BGMI maker eyes more investment opportunities in India's gaming industry
What's the story
KRAFTON, the South Korean gaming giant behind Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), is eyeing investment and acquisition opportunities in India.
The move comes as the country has become an important market for the company, owing to its mobile-first gaming culture, fast-paced smartphone adoption, and a young tech-savvy population.
Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of KRAFTON India, thinks these factors are driving steady growth in online gaming.
Regulatory perspective
Optimistic outlook on India's regulatory landscape
Despite the past hurdles, Sohn remains optimistic about India's regulatory environment. He likes how the country deals with guidelines, saying it has defined processes and constructive feedback.
"We want to double down on gaming and its addressable area because we believe now it is time for the gaming industry to become much more sizable and impactful," Sohn told PTI.
Investment strategy
Investment history and future plans
KRAFTON has already pumped $200 million into India, which is one of the company's top five countries in terms of revenue and user base.
Sohn also emphasized India's unique status as a mobile gaming native country.
He said that despite the increasing popularity of gaming and esports, India is still fairly small compared to global markets. But he sees "a much bigger potential for the next 2-3 years."
Financial growth
Strong financial performance and future investments
Despite the relatively small size of the Indian market, Sohn believes India's large, dynamic younger population works in favor of the industry.
He highlighted KRAFTON's strong financial performance in 2024 and expressed confidence in investing more in India.
"We will not stop investing," he said. "We have invested $200 million so far, and we are still actively looking at opportunities to invest and maybe acquire, without a fixed upper limit."
Acquisition strategy
Approach to acquisitions and game development
Sohn stressed that KRAFTON, even as a global game publisher, still has the mindset of a game developer.
"We want to partner with someone who is really passionate about game development and working for the gaming industry," he said.
He also noted India's potential to develop games for global markets and emphasized the need for government and education institutions' support to nurture talent in this industry.