New Delhi: South Korean gaming firm Krafton is stepping up its investment in India with an additional $250 million investment in the next three to four years. Having been famous for its games like PUBG and Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), the company is now stepping out in other fields as well like AI, Robotics and Deep technology.
The investment brings Krafton’s overall investment in India to over $500m. Since 2021, the company has already invested over $250m in the nation. The new pledge comes after Krafton in December 2025 announced a growth fund for India, in partnership with South Korean internet company Naver and Mirae Asset.
With its internet and smartphone penetration, India has turned into an important market for Krafton. The company’s initial business was localized version of PUBG Mobile called “BGMI”. In India, BGMI has sold more than 260 million copies, and is one of the largest games created by Krafton in the nation.
But, Krafton’s path in India is not always been smooth. In 2020, PUBG Mobile was banned by the Indian government. In 2021, after making several changes to its local operations such as dropping Tencent Games as its publisher in India and by shifting its servers to Microsoft Azure, Krafton launched BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India). In 2022, the game was again temporarily banned and finally reintroduced in 2023.
However, Krafton has been able to continue expanding its operations in India despite all the difficulties. The company has invested in approximately 18 companies in India including gaming and non-gaming startups Loco, Pratilipi, Kuku FM and One Impression. It also took over Pune-based Nautilus Mobile, which has developed the Real Cricket series.
Krafton’s new initiative underscores that the firm is not merely pursuing India for its potential as a games market but is a company that wishes to explore the deeper possibilities of the country. The new investment will enable it to tap into India’s emerging and vibrant startup and technology ecosystem, particularly in AI and deep tech.
The company will additionally launch BGMI Lite in India by end-2026 and carry on with cultivating the neighborhood with courses like KIGI Academy.
