Funding · Consumer Internet & Media

Krafton plans $250M more for Indian startups

By Startup Enthusiast · 5 September 2026

What they do

Krafton makes and publishes video games, including Battlegrounds Mobile India

It plans to invest an additional $250 million in Indian startups over 3-4 years

The new corpus will focus on AI, robotics, deeptech and homegrown game studios

Krafton chairman Byung Gyu Chang met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 5 September 2026.
Krafton plans an additional $250 million investment in Indian startups over the next 3-4 years.
The total planned investment in India is $500 million.
Krafton has already invested $250 million in India.
Last year, Krafton, Mirae Asset Global Investments and NAVER launched a $670 million venture fund for Indian startups.
The new corpus expands focus beyond gaming to AI, robotics, deeptech and homegrown game studios.
Krafton acquired a controlling 75% stake in Pune-based gaming studio Nautilus Mobile last year.
Krafton launched KIGI Academy, an industry-academia initiative for game development and digital creation skills.

India is a key market for Krafton due to high smartphone penetration and ease of digital payments enabling microtransactions.
The ban on real-money gaming in India last year hurt the local ecosystem; many startups crumbled or pivoted.
Indian AI startups raised $676 million in the first six months of 2026.
India's AI economy is projected to become a $126 billion opportunity by 2030 per Inc42 data.

Krafton's flagship product is Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), formerly PUBG.
BGMI has over 260 million downloads in India.
Krafton's India portfolio includes NODWIN, Loco, Pratilipi.
Krafton acquired a controlling 75% stake in Pune-based gaming studio Nautilus Mobile last year.
Krafton launched KIGI Academy for game development and digital creation skills.

Krafton will invest the additional $250 million over the next 3-4 years.
The new corpus expands focus beyond gaming to AI, robotics, deeptech and homegrown game studios.