KRAFTON, the South Korean gaming giant known for Battlegrounds Mobile India, has announced an additional $250 million investment into Indian startups focused on AI, deeptech, and robotics over the next three to four years, doubling its total planned investment in the country to $500 million.
- New $250M investment expands focus to AI, deeptech, and robotics
- Total KRAFTON India investment now $500M including gaming ventures
- Investment coincides with meeting between KRAFTON chairman and PM Modi
What happened
KRAFTON has committed to investing an additional $250 million in Indian startups over the next three to four years, marking a significant increase in their engagement with India's tech ecosystem. This fresh capital will target emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and deeptech in addition to continuing their gaming-related investments.
This new funding adds to the $250 million KRAFTON has already invested since entering the Indian market in 2021, bringing total planned investments to $500 million. The move was announced following a meeting between KRAFTON chairman Byung Gyu Chang and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, where they discussed enhancing collaboration in gaming and emerging technologies.
Why it matters
India represents a strategic market for KRAFTON with its large base of smartphone users and convenient digital payment systems supporting micro transactions, making it a fertile ground for gaming and tech ventures. KRAFTON’s flagship product, Battlegrounds Mobile India, has exceeded 260 million downloads, underscoring the scale of opportunity.
The expanded investment focus on AI and deeptech reflects both the setback faced by the real-money gaming sector in India and the rapidly growing AI ecosystem that raised $676 million in the first half of 2026 alone. Industry data forecasts India’s AI economy to grow into a $126 billion market by 2030, highlighting why KRAFTON is aligning with these evolving tech trends.
What to watch next
Market observers and stakeholders should watch how KRAFTON’s increased funding influences the development of Indian AI and deeptech startups, potentially accelerating innovation and creating stronger cross-border collaborations between India and South Korea in emerging technologies.
Additionally, given KRAFTON's track record of strategic acquisitions and investments in startups like NODWIN, Loco, Pratilipi, and Nautilus Mobile, future moves may include further acquisitions or partnerships that deepen their footprint in India’s broader tech ecosystem beyond gaming.