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What is the story about?
South Korean gaming major Krafton has unveiled plans to deploy up to ₹6,000 crore in India over the next four years, underscoring its growing conviction in the country’s startup ecosystem and long-term economic prospects.
In an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18, Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of Krafton India, said the company will follow a calibrated investment approach, beginning with a ₹3,000 crore deployment in the near term before scaling up, subject to execution and outcomes.
“We want to deploy the capital over the next four years. We will first start with ₹3,000 crore next year and see how the deployment goes. If things go smoothly, then we will try to expand up to ₹6,000 crore,” Sohn said.
Sports interest, but through a gaming lens
While speculation has swirled around potential foreign interest in IPL franchises such as Rajasthan Royals or Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sohn made it clear that Krafton is not looking at sports ownership as a standalone play.
Sports, however, does figure on Krafton’s investment radar—albeit through a distinctly gaming-first lens.
“When we are looking at other sectors outside gaming, sports can be one of the potential areas of investment for us,” Sohn said. “At the same time, we are a gaming company, so we are looking at sports from a gaming IP perspective.”
The focus, he explained, is on leveraging the excitement, fan engagement and intellectual property associated with sports to enhance gaming experiences, rather than building a presence as a major player in the sports business itself.
AI bets: Applied use cases over foundational models
Artificial intelligence is another key theme in Krafton’s India investment strategy, though the company is taking a pragmatic view of where opportunities currently lie.
Sohn said Krafton has not yet found investable opportunities in India around foundational AI models, even as he expressed hope that the country will eventually develop its own base AI technologies tailored for Indian users.
“I believe India should be able to build its own foundational model for the usage of Indian people,” he said. “But we haven’t come across any companies which give us the investment or partnership opportunity in that direction.”
For now, Krafton is more interested in startups using AI to transform existing products, services and business models. “We have come across many startups who are using AI technology to revolutionise how they service customers or how they make their products. We want to tap into those opportunities,” Sohn added.
Also Read | India Tech ecosystem secures $10.5 billion in 2025, climbs to global no. 3
Regulatory uncertainty not a factor
Addressing questions around whether regulatory challenges in the gaming sector have influenced Krafton’s push to diversify its India investments, Sohn firmly rejected that narrative.
“I don’t believe there is any connection between regulatory issues and our investments,” he said. “We are bullish about the Indian economy and the ability of Indian tech startups to grow into global-scale companies.”
Watch accompanying video for entire conversation.
In an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18, Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of Krafton India, said the company will follow a calibrated investment approach, beginning with a ₹3,000 crore deployment in the near term before scaling up, subject to execution and outcomes.
“We want to deploy the capital over the next four years. We will first start with ₹3,000 crore next year and see how the deployment goes. If things go smoothly, then we will try to expand up to ₹6,000 crore,” Sohn said.
Sports interest, but through a gaming lens
While speculation has swirled around potential foreign interest in IPL franchises such as Rajasthan Royals or Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sohn made it clear that Krafton is not looking at sports ownership as a standalone play.
Sports, however, does figure on Krafton’s investment radar—albeit through a distinctly gaming-first lens.
“When we are looking at other sectors outside gaming, sports can be one of the potential areas of investment for us,” Sohn said. “At the same time, we are a gaming company, so we are looking at sports from a gaming IP perspective.”
The focus, he explained, is on leveraging the excitement, fan engagement and intellectual property associated with sports to enhance gaming experiences, rather than building a presence as a major player in the sports business itself.
AI bets: Applied use cases over foundational models
Artificial intelligence is another key theme in Krafton’s India investment strategy, though the company is taking a pragmatic view of where opportunities currently lie.
Sohn said Krafton has not yet found investable opportunities in India around foundational AI models, even as he expressed hope that the country will eventually develop its own base AI technologies tailored for Indian users.
“I believe India should be able to build its own foundational model for the usage of Indian people,” he said. “But we haven’t come across any companies which give us the investment or partnership opportunity in that direction.”
For now, Krafton is more interested in startups using AI to transform existing products, services and business models. “We have come across many startups who are using AI technology to revolutionise how they service customers or how they make their products. We want to tap into those opportunities,” Sohn added.
Also Read | India Tech ecosystem secures $10.5 billion in 2025, climbs to global no. 3
Regulatory uncertainty not a factor
Addressing questions around whether regulatory challenges in the gaming sector have influenced Krafton’s push to diversify its India investments, Sohn firmly rejected that narrative.
“I don’t believe there is any connection between regulatory issues and our investments,” he said. “We are bullish about the Indian economy and the ability of Indian tech startups to grow into global-scale companies.”
Watch accompanying video for entire conversation.
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