Krafton to Invest Additional $250M in India, Expanding Beyond Gaming
Original: Krafton doubles down on India with another $250M bet beyond gaming
Why This Matters
Krafton's expanding India bet signals deepening South Korean tech investment in one of the world's fastest-growing digital markets.
South Korean gaming company Krafton announced a new $250 million investment commitment in India over the next three to four years, bringing its total planned investment to over $500 million since 2021. The funds will target AI, robotics, and deep tech beyond gaming.
Krafton, the South Korean developer behind PUBG and Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), announced on September 4, 2026 that it will invest an additional $250 million in India over the next three to four years. This raises its total planned investment in the country to over $500 million, including the $250 million already deployed since 2021. The new pledge is separate from the $670 million India-focused growth fund Krafton unveiled alongside Naver and Mirae Asset in December 2025, to which Krafton committed approximately $137 million at first close.
Krafton's India expansion now targets AI, robotics, and deep tech in addition to gaming. The company has backed roughly 18 Indian startups to date, including Nodwin Gaming, Loco, Pratilipi, Kuku FM, and One Impression, among four to five gaming studios. BGMI, a localized version of PUBG relaunched in 2021 after a government ban on PUBG Mobile in 2020, has surpassed 260 million downloads. Krafton plans to launch BGMI Lite in India by end of 2026. The announcement followed a meeting between Krafton chairman Chang Byung-gyu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss India-South Korea collaboration across gaming and emerging technology sectors.