Krafton Locks $200M India Investment Eyeing Regional Expansion

Krafton has announced a renewed investment commitment of ₹1,800 crore (~$200M) in India over the next three to four years, intensifying its long-term bet on the country’s gaming ecosystem. While the investment plan was discussed before, Krafton India’s Managing Director, Sean Hyunil Sohn, confirmed it during an interview with Times of India (TOI) on Dec 8, 2025. 

Sohn emphasized the capital will focus on game development, startup acquisitions (digital and tech), and esports infrastructure, with an emphasis on producing global-scale games from its Bengaluru center in India. During the conversation with TOI, he emphasized that India has shifted from being a consumption market to becoming a viable development hub. 

He additionally mentioned that with the country’s government promoting esports and keeping transparency within the regulatory field, India’s market is “more mature now.”

Krafton’s ₹1,800 Cr. (~$200M) Investment Plan

According to Sohn, the company will keep its momentum in the Indian market and plans to “invest around $50 million annually over a period of 3-4 years.” The investment plan will be deployed across a range of initiatives, including funding Indian fintech, digital media, payments, and gaming startups as before.

Krafton India’s Corporate Development Lead, Nihansh Bhat, has previously noted that the publisher aims to back “companies where we believe we can add value from our knowledge of certain areas and how we can benefit from their operation.”

According to Sohn’s strategy, Krafton India would dedicate around 50% of its planned annual investment towards acquisitions (startups in fintech, AI, and media), aiming to scale BGMI tech. Around 30% money would go towards expanding the esports landscape and ops development. The rest of the 20% would be used for game development, aiming to create new IPs other than PUBG.

Even with such a strategic plan, Sohn underscored that “it’s tough to develop games.” He further added that the company will be hiring new developers and outsourcing partners for its endeavors.

Implications for India’s Gaming Ecosystem 

Krafton’s investment will direct capital toward studio development, talent training, and early-stage acquisitions. The scale is likely to accelerate India’s transition from a consumption-heavy market into a development and production hub. 

The move comes amid structural change in the domestic market, where the post-RMG reset has forced publishers to rethink sustainable business models and intellectual property ownership. During GamingCon Bharat 2025, states like Maharashtra came forward with similar initiatives to expand India’s gaming and esports market as well. 

The announcement also follows Krafton’s previous investment of roughly $200M into Indian startups and gaming ventures. It has already invested across 16-17 companies in the digital and fintech fields, including Nodwin Gaming, Kuku FM, LILA Games, Cashfree Payment, and the like.