Krafton Strengthens Presence in India with Major Acquisition of Real Cricket Developer Nautilus Mobile for Rs. 118 Crore

PUBG: Battlegrounds developer Krafton has acquired Pune’s Nautilus Mobile for Rs. 118 crore, as announced by the company on Friday. Nautilus is recognized for its Real Cricket series and this marks Krafton’s inaugural acquisition in India. This move follows the South Korean company’s strategic investment of Rs. 40.5 crore in Nautilus in 2022.

Krafton Secures Nautilus

Krafton now holds a controlling interest in the Indian developer, succeeding JetSynthesys, which obtained a full stake in Nautilus Mobile in 2020. Nevertheless, JetSynthesys will continue as a notable minority stakeholder in Nautilus after the takeover by Krafton. According to Nautilus, the firm will keep collaborating with the studio on “strategically significant aspects, particularly in Esports,” following the acquisition.

“This acquisition underscores our long-term ambition to position India as a global center for game development. We look forward to enhancing this partnership and collaborating to create outstanding gaming experiences that appeal to both Indian and international players,” stated Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of Krafton India.

Anuj Mankar, CEO of Nautilus, expressed that the team was “excited” about joining Krafton and entering a new “phase.”

“This collaboration will empower us to stretch the limits of innovation and broaden our scope, while we consistently provide engaging and superior gaming experiences to players globally,” he added.

Mankar mentioned that Krafton’s industry expertise and robust network would assist the Real Cricket franchise in reaching a worldwide audience and exploring new avenues in the mobile gaming sector.

Krafton’s Battlegrounds Mobile India, commonly referred to as BGMI, which is a version of PUBG Mobile tailored for the Indian market, stands as one of the most popular mobile games in the nation, boasting over 200 million downloads. Nautilus Mobile is responsible for the Real Cricket sports simulation series, featuring well-known titles like Real Cricket 24 and Real Cricket 22.