KRAFTON Doubles India Bet to $500 Mn, Expands Beyond Gaming

South Korean gaming giant KRAFTON is doubling down on India with an additional $250 million

investment commitment over the next three to four years. Unlike its earlier gaming-heavy bets,

the new capital will widen the company’s focus to artificial intelligence, robotics, deeptech and

other emerging technology startups.

The fresh commitment comes on top of more than $250 million KRAFTON has already invested

in India since 2021, taking its planned direct investment in the country to roughly $500 million.

Separately, KRAFTON is also involved in a $670 million India-focused venture growth fund

launched with Mirae Asset Global Investments and NAVER, aimed at backing growth-stage

companies in the country’s digital ecosystem.

KRAFTON’s India portfolio already includes companies such as esports platform NODWIN

Gaming, game-streaming startup Loco and self-publishing platform Pratilipi. It also acquired a

controlling 75% stake in Pune-based Nautilus Mobile last year. The company says it has backed

about 18 Indian businesses so far, showing that its investment strategy has gradually expanded

beyond its core publishing operations.

India also remains one of KRAFTON’s most important operating markets. Battlegrounds Mobile

India has crossed 260 million downloads, while the company is investing in local talent initiatives

alongside startup capital. Chairman Byung Gyu Chang reaffirmed this long-term commitment

during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where emerging technologies and deeper

India–South Korea collaboration were also discussed.

The bigger shift, however, is where KRAFTON wants its next Indian bets to come from. Indian

AI startups raised $676 million during the first half of 2026, while Inc42 estimates the country’s

AI economy could reach $126 billion by 2030. For KRAFTON, the new $250 million commitment

signals that India is no longer only a gaming market—it is becoming a broader technology

investment and development hub.