MUMBAI: Krafton is levelling up its India game and this time, the battlefield stretches well beyond gaming. The South Korean company behind PUBG and Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) plans to invest another $250 million in India over the next three to four years, expanding its focus to artificial intelligence, robotics and deep technology.
The fresh commitment was announced after Krafton chairman Byung Gyu Chang met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on September 4. The discussions covered opportunities for greater India-South Korea cooperation across gaming, technology and other emerging sectors.
The additional investment will take Krafton’s planned investment in India to more than $500 million. The company has already invested over $250 million since 2021.
The new commitment is separate from the $670 million India-focused growth fund Krafton announced with Naver and Mirae Asset in December 2025. Krafton had committed around $137 million to the fund at its first close.
Chang said India offered significant opportunities because of its talent pool across gaming, technology and innovation, adding that Krafton’s continued investments reflected its long-term confidence in the country and its digital economy.
Gaming, however, remains the company’s India anchor. BGMI, the localised version of PUBG Mobile, has crossed 260 million downloads, giving Krafton a substantial user base even as it broadens its business interests.
The company has also been building a wider startup portfolio, having backed around 18 Indian companies, including Nodwin Gaming, Loco, Pratilipi, Kuku FM and One Impression. Its portfolio also includes four to five gaming studios.
In 2025, Krafton acquired Pune-based Nautilus Mobile, the developer behind the Real Cricket franchise, strengthening its position in India’s home-grown gaming ecosystem.
Talent development is another part of the strategy. Krafton’s KIGI Academy programme works with industry and academia to train people in game development and digital creation.
The expansion comes despite a turbulent history for PUBG in India. PUBG Mobile was among the apps banned by the Indian government in 2020. Krafton responded by launching BGMI in 2021, localising its operations, moving India game servers to Microsoft’s Azure cloud and removing Tencent Games as publisher.
BGMI was subsequently blocked again in 2022, before returning in 2023 on a three-month trial basis. Krafton has continued to build around the franchise and plans to introduce BGMI Lite in India by the end of 2026.
The latest investment therefore represents more than another funding announcement. Krafton is using a gaming-led India presence as a launchpad into AI, robotics and deep tech, while continuing to expand its gaming studios, startup investments and local talent pipeline.
From PUBG to AI, Krafton’s India strategy is clearly moving to the next level.
