Krafton selects six startups for the second cohort of its India-focused gaming incubator

KIGI was first announced by the South Korean gaming giant in October 2023. It solely focuses on supporting video game development

South Korean gaming giant Krafton has broadened the regional scope of its India-specific incubator, Krafton India Gaming Incubator (KIGI), and brought on strategic partners as it announced its second cohort comprising six startups.

Anuj Sahani, Head of Krafton India Incubator Program, told Moneycontrol that they have teams from emerging gaming hubs such as Kolkata, Mumbai and Madurai, among others in the upcoming cohort.

Among the selected startups include Madurai-based indie studio Kleanup Games that is building Chromadi, a retro arcade shoot-'em-up video game centered on colour-mixing mechanics and high-score action. Led by studio director Jaiwanth Shanmugam, the game is slated for release in 2026. It is expected to be available on iOS, Android and PC (Steam Deck).

Advaita Interactive is developing Inspectorium, a hidden object detective game set in a steampunk-inspired version of Victorian-era Kolkata. Founded by Judhajit Sarkar, the episodic detective game will feature artificial intelligence-powered interrogations and immersive puzzle-solving. It is expected to be released across mobile, PC, and virtual reality (VR) platforms between 2025 and 2026.

Bengaluru-based Smash Head Studio is building Cricket Rivals, a fast-paced, real-time multiplayer mobile game that reimagines the spirit of cricket with quick, competitive matches. The studio, co-founded by Surendran Ramachandran and Pawan Sandhar, has previously developed titles such as Gravity Shooter (an action shooter game).

Singular Scheme, a Mumbai-based indie studio, is working on Frontier Paladin, a role-playing game (RPG) with action-tower defense elements set in a cursed battlefield filled with divine relics and ancient foes. This is the second title for the studio led by Ahad Oomerbhoy and is now available as a public demo on Valve's Steam platform.

Ginger Games, a New Delhi-based studio, is developing Monkey Mayhem, a vibrant hybrid-casual action-adventure mobile game set in the quirky "Monkey Universe". The game follows a brave monkey named Piklu on a chaotic mission to rescue his friends and is slated for release in February 2026. The studio was founded by Shrey Mishra, Sumit Batheja, and Piyush Kumar in 2024.

Unwind Games, a Hyderabad-based mobile studio founded by Jayant Shukla and Khozema Abuwala, is developing BaoBao’s Journey, a casual puzzle game featuring a panda on a quest to build his dream mountain lodge.

Six startups that have been selected for the second cohort of Krafton's India-focused gaming incubator

Over the next 6 to 12 months, these game developers will receive tailored mentorship from industry experts in game development, design, marketing, and business strategy. They will also get financial assistance ranging from $50,000-$150,000 along with access to Krafton's internal resources including data analytics and market research, among others.

"During Cohort 1, we were actually nitpicky in picking teams. But with Cohort 2, we have slightly relaxed our selection criteria because we understand that the development stage is very nascent" Sahani said "We are also taking a little more risk this time by supporting very early-stage startups, including those straight out of college or with limited experience"

He added that Krafton will be providing deeper technical support to the teams in the upcoming cohort "We realized that it was one of the pain points from the first cohort, which we are solving in the second," he said.

Sahani also noted that while there are plenty of gaming companies, there isn’t enough support for young developers or new startups to grow and learn on their own.

To provide necessary tools for game developers to develop and scale competitive gaming experiences globally, the company has roped in partners such as AccelByte, a game backend platform that lets studios build, publish and operate live service games; Liftoff's GameRefinery, a data-driven mobile game optimisation tool provider; and AppMagic, a mobile apps market intelligence solution provider.

Amazon's cloud unit Amazon Web Services will also provide these startups with cloud credits worth $10,000.

KIGI was first announced by the South Korean gaming giant in October 2023. It solely focuses on supporting video game development, a change from Krafton's investment strategy in India wherein it has backed startups in the broader digital entertainment and creator economy areas in recent years.

For the first cohort, Krafton had selected four startups - Nagaland-based ReDimension Games, Bengaluru-based Shura Games, Gurugram-based Dunali Games, and Delhi-based Arjuna Studios.

ReDimension Games, Shura Games, and Dunali Games have soft-launched their respective titles in recent months, with Arjuna Studios expected to soft-launch its game next month.

These moves come as Krafton deepens its presence in India, with an aim to capitalise on the country's rising potential as a global gaming hub.

"At Krafton India, we see the future of gaming as a vibrant tapestry woven with diverse ideas and bold creativity. Gaming is more than just a form of entertainment—it’s a tool for connection, expression, and cultural influence" said Krafton India CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn.

"By empowering diverse voices and championing innovation, with our second cohort, we’re setting the stage for a future where Indian game developers are defining trends, telling new stories, and pushing the boundaries of what gaming can be," he added.

Krafton, the maker of the popular battle royale title Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), pledged to invest $150 million in Indian gaming and interactive entertainment startups over the next two to three years in August 2023. This brings its total commitment to the Indian market to about $290 million, making it one of the most prolific strategic investors in the country in recent years.

The company has also released several games in the India market in recent years. This includes Bullet Echo India, CookieRun India, Garuda Saga, Road To Valor: Empires, and Defense Darby, besides the flagship title BGMI.

Last month, Krafton acquired over 75 percent stake in Nautilus Mobile, a Pune-based game development studio best known for developing the Real Cricket mobile game franchise, for Rs 118 crore.