Krafton Pledges Additional $250 Million to India for Deep Tech, AI, and Gaming Ecosystem Expansion

South Korean video game publisher and tech conglomerate Krafton Inc. has committed an additional $250 million to India over the next three to four years, bringing its cumulative direct investment in the country to $500 million. The announcement was made after Krafton Chairman Byung Gyu Chang met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on September 4, 2026, to discuss bilateral technological collaboration and the expansion of India’s digital economy. While Krafton gained widespread prominence in India through its flagship mobile game Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), this new capital commitment signals a strategic expansion far beyond digital entertainment. The firm plans to allocate capital toward emerging technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, and deep-tech startups. To complement these efforts, Krafton has also co-established a $670 million venture growth fund in partnership with Naver Corporation and Mirae Asset, designed to support high-potential Indian technology ventures. Beyond venture capital funding, Krafton is investing heavily in domestic talent development and research infrastructure. The company launched the KIGI Academy in collaboration with top academic institutions like IIT Madras to train Indian software developers in game creation, software engineering, and interactive media. Additionally, Krafton’s recent acquisition of Pune-based Nautilus Mobile underscores its intention to build domestic intellectual property locally. This substantial investment aligns with the Indian government's 'Create in India, Create for India, Create for the World' vision. For the public and technology workforce, Krafton’s multi-sector push promises expanded employment opportunities, specialized skill-building programs, and increased capital flow into India’s burgeoning startup ecosystem.