Krafton India Opens Registrations for Third Gaming Incubator Cohort KIGI on September 20

BGMI (Credit: Krafton India)

Krafton India has announced that registrations for the third cohort of its Krafton India Gaming Incubator (KIGI) program will open on September 20, 2025.

First launched in 2023, the initiative has already supported 10 studios across two batches, offering financial aid, expert mentorship, and access to global publishing and funding opportunities.

Building India’s Gaming Future

KIGI was designed to accelerate India’s gaming ecosystem by equipping developers with both funding and technical expertise.

The program provides financial assistance ranging from $50,000 to $150,000, alongside mentorship from industry veterans in India and South Korea. It also connects participants with publishing opportunities, venture capital networks, and even potential equity investment from Krafton.

According to Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of Krafton India, the incubator reflects the company’s long-term vision:

"Through KIGI, we’re strengthening the local ecosystem and supporting studios that will define the future of gaming from India."

With the first two cohorts, KIGI has already helped four studios launch games into the market, while six others continue development with strong backing.

Cohorts and Game Projects So Far

KIGI’s impact is best seen through the studios it has nurtured.

Cohort 1 (2023–2024):

• ReDimension Games (Nagaland): Sojourn Past, a stylized 2D action-adventure

• Shura Games (Haryana): Spice Secrets, a culinary puzzle game

• Dunali Games (Delhi): Rookie Tales, a tactical deck-building RPG

• Arjuna Studios (Karnataka): Gangster Carnival, a desi-styled battle royale

Cohort 2 (2024–2025):

• Kleanup Games (Tamil Nadu): CHROMADI, a vibrant retro shoot-’em-up

• Advaita Interactive (West Bengal): Inspectorium, a steampunk detective title

• Singular Scheme (Maharashtra): Frontier Paladin, an RPG-tower defense hybrid

• Smash Head Studio (Karnataka): Cricket Rivals, a reimagined multiplayer cricket game

• Unwind Games (Telangana): BaoBao’s Journey, a cozy puzzle experience

• Ginger Games (Delhi): Monkey Mayhem, a hybrid-casual action adventure

A Network of Global Partnerships

Beyond funding and mentorship, Krafton has built partnerships with leading tech companies to help participating studios scale quickly. Collaborations with Google Cloud, AWS, AccelByte, Lysto, AppMagic, and Liftoff’s GameRefinery provide developers with access to cloud infrastructure, backend integration, game analytics, AI-driven playtesting, and user acquisition tools.

Anuj Sahani, Head of KIGI, emphasized how this ecosystem is shaping India’s industry:

"With each cohort, KIGI is proving that world-class games can be built right here in India. We’ve created an ecosystem that gives creators what they need to turn big ideas into scalable, successful games."

Krafton’s Growing Role in India

Since 2021, Krafton has invested over $170 million in Indian startups spanning gaming, esports, and interactive entertainment. The company’s flagship title, Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), has surpassed 200 million downloads, while other local launches such as Bullet Echo India, Road To Valor: Empires, and CookieRun India have further expanded its reach.

At the same time, Krafton continues to strengthen India’s esports scene through events like the BGMI Series (BGIS) and BGMI Pro Series (BMPS), solidifying its role as a major backer of the country’s gaming ecosystem.

Applications Now Open

Developers across India are invited to apply for the third cohort of KIGI. Applications officially open on September 20, 2025, via the Krafton India website.

For aspiring developers, the program offers not just funding but a real chance to scale ideas into successful, globally competitive games. As Krafton frames it, this is about empowering a new generation of Indian studios to "dream big and build bigger."