Krafton, the gaming giant behind popular titles like PUBG: Battlegrounds and Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), has announced a shocking move into the Indian esports scene with the new franchise-based league, modeled on the highly popular Indian Premier League (IPL) cricket format.
The announcement comes as a strategic step to bolster India’s rapidly expanding gaming ecosystem, which currently boasts over 450 million gamers and has seen a staggering 400 per cent rise in esports viewership over the past three years. With the Indian gaming industry projected to surpass revenues of Rs 1,100 crore by 2025, Krafton views this as a pivotal moment to establish a robust and long-term esports infrastructure in the country.
“This isn’t just the beginning of another tournament—it’s the foundation of a long-term sporting ecosystem with the potential to rival the world’s most iconic leagues,” stated Krafton in its press release.
The company is actively seeking interest from a diverse range of entities, including corporations, public figures, athletes, content creators, and investors, who aspire to become franchise owners in this first-of-its-kind league. Interested parties must submit their expression of interest by July 4, 2025. Upon receipt, Krafton will provide a detailed information deck, a Letter of Intent (LOI), and proceed with further discussions regarding the bidding process.
Krafton bets big on esports tournament
This latest venture aligns with Krafton’s broader strategy and increased investment in the Indian market. Krafton CEO Changhan “CH” Kim recently indicated the company’s plan to boost its total investment in India from $170 million to $310 million over the next two years. Beyond localising global hits, Krafton is also ramping up its in-house game development efforts in India, aiming to foster local talent and content creation.
The success of existing BGMI tournaments such as BGIS and BMPS, which offer substantial prize pools and professional opportunities, has already cemented BGMI’s strong presence in the Indian esports scene. With this new IPL-style league, Krafton aims to solidify India’s position as a major player in the global esports arena, encouraging professional sporting pursuit with long-term career prospects for players.