Krafton partners Kuku FM to expand BGMI universe with audiobook

BGMI: Lone Survivor audiobook is currently available in Hindi language to Kuku FM subscribers

South Korean gaming giant Krafton is partnering with one of its investee companies, the audio content platform Kuku FM, to taking its most popular video game, Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), beyond gaming.

Krafton on February 6 announced an audiobook adaptation of BGMI called BGMI: Lone Survivor, one of the first adaptations of a video game into an audiobook in India.

"This initiative marks an important step in our journey to extend the BGMI universe beyond gaming. By partnering with Kuku FM, we can bring rich storytelling experiences to our audience in India, making our IPs more accessible and relevant through meaningful collaborations," Krafton India CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn said.

"This is a testament on how we can bridge the gap between global IPs and Indian audiences by adapting content to local preferences while preserving its original essence."

Launched on January 30, the audiobook is available in Hindi to Kuku FM subscribers. The service charges Rs 399 for three months following a seven-day free trial.

At the heart of BGMI: Lone Survivor is the transformation of Carlo from a man struggling to survive into a determined tactical leader.

"Carlo wakes up trapped on the deadly island of Erangel, forced to fight for his life against mercenaries, terrorists, and killers. He teams up with Anna (a journalist), Badshah (a skilled fighter), and Peter (an ex-police officer) as they scramble for weapons and navigate betrayals. Unknown to them, powerful figures are manipulating the game, using it for high-stakes betting. As the stakes rise, Carlo evolves from a lone survivor to a tactical leader, determined to outsmart those behind the deadly game," reads the description of the audiobook.

Kuku FM co-founder Lal Chand Bisu said, "Lone Survivor is a globally celebrated gaming IP while BGMI is such a beloved game in India, and we wanted to deepen the audience’s connection with the beloved character. By adding more layers to the story and embracing audio first storytelling, we are enhancing engagement beyond the game, allowing fans to experience the character in a more immersive way"

Bisu said it also marks a step towards exploring how "video game narratives can be adapted into the audio space, giving audiences a new way to engage with storytelling anytime and anywhere".

Based on its performance, Krafton plans to release the audiobook in different Indian languages including Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada, as well as introduce new character-driven stories and missions in audio format, the company said.

Read: BGMI maker Krafton forays into casual gaming with CookieRun India

Krafton's India expansion

The partnership marks Krafton's latest attempt to further localise BGMI, one of the highest-grossing mobile apps in India, to attract more players and establish a stronger presence in the country's gaming community.

The company has earlier roped in Bollywood stars Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone as brand ambassadors for BGMI, offering them as playable characters within the game.

It has also partnered with Mahindra to bring the Mahindra BE 6 electric vehicle into the game last month. Other recent noteworthy collaborations include cricketer Hardik Pandya and the popular IPL cricket team Mumbai Indians.

Read: BGMI maker Krafton announces up to $150k financial support for Indian gaming startups in debut incubator launch

Krafton has also emerged as one of the most prolific strategic investors in the country, having invested over $200 million across several startups. This includes mobile game development studios Nautilus Mobile and Lila Games, esports firm Nodwin Gaming, Indian language storytelling platform Pratilipi, influencer-marketing platform One Impression and more recently payments firm Cashfree along with Kuku FM.

The company is also an anchor investor in the maiden India fund of IMM Investment, a South Korea-based multi-asset investment firm with nearly $7 billion in assets under management (AUM) across three segments - venture capital, growth equity, and infrastructure. It has also backed domestic venture capital firms such as 3one4 Capital and Lumikai.