---
title: 'Manager, Licensing & Partnerships at KRAFTON INDIA'
canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/manager-licensing-partnerships-krafton-india-bengaluru-pm2jvs3zg3av'
type: 'job'
last_seen: '2026-10-13'
---

# Manager, Licensing & Partnerships at KRAFTON INDIA

- **Company:** KRAFTON INDIA
- **Location:** Bengaluru, India
- **Posted:** 2026-03-31
- **Last confirmed live:** 2026-10-13
- **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kraftonindia/jobs/8322814002

## Job description

## [ WHO WE ARE ]

Based out of South Korea, KRAFTON, Inc. is committed to discovering and globally publishing games that deliver a uniquely fun experience with global production studios known for distinctive creatives. Founded in 2007, KRAFTON consists of PUBG STUDIOS, Bluehole Studio, RisingWings, Striking Distance Studios, Dreamotion, Unknown Worlds, 5minlab, Neon Giant, KRAFTON Montréal Studio and ReLU Games, each trying to innovate the enjoyment of games through continuously embracing challenges and new technologies, expanding our platforms and services to win the hearts of more fans.

KRAFTON India has established itself as a trailblazer in the gaming industry, driven by its unwavering commitment to delivering distinctive and enjoyable gaming experiences. At the heart of KRAFTON India's success lies a deep understanding of the Indian gaming community.

The company takes immense pride in its premier entertainment properties, which include highly popular titles like BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI), CookieRun India, Road To Valor: Empires, Defense Derby, and New State Mobile. These games have not only captured the hearts of Indian players but have also played a pivotal role in fostering a thriving e-sports ecosystem in the country.

With a focus on India, KRAFTON is dedicated to nurturing the gaming and start-up ecosystem. In line with this commitment, KRAFTON initiated the KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator (KIGI) in October 2023. KIGI aims to support 6-10 teams annually, with program durations ranging from six months to one year. Additionally, KRAFTON India has invested over $150 million in the Indian market in the past two years. It has committed an additional $150 million to the Indian start-up ecosystem over the next three years.

Nautilus Mobile is an Indian game development studio based in Pune, known for building Real Cricket — India’s most popular mobile cricket gaming franchise. Founded in 2013, the studio has consistently delivered authentic, high-quality cricket simulation experiences to millions of players across India and beyond. Its successful titles include Real Cricket 24, Real Cricket 22, Real Cricket GO, and the legacy favourite Real Cricket Premier League. In April 2025, KRAFTON acquired a majority stake in Nautilus Mobile. This investment reflects its commitment to unlocking opportunities for Indian game developers and supporting the growth of India’s gaming ecosystem. Through this partnership, Nautilus Mobile continues to innovate at the intersection of sport and gaming, shaping the future of interactive cricket entertainment.

## [ ABOUT THE ROLE ]

We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated professional to lead our licensing and partnership efforts related to the cricket ecosystem in India, with potential to expand into broader regional and global cricket gaming rights. This individual will be responsible for identifying, evaluating, and securing licensing opportunities ranging from smaller, tactical agreements to complex multi-party, multi-regional deals. The pivotal to building a differentiated and authentic cricket gaming experience.

## [ RESPONSIBILITIES ]

- Own end-to-end responsibility for licensing and partnership activities related to cricket teams,
- leagues, players, stadiums, and associated IPs.
- Identify, assess, and negotiate licensing opportunities in alignment with the company’s business
- and product goals.
- Drive and close deals with a wide range of stakeholders including cricket boards, clubs, players’
- associations, sports agencies, and rights holders.
- Build and nurture long-term strategic relationships across the cricketing ecosystem in India and
- beyond.
- Provide strategic insights on cricket licensing trends, competitive landscape, and market dynamics.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with product, legal, marketing, and publishing teams to align on deal
- terms and execution plans.
- Maintain an up-to-date repository of licensing agreements, rights coverage, and performance metrics.

## [ REQUIREMENTS ]

- Minimum 10 years of experience in licensing, partnerships, or rights management within the gaming,
- sports, or entertainment industry.
- Demonstrated success in managing end-to-end licensing deals – from identification and evaluation
- to negotiation and closure.
- Strong understanding of the cricket landscape in India, including key stakeholders, regulatory bodies,
- and media rights.
- Proven track record of developing long-term strategic partnerships in a highly dynamic and
- competitive environment.
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship management skills.
- Deep business acumen with the ability to align licensing strategy with company goals.
- Demonstrated ability and commitment to build and sustain long-term relationships with cricket
- boards, clubs, sports agencies, and rights holders

## [ PREFERRED ]

- Prior experience working directly with cricket boards or associations.
- Background in video game publishing or mobile game licensing, particularly in the sports or cricket
- genre.
- Understanding of IP law and licensing frameworks in gaming and sports media.

