KRAFTON, formerly known as Bluehole and Krafton Game Union, is a South Korean company that develops and distributes video games based in Bundang-gu, Seongnam. Founded by Chang Byung-gyu in Seoul in March 2007, the company is known for having developed TERA, PUBG: Battlegrounds and PUBG: New State, the last two through its subsidiary PUBG Studios. Moreover, Krafton also gives funding to support local video games, e-sports, entertainment, and IT industries. KRAFTON, the company behind BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI), has acquired a controlling stake in Pune-based game studio Nautilus Mobile for Rs 118 crore ($13.7 million). Nautilus Mobile is best known for its popular mobile cricket game, Real Cricket. JetSynthesys fully acquired the studio in 2020, and KRAFTON later invested Rs 40.5 crore in 2022.
With this acquisition, KRAFTON aims to boost Indian game development and expand its presence in sports gaming. JetSynthesys will remain a minority investor and continue working with Nautilus, especially in Esports. KRAFTON India CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn said this deal will help India become a global gaming hub. Nautilus Mobile CEO Anuj Mankar said the partnership will help Real Cricket grow internationally. KRAFTON has invested over $200 million in Indian startups since 2021 and continues to support local game developers. With India’s growing love for cricket and gaming, this move strengthens KRAFTON’s position in the country’s gaming ecosystem.