Krafton Reveals 2026 Strategy With 26 Games in Development and Big Franchise IP Goals

Image Credit: Krafton

South Korean publisher and developer Krafton has confirmed that it remains committed to building what it calls a “big franchise IP.”

The company recently outlined its plans for 2026, revealing that it currently has 26 projects in the works, with 12 of them scheduled to launch within the next two years. Among these upcoming releases are Subnautica 2, Palworld Mobile, and No Law.

For Krafton, a “big franchise IP” is not just about a single successful game. The company defines it as something that expands “beyond a single game experience—expanding across genres, content, and service formats to drive sustainable, repeatable growth over the long term.”

To make this happen, Krafton has restructured its development approach around what they call "a learn-fast, scale-up approach." The company brought in 15 key creative leaders in 2025 and established smaller development teams that can move quickly and test ideas without massive upfront investment.

This setup allows them to release games through early access or limited market launches, gathering real player feedback and data before deciding whether to scale up production or pivot to something else.

Each project starts in markets where there's already a clearly identifiable core fan base, which helps the team assess long-term potential using actual data rather than just hoping for the best.

Two titles that have already shown franchise potential are inZOI and Mimesis, both of which launched in early access last year and each sold over one million copies. Krafton has designated these as "strategic IPs" for 2026, with plans to develop them into full franchise properties with extended product life cycles (PLCs).

Meanwhile, the PUBG franchise continues to be a major pillar of Krafton's strategy, and the company plans to expand it significantly as a "content platform." This includes developing sandbox-oriented user-generated content (UGC) where players can make and share their own experiences, like Roblox.

New titles like PUBG: Black Budget and PUBG: Blindspot are pushing the limits of the franchise into new genres, while mobile and cross-platform launches look to attract players across both established and emerging markets around the globe.

Beyond games, Krafton is also investing in AI. The company declared its intention to become an “AI first” organization in October 2025, and it has already begun applying AI to game development.

Looking ahead, Krafton is exploring how its game technology could extend into areas such as “physical AI and robotics,” though these remain long-term exploratory goals rather than immediate business ventures.