Krafton acquires controlling stake in Indian gaming studio Nautilus Mobile for $14M

Tech Crunch - Mar 28th, 2025

Krafton, the South Korean gaming giant, has acquired a controlling stake in Indian gaming studio Nautilus Mobile for $14 million. This strategic acquisition gives Krafton a 'north of 75%' stake, allowing Nautilus to continue operating independently while leveraging Krafton's resources. Nautilus, renowned for its Real Cricket franchise, has grown popular among cricket enthusiasts in India. Krafton's CEO, Sean Hyunil Sohn, emphasized that this move will bolster Krafton's India gaming strategy and expand Nautilus's game offerings both in India and globally. This acquisition follows Krafton's earlier strategic investment in Nautilus and aims to enhance Nautilus's development capabilities, particularly in the high-demand cricket game sector.

India's mobile gaming market is burgeoning, driven by a young, smartphone-savvy population. Mobile games dominate the country's gaming industry, making up 77.9% of total revenue. Krafton's move to acquire Nautilus is a significant step in capitalizing on this growth. The acquisition could help Krafton diversify beyond its successful Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) title and explore new gaming genres, including cricket and other sports. Krafton has already invested over $200 million in India, with plans to explore further acquisitions, moderate investments, and collaborations with key players in the Indian market. Nautilus will join Krafton's network of 14 game studios worldwide, aiming to expand its reach and success in cricket-loving regions and beyond.

Krafton Nautilus Mobile Gaming Acquisition Real Cricket Franchise Indian Gaming Market Mobile Gaming Sean Hyunil Sohn Anuj Mankar Cricket Games

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

7.8

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a comprehensive overview of Krafton's acquisition of Nautilus Mobile, offering detailed insights into the transaction and its strategic implications. It scores high on accuracy, clarity, and timeliness, presenting well-supported claims and maintaining a clear, informative tone. The use of reputable sources and direct quotes enhances its credibility, though additional perspectives could improve balance and engagement. While the article effectively communicates key information to a targeted audience, it could benefit from greater transparency regarding market projections and a more diverse range of viewpoints to enhance its overall impact and public interest.

Accuracy

The article presents several factual claims about Krafton's acquisition of Nautilus Mobile, such as the acquisition amount ($14 million) and the percentage of the stake (over 75%). These claims are consistent with available reports and provide a strong factual basis. However, specific details like the exact percentage of the stake acquired and confirmation of the transaction's completion timeline require further verification. The article accurately describes Nautilus Mobile's background and the popularity of its Real Cricket franchise, aligning with known information about the company's history and product success. Overall, the story is largely accurate, though some finer details could benefit from additional corroboration.

Balance

The article provides a balanced view of the acquisition, including perspectives from both Krafton and Nautilus Mobile. It highlights the strategic goals of Krafton and the potential benefits for Nautilus Mobile, such as expanding its presence and refining its games. However, the article predominantly focuses on the positive aspects of the acquisition, with limited discussion on potential challenges or criticisms. Including perspectives from industry analysts or competitors could have provided a more rounded view of the acquisition's implications.

Clarity

The article is well-structured and written in clear, concise language, making it easy to follow. It logically presents information, starting with the acquisition details and moving on to the strategic implications for both companies. The use of direct quotes enhances clarity by providing specific insights from key stakeholders. The tone is neutral and informative, maintaining a professional and objective perspective throughout.

Source quality

The article cites TechCrunch as a primary source, which is a reputable and reliable outlet for technology and business news. The quotes from key figures at Krafton and Nautilus Mobile add credibility to the story, providing firsthand information about the acquisition and future plans. However, the article would benefit from additional sources to corroborate claims, particularly concerning market projections and investment details, to enhance its reliability further.

Transparency

The article is transparent about its sources, primarily relying on statements from Krafton and Nautilus Mobile executives. It clearly outlines the basis for its claims, such as the acquisition details and strategic intentions. However, it lacks a detailed explanation of its methodology for market projections and does not discuss any potential conflicts of interest that could influence the reporting. Greater transparency regarding these aspects would improve the article's overall credibility.