KRAFTON doubles India investment to $500M, adds AI and robotics R&D
Summary
KRAFTON commits $250M more to India over three to four years, doubling cumulative direct investment to $500M.
A separate $670M venture fund with Naver and Mirae Asset extends the bet into AI, robotics and deep tech.
A new IIT Madras academy MOU builds local developer supply from the academic stage.
The structure shifts India from BGMI publishing market to regional R&D and IP build site.
"Our continued investment reflects our long-term confidence in India and our commitment to contributing to India's digital economy"
01
Two capital vehicles, disclosed separately, total over $1.1B exposure
Direct investment climbs to $500M: $250M deployed since 2021, plus $250M over three to four years.
A separate $670M venture fund launched December 2025 with Naver and Mirae Asset targets growth-stage startups.
KRAFTON pledged $137M at the fund's first close.
TechCrunch reports the new $250M direct commitment is structured separately from the growth fund.
02
India moves from consumer market to R&D and talent hub
BGMI has crossed 260M downloads in India, giving KRAFTON consumer-scale leverage.
Capital allocation now extends into AI, robotics and deep tech, per company statements.
The KIGI Academy MOU with IIT Madras, signed Sep 1 2026, trains developers from the academic stage.
KRAFTON backs roughly 18 Indian companies, including four to five gaming studios.
Its Nautilus Mobile acquisition (Real Cricket) adds outright studio ownership, not just minority stakes.
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A fuller build-out than rivals treating India as a download market
Chairman Chang met PM Modi in New Delhi on Sep 4 2026 to align investment with policy.
KRAFTON frames the plan around India's "Create in India" policy and "Viksit Bharat" vision.
The mix of direct capital, venture fund, academic pipeline and studio ownership exceeds rival footprints.
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Signals to watch
The $250M direct commitment has a three-to-four-year deployment window; drawdown pace shows priority level.
BGMI Lite is slated to launch in India by end of 2026.
What this means
For Investors & VC: The $670M fund with Naver and Mirae Asset opens co-investment access to India's deep-tech startups.
For Publishers & Developers: KRAFTON's academic pipeline and studio ownership set a new localization benchmark in India.
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