Krafton Inc., the South Korean gaming giant known for its blockbuster title PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), is strengthening its global presence by appointing high-profile executives from leading tech and gaming companies. On Tuesday, Krafton announced the hiring of Jin Oh, former president of Riot Games, as its Chief Global Publishing Officer (CGPO). Oh’s extensive experience includes roles at Blizzard Entertainment and Garena, where he successfully localized major titles in Southeast Asia and Korea.
Krafton is focusing on enhancing its international competitiveness through strategic leadership appointments and intellectual property (IP) acquisitions. The company aims to expand its publishing business under Oh’s leadership, with plans for active mergers and acquisitions to secure new IP.
The hiring spree includes Richard Yoon, former head of Apple’s WW health business, as head of strategy and global operations, and Thomas Ko, who led Samsung Pay’s global expansion, as head of the publishing platform. These executives are expected to play a pivotal role in Krafton’s ambition to become a leading game publisher in India, where PUBG enjoyed significant success.
Krafton is set to launch at least six titles in India this year and has secured IP for nine games through equity investments. The company generated 94% of its 665.9 billion won ($483.8 million) revenue from overseas markets, underscoring its global focus.
This strategic expansion aligns with industry trends as competitors like NCsoft Corp. also invest in international markets, highlighting the growing emphasis on global publishing to diversify revenue streams and mitigate potential weaknesses in game development.
