South Korean gaming company Krafton announced a new commitment of $250 million for India over the next three to four years, pushing its total planned investment in the country to over $500 million. This fresh capital will primarily target emerging sectors like AI, robotics, and deep tech, signaling a significant expansion beyond its traditional gaming focus.
What is Krafton’s Investment Strategy in India?
This latest investment adds to the more than $250 million Krafton has already deployed in India since 2021. The new $250 million pledge is separate from a $670 million India-focused growth fund established in December 2025 with South Korean internet conglomerate Naver and investor Mirae Asset, to which Krafton pledged about $137 million at its initial close.
India represents a key market for Krafton, boasting over a billion internet subscribers and more than 700 million smartphone users. The company has already backed approximately 18 Indian startups, including four to five gaming studios like Nodwin Gaming and Loco, and content platforms such as Pratilipi and Kuku FM.
Krafton’s History and Future Plans in the Indian Market
Krafton’s path in India has seen turbulence. Its popular title PUBG Mobile was banned in 2020 by the Indian government due to links with Chinese apps. Krafton responded by launching Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) in 2021, changing publishers from Tencent Games and moving its India servers to Microsoft’s Azure cloud to address regulatory concerns. However, BGMI itself faced a temporary ban in 2022, only to return on a three-month trial basis the following year.
Despite these regulatory challenges, Krafton continues to expand. The company acquired Pune-based Nautilus Mobile, the studio behind the Real Cricket franchise, last year. It also recently launched KIGI Academy, an industry-academia program aimed at training talent in game development and digital creation. Krafton plans to introduce BGMI Lite in India by late 2026. The new investment commitment follows a meeting between Krafton chairman Chang Byung-gyu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, where they discussed broader technology and gaming collaboration opportunities.
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