KRAFTON India Hosts KIGI PitchFest 2026 With Eight Indie Studios in Chennai

KRAFTON India held the fourth edition of KIGI PitchFest in Chennai, where eight indie studios pitched their games to a jury. The event took place on 30 October at the Chennai Trade Centre, as part of the India Game Developer Conference (IGDC) 2026. More than 100 people attended.

How Did the PitchFest Work?

Each studio got a fixed slot to present and then answer questions.

• Pitch and gameplay showcase: 10 minutes

• Questions from the jury: 10 minutes

As per KRAFTON India, shortlisted teams stood out for having a playable build and a clear pitch deck. The company also looked for strong alignment between the founders, their teams and the goals of the KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator (KIGI).

Which Studios Made the Shortlist?

The eight studios were picked from more than 300 applications, all received within 30 days of entries opening. The shortlisted teams are:

• AbhiTechGames

• Arckon Arts

• Team Quasar

• Compiling Shaders Games

• Kalp

• Xigma Games

• Tandoori Pixels

• 2Tellers Studio

KRAFTON India has not yet shared the games from these teams. It did say the lineup covered a wide range of genres and platforms. The studios pitched to a 12-member jury from India, South Korea and the United States, with expertise in product, design, art and strategy.

Anuj Sahani, who heads the KRAFTON India Incubator Programme, said the company was “encouraged by the overwhelming response to KIGI PitchFest this year”. He added that “it is great to see India’s indie gaming community building momentum”. Beyond the verdict, the studios could collect feedback, meet mentors and network with industry figures across the conference.

What Do Selected Studios Get?

Studios selected for KIGI receive:

• Financial support between $50,000 and $150,000

• Hands-on mentoring from industry veterans

• Access to KRAFTON’s resources

• A possible route to publishing support, venture capital and equity investment from KRAFTON

What Has KIGI Delivered So Far?

KRAFTON India launched the incubator in 2023, and its first two cohorts brought in 10 studios. The third cohort arrived in April 2026, adding Xod Games Studio, EvolX Games, Ether Games and RedDevil Studio from roughly 1,000 applications. In September, Cohort 4 opened with wider eligibility. It invites mobile games in beta or soft launch, PC games with a live Steam demo, and early-stage teams with only a concept.

The results are showing on the awards circuit. Mumbai’s Singular Scheme won Upcoming PC/Console Game of the Year at IGDC 2025 for Frontier Paladin. That game became the first KIGI-backed PC title when it launched on Steam on 24 April 2026. This year, EvolX Games took Upcoming Mobile Game of the Year at the India Game Awards for Ludaro, a roguelike twist on Ludo. Advaita Interactive, another KIGI studio, was nominated for Best Art Direction, giving the incubator two nominated studios at IGDC 2026.

KRAFTON India chief executive Sean Hyunil Sohn described Cohort 4 as “another step toward our vision of India as a global creative force in gaming”.

KIGI is only one piece of the plan. The company says it has invested more than $250 million in Indian start-ups across gaming, esports, interactive entertainment and technology since 2021. It has also launched the ₹6,000 crore KRAFTON India Unicorn Growth Fund with Naver and Mirae Asset. On the education side, it set up KIGI Academy with IIT Madras to link the industry with universities.