a preferred destination for both casual and serious gamers."
At the moment, Vi Games does not appear to be bringing any popular games to mobile players to play. The operator, on the other hand, claims to offer a diverse choice of gaming material from numerous brands in India.
According to a FICCI-EY report, gaming is growing in the country, with over 500 million users expected in 2022 alone. According to a separate report by market research firm Niko Partners, India's PC and mobile gaming revenue is expected to reach nearly $1.5 billion (roughly Rs. 11,500) by 2025.
Vodafone Idea merged the Vi Movies and TV app into the Vi app last year to begin selling music and videos through its main app. In December, the operator also announced a partnership with Hungama Music to provide free access to songs, music, and videos to both prepaid and postpaid consumers.
