Krafton to invest another $250 million in India,

Krafton to invest another $250 million in India, expands beyond gaming

The South Korean gaming company is deepening its India strategy with fresh capital for AI, robotics and deep tech, taking its planned investment above $500 million while expanding its startup and talent ecosystem.

South Korean gaming company Krafton, best known in India for Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), is planning to invest another $250 million in the country over the next three to four years as it broadens its focus beyond gaming into artificial intelligence, robotics and deep technology.

The announcement followed a meeting between Krafton chairman Byung Gyu Chang and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on September 4. The discussions centred on India’s potential to become a global centre for gaming, innovation and emerging technologies, according to the company.

The fresh commitment will take Krafton’s total planned investment in India to more than $500 million, including the $250 million the company has invested since entering the market in 2021.

“India is a market of immense opportunity, with exceptional talent across gaming, technology and innovation. Our continued investments reflect our long-term confidence in India and our commitment to contributing to its digital economy,” Chang said.

Krafton broadens its India investment strategy

The latest investment comes as Krafton continues to diversify its presence in the Indian technology ecosystem. The company had also committed to a $670 million India-focused growth fund announced in December 2025 alongside South Korean internet company Naver and investment firm Mirae Asset.

Krafton pledged around $137 million at the fund’s first close. However, the newly announced $250 million investment is separate from that fund, according to reports.

Krafton’s India strategy has increasingly moved beyond its core gaming business. The company has backed around 18 Indian companies, including several gaming studios, and has invested in businesses such as Nodwin Gaming, Loco, Pratilipi, Kuku FM and One Impression.

In 2025, Krafton also acquired Pune-based gaming studio Nautilus Mobile, known for the Real Cricket franchise. The company has simultaneously worked to strengthen India’s gaming talent pool through initiatives such as KIGI Academy, an industry-academia programme focused on game development and digital creation.

BGMI remains central to India’s business

Despite its expansion into emerging technologies and startups, gaming remains an important part of Krafton’s India strategy. BGMI, the India-specific version of PUBG Mobile, has crossed 260 million downloads, making the title a major part of the company’s local operations.

Krafton is also preparing to launch BGMI Lite in India by the end of 2026, signalling continued investment in its gaming portfolio.

The company’s India journey has included significant challenges. Following the Indian government’s 2020 ban on PUBG Mobile and several other apps linked to China amid tensions between India and China, Krafton rebuilt its local strategy and launched BGMI in 2021.

As part of that effort, the company shifted its India game servers to Microsoft‘s Azure cloud and established a local publishing arrangement involving Tencent Games.

With its latest investment pledge, Krafton is now positioning India as more than a gaming market. Its expanding focus on AI, robotics, deep tech, startups and talent development points to a broader strategy aimed at participating in India’s rapidly growing digital economy.