South Korean gaming powerhouse Krafton, best known for PUBG: Battlegrounds and Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), has acquired a controlling stake in Indian gaming studio Nautilus Mobile in a $14 million all-cash deal.
Founded in 2013, Nautilus Mobile has built a strong following among cricket enthusiasts, boasting millions of downloads across its five Real Cricket titles, including Real Cricket 24 and Real Cricket Premier League. With India’s immense passion for cricket, Krafton sees an opportunity to refine Nautilus’s offerings while exploring new gaming genres in the long run.
On Friday, Krafton confirmed that it now holds “north of 75%” of Nautilus Mobile, the studio behind the popular Real Cricket franchise. Despite the acquisition, Nautilus will continue operating independently, retaining all 45 employees, with the deal expected to be finalized by the end of the month.`
“Our development capability in Nautilus will help Krafton double down on its India gaming strategy,” said Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of Krafton India. “Together, we can build more games across different genres for Indian and global audiences.”
Nautilus CEO Anuj Mankar echoed this vision, stating that the studio plans to expand its reach beyond India over time.
India’s Mobile Gaming Boom
India’s mobile gaming industry is on a rapid growth trajectory, fueled by a young and tech-savvy population. Market intelligence firm Niko Partners reports that mobile gaming accounts for 77.9% of the country’s total gaming revenue. The sector is expected to grow from $640 million in 2023 to $1.1 billion by 2028.
Krafton has already seen success in India, with BGMI surpassing 200 million downloads and achieving record-breaking sales last year. However, the company has struggled to replicate BGMI’s success with other titles, such as Bullet Echo India, Road To Valor, and CookieRun. By acquiring Nautilus, Krafton aims to expand beyond battle royale games and tap into India’s love for cricket-based gaming.
Strengthening Krafton’s Presence in India
Krafton initially invested $5.4 million in Nautilus Mobile in 2022 but found its role as a minority stakeholder limiting in supporting the studio’s development. By securing a majority stake, Krafton now has greater involvement in Nautilus’s growth and innovation.
“We strongly believe that cricket games have a lot of potential,” said Nihansh Bhat, corporate lead development at Krafton India. “We want to work with Nautilus to fully realize the potential of this market, not just in India but in other cricket-playing nations.”
JetSynthesys, which acquired 100% of Nautilus in 2020, will remain a significant minority investor and continue collaborating on areas such as eSports. The two companies have already partnered to integrate Real Cricket with Indian Premier League (IPL) teams, enhancing the game’s appeal.
Krafton has invested over $200 million in India, with 20% of its investments focused on gaming and gaming-adjacent businesses. The company has also backed Indian startups, including payments platform Cashfree, audio platform Kuku FM, and influencer marketing platform One Impression.
As Krafton continues expanding its presence in India, the company is actively exploring acquisitions, moderate investments, and business collaborations with key players in the country.
