Krafton Inc., the South Korean video game developer behind Battlegrounds Mobile India, has acquired a controlling stake in Indian cricket game studio Nautilus Mobile for $13.75 million (20.2 billion won), securing management rights in its first acquisition in the country.
The deal allows Krafton to increase its ownership to over 75% in Nautilus, which was previously backed by JetSynthesys, a digital entertainment company that will remain a significant minority investor. Krafton had initially invested $5.4 million in Nautilus in February 2022.
Pune-based Nautilus Mobile, founded in 2013, has built a strong position in India’s mobile gaming market with its “Real Cricket” franchise. The series has accumulated over 250 million downloads and features partnerships with teams from the Indian Premier League, the country’s premier cricket competition.
Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of Krafton India, said the acquisition would enable the company to strengthen Nautilus’s expertise in cricket games while exploring new genres for both Indian and global markets. For Krafton, which has invested over $200 million in India excluding this deal, the acquisition represents an attempt to diversify beyond its battle royale titles.
Anuj Mankar, CEO of Nautilus Mobile, emphasized that the partnership would help the company tap into Krafton’s resources and expertise to potentially create “the first Indian sports game exported globally.”
India’s mobile gaming market has been growing steadily, with mobile games accounting for nearly 78% of the country’s total gaming revenue, according to market intelligence firm Niko Partners. This trend, coupled with cricket’s immense popularity in India, makes the acquisition strategically significant for Krafton’s expansion plans in the region.
