India’s mobile gaming industry is thriving, with an estimated market value projected to reach $8.6 billion by 2027, and mobile gaming contributing a dominant 80% of the share. Maneet Khaira, CEO of Backbone, has been closely observing this explosive growth, which has been fuelled by affordable smartphones, cheaper data plans, and an enthusiastic player base.

Popular games like PUBG Mobile, Free Fire, and Call of Duty: Mobile have captured the imagination of millions, making gaming a mainstream activity rather than a niche hobby. This rapidly growing ecosystem provides fertile ground for innovative companies like Backbone to make a lasting impact.

The popularity of mobile gaming in India stems largely from its accessibility and affordability. With freemium models and advanced gaming experiences now available on budget-friendly smartphones, gaming has permeated urban centres and rural landscapes alike. Competitive eSports and tournaments with lucrative prize pools have further propelled India into the global gaming spotlight. Players not only game for entertainment but also build communities and aim for professional recognition in the burgeoning eSports sector.

As India’s mobile gaming scene evolves, the demand for innovative solutions to enhance gameplay continues to grow. In this interview, Maneet Khaira sheds light on how Backbone plans to revolutionise the gaming experience in India, addressing challenges and envisioning a future where high-quality gaming is accessible to all.

Firstpost: India has a massive online, non-money gaming sector, and it is by and large community-driven. How does Backbone plan to leverage India’s booking gaming sector?Maneet Khaira: Backbone recognizes the immense potential of India’s booming gaming sector, driven by a vibrant and engaged community despite the high barriers to entry posed by the cost of gaming consoles and PCs. To address this challenge, Backbone’s strategy focuses on democratizing access to gaming.

By leveraging its innovative devices, Backbone enables users to transform their smartphones into fully functional gaming consoles, significantly reducing the financial burden on players. This approach allows Indian gamers to enjoy popular titles such as Call of Duty, Diablo Immortal, Genshin Impact, and Minecraft directly on their phones at a fraction of the cost of traditional gaming systems.

Additionally, for console owners, Backbone offers the flexibility to stream console games to their phones, ensuring greater accessibility and portability. By aligning its technology with the needs of the Indian gaming community, Backbone aims to make high-quality gaming experiences available to everyone, anywhere, on any platform.

**FP: Talk us through the Backbone app — what is your vision about the app? Are there any plans about monetizing the app, beyond Backbone users?**MK: The Backbone app is designed to be a comprehensive and feature-rich hub for gamers, integrating various gaming ecosystems into one seamless platform. Our vision is to create a unified space where players can access and manage all their games—whether from the App Store, Google Play Store, Apple Arcade, PlayStation Remote Play, or Xbox Game Pass—making gaming more streamlined and convenient.

Beyond acting as a central hub, the Backbone app enhances the gaming experience with tools for recording, editing, and sharing gameplay. It also fosters community engagement by providing notifications when friends come online and start gaming.

At this stage, our focus remains on maximizing value for our users through these features and building a robust platform. While there are no immediate plans to monetize the app for non-Backbone users, we are continually exploring opportunities to expand its reach and functionality in ways that align with our mission to enhance the gaming ecosystem.

**FP: Cloud gaming is something that Backbone seems to be massively interested in. However, cloud gaming on a handheld has traditionally been one of the most challenging endeavours for most tech companies. How does Backbone plan on changing this perception?**MK: Cloud gaming on handhelds has always faced challenges, but Backbone is changing the game. With the rise of services like Xbox Cloud Gaming which is now accounting for over 10% of Xbox playtime and big titles like Call of Duty on Game Pass, the demand for portable cloud gaming is undeniable.

Backbone bridges the gap by turning your phone into a high-performance gaming console, making gaming more accessible and seamless. We’ve built a platform that works effortlessly with Xbox, PlayStation Remote Play, and more, all while leveraging 5G and better Wi-Fi for smoother gameplay. Backbone is here to make cloud gaming simple, fun, and accessible everywhere.

**FP: What were the challenges in developing the Backbone One?**MK: Developing the Backbone One presented significant challenges, particularly in achieving the right balance between ergonomics and portability. A lot of time was spent refining the design to ensure it was comfortable for long gaming sessions while still being compact enough to carry around.

We also invested heavily in creating seamless integration between the software and hardware to deliver the best possible user experience.

**FP: We have seen Backbones being used as a controller for Macs, PC, Xbox, and even for flying a drone. What is the most unique way that you have seen people using the Backbone?**MK: One of the most unique and entertaining uses of the Backbone device I’ve seen is people playing games on it at airports. It’s fascinating to witness how portable and accessible our product has become, enabling gamers to enjoy their favourite titles anywhere, even in transit.

This reflects the growing demand for on-the-go gaming solutions. From an industry perspective, it shows how gaming is evolving into a more flexible and mobile experience, allowing users to stay connected wherever they are.

**FP: What can we see from Backbone as it expands its roots into India?**MK: As Backbone expands its presence in India, our goal is to build massive awareness and make gaming on smartphones a thrilling experience for as many gaming enthusiasts as possible. With the rapid growth of mobile gaming in India, we’re focused on offering gamers a high-performance, portable controller that enhances their gaming experience. Our aim is to create a seamless blend of convenience and power, making gaming more immersive. From an industry perspective, India is a key market, with increasing demand for advanced gaming accessories, and we’re excited to be part of this transformation in the gaming landscape.

**FP: Can you give us a slight peek into Backbone’s future product lineup for 2025?**MK: At this stage, we’re focused on enhancing our current products and don’t have additional announcements for 2025 yet.

**FP: Backbone isn’t exactly a mainstream product. It is something that is chosen by proper gamers or enthusiasts, people who have very high expectations and who take mobile gaming very seriously. In India, will Backbone attempt to go mainstream?**MK: While Backbone has traditionally catered to serious gamers and enthusiasts, we don’t intend to overlook the growing excitement of new gamers eager to start their gaming journey. In India, where the gaming landscape is just beginning to grow, especially when it comes to mobile gaming, we’re focused on making gaming an exciting experience for all. Our goal is to bring gaming to as many people as possible, and we remain open to exploring future opportunities while enhancing our current products.

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India’s mobile gaming market is booming. Backbone’s Maneet Khaira sees an $8.6 billion opportunity