Krafton Pledges $250 Million More for India AI, Robotics and Gaming
Krafton will invest $250 million more in India over four years, expanding beyond BGMI into AI, robotics and deep tech as planned funding tops $500 million.
Summary
On September 4, 2026, South Korea’s Krafton pledged another $250 million for India over three to four years, targeting gaming, AI, robotics and deep tech. The commitment takes its planned Indian investment above $500 million after more than $250 million deployed since 2021. It is separate from the $670 million India-focused growth fund unveiled with Naver and Mirae Asset in December 2025, to which Krafton planned to contribute about $137 million at first close. India, the world’s most populous country, has more than one billion internet subscribers and over 700 million smartphone users.
Krafton has backed about 18 Indian companies, including four to five gaming studios, Nodwin Gaming, Loco, Pratilipi, Kuku FM and One Impression. BGMI, its localized PUBG replacement, has exceeded 260 million downloads. After India banned PUBG Mobile in 2020, Krafton dropped Tencent Games as publisher and moved Indian servers to Microsoft Azure before launching BGMI in 2021. BGMI was banned in 2022, then returned on a three-month trial in 2023; BGMI Lite is scheduled by the end of 2026. Krafton acquired Pune-based Real Cricket developer Nautilus Mobile in 2025 and launched KIGI Academy to train game development and digital creation talent. Chairman Chang Byung-gyu announced the pledge after meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss closer India and South Korea cooperation across gaming, technology and emerging sectors.
Positives
- The new $250 million pledge lifts Krafton’s planned India investment above $500 million.
- BGMI has surpassed 260 million downloads in a market exceeding one billion internet subscribers and 700 million smartphone users.
- About 18 Indian companies have received Krafton backing, including four to five gaming studios.
- BGMI Lite is scheduled to launch in India by the end of 2026.
- KIGI Academy is training Indian talent in game development and digital creation.
Risks & concerns
- India banned PUBG Mobile in 2020 amid escalating tensions with China.
- BGMI was itself banned in 2022 despite Krafton dropping Tencent Games and moving Indian servers to Microsoft Azure.
- BGMI initially returned in 2023 only on a three-month government trial, underscoring continuing regulatory exposure.