South Korean gaming giant Krafton, known for hits like PUBG and Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), has announced plans to invest an additional $250 million in India over the next three to four years. This fresh capital commitment is part of Krafton's strategy to expand beyond its gaming roots into artificial intelligence, robotics, and deep technology sectors. With this latest pledge, Krafton's total planned investments in India will exceed $500 million, complementing its earlier $250 million spent since 2021 and its separate $670 million India-focused growth fund established alongside Naver and Mirae Asset in 2025.

India has emerged as a critical market for Krafton due to its vast internet user base of over a billion people and more than 700 million smartphone owners. Initially focused on gaming through BGMI, a localized PUBG variant with over 260 million downloads, Krafton has diversified by investing in approximately 18 Indian startups across gaming and other tech verticals, including Nodwin Gaming and Pratilipi. Despite regulatory hurdles such as bans on PUBG Mobile in 2020 and BGMI in 2022, Krafton has adapted by reshaping its operations, dropping Tencent as its Indian publisher, and relocating servers to Microsoft Azure.

Recent developments underscore Krafton's commitment to deepening its India presence beyond investments. The company acquired Nautilus Mobile, a Pune-based studio behind the Real Cricket franchise, and launched KIGI Academy, a program aimed at developing local talent in game development and digital content creation. Krafton’s chairman, Chang Byung-gyu, recently met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explore collaborative opportunities spanning gaming and emerging technology sectors between India and South Korea.

Krafton’s expanded investment and operational efforts reflect a long-term commitment to the Indian market, addressing both gaming and broader technology innovation. This strategy positions Krafton to leverage India’s growing digital economy and talent pool while navigating regulatory challenges through localized approaches and partnerships. The company’s roadmap includes launching BGMI Lite in India by the end of 2026, signaling continued growth plans amid an evolving media and technology landscape.