BGMI publisher Krafton plans to spend over Rs 440 crores annually in India

Krafton is planning on dropping a cool $50 million (about Rs 440 crores) into India every single year as it looks to expand its presence beyond the current hit title Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI). It wants to prove it is more than just a one-hit wonder.

Krafton is on the hunt for its next blockbuster

This annual investment brings Krafton’s total spending in India to a hefty $200 million (about Rs 1,700 crores) so far. Krafton India’s CEO, Sean Sohn, recently admitted to Financial Times that creating another phenomenon like BGMI is the company’s biggest challenge. He described the Indian market as a tough nut to crack. Gamers here are slow to adopt new titles and don’t spend much, but they become loyal once they find a game they love.

That said, the company’s strategy is not just about throwing money at the problem. At the same time, Krafton is expanding its local team with plans to boost its Indian workforce by up to 30 percent this year. It is also nurturing homegrown talent through its Krafton India Gaming Incubator programme.

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This push comes after the original PUBG Mobile was banned in 2020 due to its Chinese ties, though it did return in 2023 as the rebranded BGMI.

Krafton has already rolled out several new titles, including Bullet Echo India, Road to Valor: Empires, and Garuda Saga. While none have yet achieved the popularity of BGMI, the publisher is seemingly playing the long game.

After all, the potential prize is huge. India now boasts 444 million gamers, and the market’s youthful population represents a massive opportunity. The country is already a top-five market for Krafton and makes up a tenth of its global sales in the first half of 2025. Out of that total number, the FT report notes that 200 million are reportedly BGMI players.