Krafton, the developer behind PUBG: Battlegrounds, has announced its acquisition of Pune-based Nautilus Mobile for ₹118 crore. This announcement was made on Friday and marks Krafton’s inaugural acquisition in India. The move follows a strategic investment of ₹40.5 crore that Krafton made in Nautilus last year.
Krafton Expands Presence in India with Nautilus Acquisition
The acquisition grants Krafton a controlling stake in Nautilus Mobile, taking over from JetSynthesys, which held a 100 percent stake in the studio since 2020. Despite the change in ownership, JetSynthesys will continue to be a key minority investor in Nautilus and will collaborate with the studio on important strategic initiatives, particularly in the realm of esports, as stated in a press release from Nautilus.
Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of Krafton India, expressed enthusiasm about the deal, emphasizing the company’s vision of establishing India as a leading hub for game development. “We are eager to deepen our partnership and innovate together to create top-tier gaming experiences that appeal to both Indian and global audiences,” he said.
Anuj Mankar, CEO of Nautilus, shared his excitement about joining Krafton and entering this new chapter. He noted, “This partnership will enable us to explore new avenues of innovation and broaden our reach while continuing to provide captivating and high-quality gaming experiences to players around the world.”
Mankar also highlighted that Krafton’s extensive expertise and robust industry connections could elevate the Real Cricket franchise, helping it reach a worldwide audience and uncover new possibilities in mobile gaming.
Krafton’s Battlegrounds Mobile India, commonly referred to as BGMI, is one of India’s most downloaded mobile games, boasting over 200 million downloads. On the other hand, Nautilus Mobile is well-known for its Real Cricket sports simulation series, which features popular titles such as Real Cricket 24 and Real Cricket 22.
