Krafton launches the KIGI Academy with IIT Madras to train India's next generation of game developers through a six-month program combining on-site and residency phases.

Applications open to third- and fourth-year undergraduates, dual-degree students, and postgraduates from any engineering discipline, with no prior game development experience required, evaluated through screening and interviews.

IIT Madras was chosen as the founding partner for its top national ranking and ongoing industry ties, including Rendezvous and game jams that have previously led to full-time offers for IITM students.

Key quotes emphasize bridging academia and industry and delivering hands-on learning from ideation to publishing under industry guidance.

The curriculum stresses ground-level skills—game logic, team and resource management, user experience, and the psychology of interactive products—before introducing AI to accelerate development.

The partnership could foster collaboration between colleges and gaming companies, offering clearer industry pathways and turning ideas into playable games.

KIGI has previously backed Indian studios like Xod Games Studio, EvolX Games, Ether Games, and RedDevil Studio, with titles showcased at Waves 2025 and IGDC 2024.

KIGI aims to address gaps in practical experience by focusing on end-to-end game development and the development pipeline, not just technical skills.

The article is an advertorial press release describing the collaboration and program specifics, with standard boilerplate on KRAFTON and IIT Madras; content provided by HT Syndication.

Longer-term ambitions include expanding the KIGI Academy model to additional colleges, focusing on skill development and increasing local game production.

Krafton India CEO CH Kim met with Rajya Sabha MP Sujeet Kumar to discuss gaming's evolving role in India's digital economy.

India’s market data shows 511 million gamers and a 2025 revenue of $1.04 billion, underscoring strong demand for skilled game developers and the relevance of KIGI’s industry-led approach.