Krafton India CEO: “Aggressive Govt Policies Needed to Launch India as Global Gaming Powerhouse”
Krafton India CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn called for bolder government intervention to propel India’s gaming sector onto the world stage, speaking at Bengaluru’s GAFX 2026 conference on March 2, 2026. With BGMI boasting 100M+ users, the South Korean giant—$2.56B FY25 revenue—urges “aggressive policies” like Korea’s 2000s boom to rival US, Europe, China.
Sohn’s Key Demands
“We welcome Budget 2026-27’s AVGC labs (15,000 across schools, ₹250Cr talent fund), but go further: early-stage grants, incentives for startups,” Sohn said. Korean model—subsidies, guidelines—catapulted esports; India lags in support despite scale.
Govt “not very supportive” in cases; “take risks within limits to create opportunities.” RMG crackdown contrasts non-RMG bets like Krafton’s $200M+ India investments since 2021 (Nautilus 75% stake, Real Cricket).
Krafton’s India Power Play
- BGMI: 100M+ registered users, esports IPs (BGIS, BMPS).
- Fund: ₹6,000Cr with Naver/Mirae for Asia tech.
- MoUs: Gujarat for esports hubs.
Sohn eyes UGC/AI: “Minecraft/Roblox lower barriers; AI polishes Indian devs’ 70% quality to global.” Roblox Indian studios monetize; AI+UGC unlocks billions.
India Gaming Context
$5B+ market (2026 Circana-aligned), 500M+ gamers—world #2 downloads. Budget AVGC push (labs, talent) aligns, but Sohn wants “true aggression” for top-tier status. RMG woes aside, non-RMG booms; Krafton invests sans limits.
Global Benchmarks
Korea: Subsidies birthed PUBG; US tax breaks fuel Epic/Ubisoft. India needs similar for devs, infra—GAFX spotlights VFX/AVGC synergy.
Growth Roadmap:
| Initiative | Impact |
|---|---|
| AVGC Labs | 15K creators trained |
| Grants | Startup risk capital |
| Esports Hubs | Gujarat MoU jobs |
| AI/UGC Tools | Global monetization |
Sohn’s Vision 2026
“India’s gaming to be sizable, impactful”—via investments, acquisitions. Awards, roadmaps (BGIS expansions) nurture talent.
For Patiala gamers/content creators: Govt push + Krafton = esports/streaming goldmine amid Free Fire, BGMI.
Sohn’s rallying cry: Policies unlock India’s gaming supernova.
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