Highlights
- Krafton India selects four new studios for its KIGI Cohort 3, totaling 14 incubated developers since 2023.
- PC title Frontier Paladin from Singular Scheme launches April 24, 2026, on Steam.
- Incubated teams to receive up to $150,000 in funding plus mentorship and publishing support to reach global audiences.
Krafton India is doubling down on the country's booming game development sector by revealing the four new studios selected for the third cohort of its Krafton India Gaming Incubator (KIGI). In addition, Krafton also highlighted the upcoming launch of KIGI's first PC title, Frontier Paladin, on April 24, 2026. This latest expansion brings the total number of incubated studios to 14 since the program's inception in 2023, signaling a massive leap forward for the local gaming ecosystem and proving that top-tier talent exists far beyond India's traditional tech hubs.
The newly selected teams highlight incredible diversity in both geography and genre. Jaipur-based Xod Games Studio is building a narrative-driven Metroidvania called Peaky Circus, while Bengaluru's EvolX Games is developing Ludaro, a creative roguelike deck-building game. Rounding out the group are Kochi's Ether Games, working on a dynamic mobile shooter named Battlefront, and Hyderabad's RedDevil Studio, which is crafting a skill-based, short-session PvP rooster fighting game titled Rooster Rumble.
Meanwhile, Frontier Paladin, set to launch on Steam, was developed by KIGI second-cohort alumnus Singular Scheme, based in Mumbai. The highly anticipated single-player experience promises a unique hybrid of action-RPG elements, intense melee combat, and strategic tower defense mechanics. Emphasizing the publisher's long-term commitment to these emerging developers, Krafton India CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn expressed his excitement for the future of Indian gaming.
"India is seeing strong momentum in game development, with more creators building for global audiences. Through KIGI, we aim to support this growth by enabling studios with the right resources and guidance." Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO, Krafton India, as per IGN.
Steam
Up to $150K Funding & Mentorship Support
This latest iteration of KIGI marks a significant strategic shift in how Krafton supports early-stage developers. Instead of acting purely as an advisor, Krafton will now directly manage user acquisition and performance marketing during the startups' soft launches. Selected studios will receive milestone-based funding ranging from $50,000 to $150,000, USD comprehensive publishing support, and vital access to dedicated functional experts.
Furthermore, developers will benefit from six to twelve months of intensive mentorship from industry experts, which now includes rigorous codebase reviews to ensure these games are optimized and scalable for worldwide audiences.
The enthusiasm for Krafton's incubator is visibly surging, with the third cohort attracting over 900 applications from across India, a significant jump from the 350 applications received for Cohort 2. KIGI studios has received milestone-based funding of $50,000-$150,000 each, supporting 14 studios total across three cohorts since 2023. Together, these teams are building a rich catalog of games that spans multiple genres, from the action-RPG elements of Frontier Paladinto several other unique projects developed by past teams.
This targeted support fits perfectly into Krafton's broader ambition of turning India into a global gaming powerhouse, following the company's $200+M investment into Indian startups, gaming ecosystem, and tech infrastructure since 2021.
In other news, Krafton India has also rolled out its 4.3 update for Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), bringing fresh content to the massively popular game, including an Evolving Universe-themed mode, a new collectible progression feature, and much more.
