South Korean gaming powerhouse KRAFTON, best known for Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), is going all in on India. The CEO of KRAFTON India stated that the decision is not just as a revenue generator, but as a strategic innovation hub. With a $400 million investment commitment, the company is building for the long term: cultivating talent, seeding the ecosystem, and unlocking new verticals that go well beyond gaming.
“We are not here to launch one or two games. We are here to grow the ecosystem together.” Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO, KRAFTON India.
That single quote captures the spirit of KRAFTON’s India mission: this isn’t opportunistic expansion. It’s a deliberate playbook for building future infrastructure in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital markets.
India: A Top-3 Market for KRAFTON, and Rising
Despite the challenges, India is already delivering big for KRAFTON. It ranks among the top five global markets in terms of revenue and the top three in terms of user base. The rise of mobile gaming in the country, fueled by affordable data, smartphones, and a digitally native youth population, has significantly boosted KRAFTON’s user acquisition and engagement metrics.
But the company sees even greater potential ahead.
“Gaming in India is one of the fastest growing markets… that excites us quite a bit. That’s why we’re here for the very long term,” Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO, KRAFTON India.
$400 Million and Counting: Beyond Games
Since 2021, KRAFTON has already deployed $200 million in India, with an additional $200 million committed for the years to come. But what’s remarkable is where that money is going:
Fintech: Led a $53M funding round in Cashfree Payments, one of India’s fastest-growing payment platforms.
Digital Content: Invested in Kuku FM, a leading audio content platform.
Startups: Exploring healthtech and other fast-innovating sectors.
This diverse investment strategy suggests KRAFTON is positioning itself not just as a gaming company, but as a long-term stakeholder in India’s broader digital economy.
Building India’s Gaming Talent Pipeline
One of Sohn’s most pressing concerns? The talent gap.
India, with its population advantage, still lags behind smaller countries like South Korea in the number of professional game developers, estimated at just 50,000, compared to Korea’s 120,000+.
“There is a lot of room to grow… we should give proper education and training for the younger generation to start their career,” Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO, KRAFTON India.
To address this, KRAFTON plans to establish an R&D unit in India. Additionally, KRAFTON is going to expand its local team by 15–20 employees, bringing the total workforce to approximately 115 employees. Expect to see collaborations with educational institutions, coding bootcamps, incubation program, and possibly KRAFTON-backed training initiatives in the near future.
“India has immense potential in game development, and at KIGI, we’re committed to creating more avenues for that talent to grow. By expanding our program, broadening our regional outreach, and deepening collaborations with major tech leaders, we’re providing developers with the tools, guidance, and support necessary to create globally competitive games. We’re excited to witness how these talented teams will innovate and break new ground creatively and technically in the near future.” Anuj Sahani, Head of KRAFTON India Incubator Program and India Publishing Advisor.
Building with the Government, Not Just Around It
KRAFTON isn’t just focused on business metrics. Sohn acknowledged the importance of supporting the Indian government as it works to understand gaming not as a pastime, but as a legitimate industry with real economic and career potential.
This attitude could help de-risk gaming’s often turbulent relationship with policy in India—a smart move, especially for a company looking to build a multi-decade presence.
No E-Commerce for Now—All Eyes on Ecosystem
While KRAFTON has begun producing official merchandise for its fans, Sohn clarified that the company has no immediate plans to enter broader commerce or lifestyle sectors.
“We want to build the ecosystem together and also grow with the ecosystem,” Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO, KRAFTON India.
For now, the strategy is focused, high-leverage, and talent-first.
Final Thought: A Shift in Strategy for Asia’s Gaming Giants
KRAFTON’s bold investment in India marks a turning point not just for the company but for Asia’s broader gaming industry. It signals a shift in how major players approach high-growth markets—moving away from viewing them purely as grounds for user acquisition and toward recognizing them as full-fledged ecosystems with untapped potential.
India, in particular, has emerged as more than just a consumer market. KRAFTON’s decision to invest beyond gaming—into fintech platforms like Cashfree Payments and content creators like Kuku FM—demonstrates a smart hedge against volatility in the gaming sector. It also reflects a forward-looking belief in the convergence of digital services.
More importantly, the company’s emphasis on localization—through hiring, R&D expansion, and upskilling talent—is a departure from surface-level market entry strategies.
The bottom line: KRAFTON is actively shaping the market in India. By placing long-term bets on the ecosystem, the company is positioning itself as a builder of digital infrastructure and a key enabler of India’s next-generation tech economy. It’s a strategic blueprint that other global gaming firms would do well to study.
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