$14M Stake: Krafton's Strategic Play in India's Mobile Gaming Market
- South Korean gaming giant Krafton acquires over 75% stake in Nautilus Mobile for $14 million.
- They plan to target their expansion in India's growing mobile gaming market.
- Krafton aims to leverage Nautilus's expertise in cricket gaming.
Krafton, the South Korean gaming powerhouse behind PUBG: Battlegrounds, has made a significant move in the Indian gaming landscape by acquiring a controlling stake in Nautilus Mobile for $14 million.
The deal, which secures more than 75% ownership, positions Krafton to capitalize on India's booming mobile gaming market.
Nautilus Mobile, a 12-year-old studio based in Pune, is renowned for its Real Cricket franchise, which has amassed millions of downloads across five titles, including Real Cricket 24 and Real Cricket Premier League.
The acquisition will allow Krafton to deepen its presence in India, a market projected to grow from $640 million in 2023 to $1.1 billion by 2028.
Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of Krafton India, emphasized the strategic importance of the acquisition, highlighting plans to refine existing titles and explore new genres. The studio will continue to operate independently, with all 45 employees retained.
This move follows Krafton's previous $5.4 million investment in Nautilus and aligns with its broader strategy of investing in the Indian gaming ecosystem.
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Krafton's interest extends beyond this single acquisition. The company has already invested over $200 million in India, backing various gaming and tech startups.
With mobile games dominating 77.9% of India's gaming revenue, the Nautilus Mobile acquisition represents a calculated step to expand Krafton's market reach.
The deal comes at a time when Krafton is seeking to diversify beyond its flagship Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), which has already surpassed 200 million downloads.
By gaining a controlling stake in Nautilus, Krafton aims to explore new gaming opportunities, particularly in cricket and sports gaming.
Edited by Annette George
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