MUMBAI: South Korean gaming powerhouse Krafton, creator of the wildly popular Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), is loading up its investment arsenal as it targets expansion in India—a territory that ranks among its top five global markets. The company has already pumped $200 million into Indian ventures and isn't about to hit pause on its spending spree anytime soon.
Krafton India chief executive Sean Hyunil Sohn is positively bullish about the country's gaming prospects. "We want to double down on gaming and its addressable area," Sohn told PTI, adding that the company sees "much bigger potential for the next two to three years."
What makes India such an irresistible playground for Krafton? The answer lies in its unique "mobile gaming native" status. While gamers in mature markets typically evolved from consoles to PCs before embracing mobile, Indian players cut their teeth directly on smartphones—a distinction that has Krafton's boardroom salivating.
The demographics certainly stack the deck in India's favour. A young, tech-savvy population coupled with rapidly increasing smartphone adoption creates the perfect storm for gaming growth. Despite being a relative lightweight on the global gaming scene, India's potential has Krafton ready to place hefty bets on its future.
"We will not stop investing... say at $200-300 million," Sohn declared. "We are still actively looking at opportunities to invest and maybe acquire."
After a cracking financial performance in 2024, the company feels flush enough to double down on India, which it views as one of its strongest performing markets.
What's Krafton looking for in potential partners?
The company, which prides itself on maintaining a developer's mindset despite its global publisher status, seeks collaborators who are "really passionate about game development." Any acquisition targets must share Krafton's enthusiasm for India's gaming potential.
Sohn believes India has the muscle to create games for global markets but laments the lack of awareness about gaming as a viable career path.
"We need support from the government and education institutions to put the best talent out for the younger generation," he urged, calling for a concerted effort to level up India's gaming ecosystem.
With its mobile-first culture, youthful demographics, and Krafton's deep pockets backing it, India's gaming industry appears primed to score big in the coming years. Game on!
