KRAFTON Expands Gaming Incubator Program in India with Six New Startups
- sagarmankar177
- 5 minutes ago
- 3 min read
KRAFTON India has welcomed six new startups into the second cohort of its KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator (KIGI) program.
The program, which began in 2023, has grown from four startups in its first batch to six in the current round.
These startups come from various cities across India, including emerging gaming hubs like Kolkata, Madurai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.
Each selected startup will receive mentorship for six months to a year and financial support of up to $150,000 to help them create high-quality games.
The six startups in the new cohort are working on diverse gaming projects. Here are the selected studios and their games:
Kleanup Games
Madurai-based Kleanup Games is developing CHROMADI, a retro-inspired shoot-'em-up game centered on innovative color-mixing mechanics.
Led by Studio Director Jaiwanth Shanmugam and featuring original music from Audio Director Niranjan Nair, this fast-paced arcade-style game combines nostalgic gameplay with modern elements.
The team aims to release CHROMADI in 2026 for iOS, Android, and PC platforms.
Advaita Interactive
Kolkata's Advaita Interactive, founded by Judhajit Sarkar, is creating Inspectorium, an immersive detective game set in a steampunk version of Victorian-era Calcutta.
The game will feature episodic cases, real-time AI-powered interrogations, and challenging puzzles for players to solve.
This unique blend of Indian cultural elements and detective gameplay is scheduled for release across mobile, PC, and VR platforms between 2025 and 2026.
Singular Scheme
Mumbai-based Singular Scheme, led by Ahad Oomerbhoy with a team of eight developers, is crafting Frontier Paladin, an ambitious RPG that incorporates action and tower defense elements.
Set in a cursed battlefield filled with divine relics and ancient foes, the game is already available as a public demo on Steam, marking an important milestone for this indie studio's second title.
Smash Head Studio
Bangalore's Smash Head Studio is developing Cricket Rivals, a fast-paced, real-time multiplayer mobile game that reimagines cricket with quick, competitive matches designed for global appeal.
The experienced team, co-founded by Surendran Ramachandran and Pawan Sandhar, has previously developed other titles including Gravity Shooter, bringing valuable experience to this sports-focused project.
Unwind Games
Hyderabad-based Unwind Games, founded by industry veterans Jayant Shukla and Khozema Abuwala, is creating BaoBao's Journey, a heartfelt casual puzzle game featuring a lovable panda on a quest to build his dream mountain lodge.
The game aims to provide players with a soothing, satisfying experience that combines thoughtful puzzles with cozy customization elements.
Ginger Games
New Delhi's Ginger Games, founded in 2024 by Shrey Mishra, Sumit Batheja, and Piyush Kumar, is developing Monkey Mayhem, a vibrant hybrid-casual action-adventure mobile game.
Set in the quirky "Monkey Universe," the game follows a brave monkey named Piklu on a mission to rescue his friends.
Featuring auto-shooter gameplay, dynamic biomes, crafting systems, and an engaging narrative, Monkey Mayhem is scheduled for release in February 2026.
What's New?
According to Anuj Sahani, Head of KIGI program, KRAFTON has relaxed its selection criteria for this cohort to support earlier-stage startups. "We are also taking a little more risk this time by supporting very early-stage startups, including those straight out of college or with limited experience," he explained to Moneycontrol.
The second cohort will also receive enhanced technical support, addressing what Sahani identified as "one of the pain points from the first cohort."
To further strengthen the program, KRAFTON has partnered with technology leaders like AWS, AccelByte, AppMagic, and Liftoff's GameRefinery. These partners will provide cloud computing resources, backend infrastructure, and expert guidance to help the startups develop globally competitive games.
It's Bearing Fruit Already
The first cohort of KIGI has already demonstrated impressive progress in their development journeys.
Sojourn Past, a 2D pixel art action-adventure game developed by a team of just 3 people at ReDimension Games, is launching on Steam soon.
Meanwhile, Shura Games and Dunali Games have successfully soft-launched their titles, Spice Secrets and Rookie Tales, on the Play Store just recently.
Arjuna Studios is developing Gangster Carnival, a mobile-focused multiplayer battle royale game, and is preparing for its release in the coming months.
"India's game development talent is brimming with potential, and at KIGI, we are dedicated to unlocking new opportunities for them to thrive," said Anuj Sahani.
These initiatives are part of KRAFTON's deeper commitment to India's gaming industry. The South Korean gaming giant, known for Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), pledged to invest $150 million in Indian gaming and interactive entertainment startups over the next few years. This brings their total investment commitment in India to approximately $290 million, making them one of the most significant strategic investors in the country's gaming sector.