Krafton eyes Nagaland as gaming hub

Krafton India, a subsidiary of South Korea-based Krafton Inc., has expressed optimism about the potential of Nagaland and the Northeast as a growing hub for game development and eSports.
During a visit to Kohima, Krafton officials met students, faculty and stakeholders, highlighting the company’s investments, goals and support programmes in India.
Addressing the media at hotel Vivor, here on Tuesday, Manva Hunswadkar, PR Lead at Krafton India, thanked local institutions and students for their engagement and said the company was focused on growing India as a creator market, not just a consumer market for games and digital content.
Hunswadkar shared that Krafton, which operates from Bengaluru and New Delhi under Krafton India Pvt. Ltd., recently acquired Nautilus Mobile, a Pune-based studio known for the game Real Cricket, as part of its expansion in India.
She highlighted the Krafton India Gaming Incubator—a mentorship and funding programme supporting early-stage game developers with year-long training and financial aid.
Saurabh Shah, Head of People Operations, said their visit followed an invitation from Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Investment and Development Authority of Nagaland (IDGS) to take part in a skill development workshop. He added that the company aimed to raise awareness on career opportunities in gaming.
A key highlight was Krafton’s partnership with Kohima-based Redimension Games, a ten-member studio incubated under Krafton’s support programme.
Karan Gaikwad, Lead Product Manager for BGMI, said students in Nagaland showed deep understanding of gaming. He noted the region’s strong cultural connection to art, music and design, which aligns well with storytelling in game development.
Officials said Nagaland has many Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) players, and that minimal infrastructure is needed to begin game development, making it feasible for youth in the region. Krafton also spoke about its Campus Tour to promote collegiate eSports, and expressed interest in partnering for events like the Hornbill Festival.
When asked about potential collaborations with the state government for events such as the Hornbill Festival, where eSports like Dota 2 and BGMI were featured last year, Krafton India has expressed interest in forging long-term collaborations with the Nagaland government.
Speaking to media, Krafton officials said they were open to exploring partnerships that would boost the local gaming ecosystem and provide platforms for aspiring eSports players and developers.
Commenting on the visit, Head of People Operations, Saurabh Shah, said their experience in Nagaland was inspiring. He lauded the hospitality, eagerness to learn, and strong participation from students and educators. Shah said Krafton is open to facilitating knowledge-sharing sessions, internship programmes, and potential employment opportunities for young talents in collaboration with interested colleges and institutions.
Officials highlighted that Nagaland’s youth possess digital readiness, artistic talent, and storytelling abilities, making them well-suited for game development.
With continued support from companies like Krafton and local engagement, the state holds strong potential to emerge as a hub for gaming and digital content creation in the country.