## About KRAFTON INDIA

## Company Overview
- **One-liner**: KRAFTON INDIA is the Indian subsidiary of South Korean gaming giant KRAFTON, Inc., focused on publishing and operating popular mobile games like *BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI)* and nurturing the local gaming ecosystem through investments and an incubator program.
- **Entity Type**: Public (Parent KRAFTON, Inc. is listed on KOSPI; KRAFTON INDIA operates as a wholly owned subsidiary) [linkedin.com](https://in.linkedin.com/company/kraftoninc-india)
- **Headquarters**: Bangalore, India [krafton.in](https://krafton.in/)
- **Founded**: Not publicly available for the Indian entity; parent company founded in 2007
- **Founders**: Not publicly available for KRAFTON INDIA; parent company founded by Changhan Kim (CEO of KRAFTON, Inc.)

## Core Business
- **Primary industry/industries**: Mobile gaming, esports, game publishing
- **Target customers**: B2C – mobile gamers in India (mass market), B2B – game developers and startups through its incubator (KIGI) and investment arm
- **Mission or purpose statement**: “Nurturing a flourishing gaming community” and “reshaping the gaming landscape in India” through localized content, grassroots esports, and startup support [krafton.in](https://krafton.in/)

## Products & Services
- **BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI)**: Free-to-play mobile battle royale game (iOS, Android); a localized version of PUBG Mobile for India. Drives a thriving esports ecosystem.
- **Road to Valor: Empires**: Real-time PvP strategy game set in a mythical world with Indian-themed units (“India ka Battle Game”).
- **CookieRun India**: Endless runner mobile game featuring colorful characters and races.
- **Bullet Echo India**: Top-down tactical shooter with unique heroes, focused on team play.
- **Real Cricket**: Official cricket simulation game with licensed teams and multiplayer modes.
- **Defense Derby**: A tower defense/auto-chess hybrid mobile game.
- **New State Mobile**: Battle royale shooter available on Android/iOS.
- **KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator (KIGI)**: A program supporting 6–10 teams per year with funding and mentorship for early-stage game developers.

## Market Standing
- **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly disclosed for KRAFTON INDIA; parent KRAFTON, Inc. has a market cap of approximately ~₩15 trillion (≈ $11 billion) as of mid-2026 (estimate based on public filings).
- **Key Metric**: Total funding / investment into Indian market – over $150 million deployed in the past two years, with an additional $150 million committed over the next three years [greenhouse.io](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kraftonindia)
- **Notable Investors/Partners**: Parent KRAFTON, Inc. (self-funded); partners include Indian esports organizations (NODWIN Gaming, etc.), Tencent Games, and various startup portfolio companies.
- **Growth Signals**: Headcount grew 56.9% year-over-year to 92 employees; 26,907 LinkedIn followers (+64.4% YoY); active job openings in engineering, product, and business roles; BGMI remains one of India’s most downloaded mobile games [linkedin.com](https://in.linkedin.com/company/kraftoninc-india)

## Competitive Advantages
- **Strong IP portfolio**: BGMI is a dominant mobile gaming title in India, with millions of daily active users and a deeply engaged esports community.
- **Localization & India-first strategy**: Games are tailored with Indian themes, events, and content (e.g., Indian faction in *Road to Valor*, *Real Cricket* licensing).
- **Deep capital commitment**: Over $300 million committed to the Indian gaming ecosystem (investments + incubator) provides a war chest for talent acquisition and market expansion.
- **Incubator pipeline (KIGI)**: Early access to emerging Indian game development talent and potential acquisition targets.

## Strategic Focus
- **Continued investment in Indian startups**: Next $150M directed toward gaming, tech, and media/entertainment companies.
- **Expansion of esports**: Organizing India-centric tournaments and localized events to grow competitive gaming.
- **Diversifying game portfolio**: Publishing new titles across genres (strategy, shooter, sports, arcade) to capture different audience segments.
- **Talent acquisition**: Growing the Bangalore team across engineering, product, marketing, and management; prioritizing backend, frontend, and infra roles [krafton.in](https://krafton.in/jobs/)

## Why Work Here
- **Culture**: Emphasizes “One Team. One Dream.”, innovation, bold decision-making, and ownership. “Work Hard, Play Hard” is a core motto [krafton.in](https://krafton.in/life-at-krafton-india/)
- **Environment**: Green office with calming views; “Go Green” motto; fun initiatives like Play Day, Tambola, festive celebrations, and team outings.
- **Learning & Growth**: Provides a learning policy for professional development and upskilling; employees can select programs to enhance skills.
- **Well-being**: Focus on holistic well-being including physical, emotional, and financial support; counseling services available.
- **Recognition**: “Loyalty awards” for tenure; celebration of accomplishments.
- **Work policy**: Hybrid/in-office model (based on job listings indicating Bangalore location).
- **Engineering culture**: Roles open for Backend Engineer, Frontend Engineer, SW Architect, Infra Manager – indicating a robust tech stack and ownership of game infrastructure and platform [greenhouse.io](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kraftonindia)

## Sources
1. [krafton.in](https://krafton.in/) – Company website, product pages, culture page
2. [greenhouse.io](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/kraftonindia) – Careers page with job listings and investment details
3. [linkedin.com](https://in.linkedin.com/company/kraftoninc-india) – LinkedIn company profile, headcount, growth data

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