The gaming giant behind India's most popular battle royale is making its next big move. Krafton India has identified cricket as its pathway to deeper market penetration following unprecedented success with BGMI.
CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn believes cricket gaming represents untapped potential in India's booming sports technology sector. Furthermore, the company's proven track record with BGMI provides the foundation for this ambitious expansion.
BGMI Breaks Sales Records in 2024
Battlegrounds Mobile India achieved its highest-ever sales figures in 2024. The game contributed to a remarkable 35.7% year-on-year increase in mobile revenue for Krafton.
Moreover, these record-breaking numbers validate Krafton's India-focused strategy. The success demonstrates the company's deep understanding of local gaming preferences and market dynamics.
Consequently, Krafton is now leveraging this momentum to explore new gaming verticals. Cricket gaming emerges as the natural next step given India's massive cricket fanbase.
The $14 Million Cricket Bet
Earlier this year, Krafton acquired a controlling stake in Pune-based Nautilus Mobile for over $14 million. Nautilus Mobile creates and publishes the popular Real Cricket mobile game series.
This acquisition represents Krafton's first major investment outside battle royale gaming in India. Additionally, it signals the company's commitment to diversifying its Indian portfolio beyond BGMI.
The Real Cricket series already boasts several million daily active users. Therefore, Krafton sees significant potential to scale this existing user base through enhanced technology and design expertise.
India's Sports Tech Market Explosion
India's sports technology market generated ₹26,700 crore in revenues during FY24. According to Deloitte's latest report, this figure is expected to reach ₹49,500 crore by 2029.
Cricket dominates this landscape with an estimated fanbase of 492 million fans. In comparison, kabaddi comes second with approximately 119 million followers.
Furthermore, fantasy sports platforms have invested heavily in cricket partnerships. My11Circle outbid Dream11 to become IPL's official fantasy partner, paying over ₹600 crore for five years starting 2024.
Real Cricket's Growth Potential
Real Cricket 24 already features officially licensed IPL teams and players. Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians are among the franchises represented in the game.
However, Krafton identifies significant opportunities for improvement and expansion. Currently, 78% of users play only in single-player mode, representing untapped multiplayer potential.
Sohn explains the company's vision: "We want to make the game bigger in terms of revenue base, and we want to see more esports opportunities." The focus includes developing multiplayer modes and competitive gaming features.
Additionally, Krafton plans to leverage its technical expertise to enhance gameplay experience. The company's proven track record with BGMI provides valuable insights for cricket game development.
Understanding India's Unique Gaming Market
Krafton's four years of Indian operations have provided crucial market insights. Sohn emphasizes that India represents a distinctly unique gaming market with specific preferences.
Games with real-world connections perform exceptionally well in India. Shooting games, board games like Ludo, and strategy games resonate strongly with Indian audiences.
Conversely, role-playing games struggle to gain traction in the Indian market. This understanding shapes Krafton's approach to cricket gaming development and marketing strategies.
Moreover, India's mobile-first gaming culture creates unique opportunities and challenges. The absence of established PC and console gaming traditions means mobile games must accommodate different playing patterns.
Esports Investment Strategy
Krafton's esports journey in India began with a 16.3% stake in Nodwin Gaming in 2021. This investment has grown 3-4 times in value while creating strategic partnerships.
Nodwin Gaming now hosts the BGMI Masters Series (BGMS), an offline tournament broadcast on Star Sports and OTT platforms. These events demonstrate the potential for cricket esports development.
However, Sohn acknowledges that esports profitability remains challenging globally. Nevertheless, smartphone manufacturers and mobility companies recognize esports' marketing value and sponsor tournaments heavily.
Therefore, cricket esports could attract similar brand partnerships given the sport's massive Indian following. The combination of cricket's popularity and gaming's growth creates compelling sponsorship opportunities.
2025 Strategic Priorities
Krafton's primary focus for 2025 centers on strengthening BGMI's market position. The game serves as the company's primary revenue generator and requires continued investment.
Simultaneously, Real Cricket development represents the company's second major priority. Krafton aims to position it as India's definitive cricket gaming experience.
Sohn outlines the cricket gaming objective: "We want to make the gap even bigger with other competitors so that we can strongly position that and provide a good gaming experience."
Furthermore, the company plans large-scale content updates and targeted marketing campaigns. These initiatives will support both BGMI retention and Real Cricket growth.
The Road Ahead
Krafton's cricket gaming strategy reflects broader trends in India's digital entertainment landscape. The convergence of mobile gaming, sports fandom, and esports creates unprecedented opportunities.
Additionally, the company's proven ability to understand and serve Indian gaming preferences positions it well for success. BGMI's record-breaking performance demonstrates Krafton's market expertise.
Therefore, cricket gaming represents a logical extension of Krafton's Indian strategy. The combination of massive cricket fandom and mobile gaming adoption creates ideal conditions for growth.
The success of this cricket gaming initiative could establish new benchmarks for sports gaming in India. Moreover, it may inspire other international gaming companies to explore similar localization strategies in the Indian market.
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