Krafton, the South Korean gaming giant behind hits like PUBG and BGMI, has taken a big step into India’s gaming scene by acquiring a controlling stake in Nautilus Mobile for $14 million.
The company now owns more than 75% of Nautilus Mobile, the Pune-based studio best known for its Real Cricket franchise. Despite the acquisition, Nautilus will continue to operate independently, with all 45 employees staying on board.
Founded in 2013, Nautilus has made a name for itself in mobile cricket games, a genre that enjoys massive popularity in India. With titles like Real Cricket 24 and Real Cricket Premier League, the franchise has racked up millions of downloads. Krafton plans to fine-tune these existing games while also exploring new genres in the future.
Nautilus Mobile was previously acquired by Indian digital entertainment company JetSynthesys in 2020, followed by Krafton’s $5.4 million investment in 2022. At the time, Krafton’s minority stake limited its ability to support Nautilus’ growth fully. Now, with a controlling share, Krafton plans to collaborate more closely with the studio. Meanwhile, JetSynthesys will remain a “significant minority” investor of the company.
Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of Krafton India, highlighted that this acquisition aligns with the company’s broader vision for India. He emphasized that gaining a controlling stake allows them for deeper collaboration and greater involvement in “core development efforts” with Nautilus. (Thanks TechCrunch)
Nautilus CEO Anuj Mankar echoed this optimism, saying that the partnership would open doors for–“more games, more genres, both for the Indian market and global market going forward.”
India’s mobile gaming market has been booming, thanks to a young population and increasing smartphone adoption. According to market intelligence firm Niko Partners, mobile games account for nearly 78% of the country’s gaming revenue. The sector is expected to grow from $640 million in 2023 to $1.1 billion by 2028, showcasing huge potential.
Krafton itself has been experiencing impressive growth, with a 119.3% year-over-year increase in net profit, reaching around $889 million in 2024. Most of its success in India comes from BGMI, which has crossed 200 million downloads and recorded its highest-ever sales last year. However, the company has struggled to replicate BGMI’s success with other titles like Bullet Echo India, Road To Valor, and CookieRun. By bringing Nautilus into the fold, Krafton hopes to expand into the cricket gaming segment and attract a broader player base.
Krafton has been actively investing in India’s gaming ecosystem. The company has poured over $200 million into the country, backing startups like payments platform Cashfree, audio platform Kuku FM, and influencer marketing platform One Impression. It has also supported gaming-focused funds such as Lumikai and IMM Investment’s first India fund.
With Nautilus now part of its network of 14 game studios worldwide, Krafton is taking another major step toward cementing its presence in India.
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