The fourth cohort will consider mobile and PC games that have reached specified development milestones.

Krafton has expanded the eligibility criteria for the fourth cohort of its Krafton India Gaming Incubator (KIGI), opening the program to game projects that have progressed beyond the idea and early-development stages while continuing to accept early-stage teams.

Applications for the fourth cohort opened Sept. 22

The revised criteria allow mobile games that have reached beta or a soft launch, and PC games that are available on Steam with a demo that have gained early user traction to apply. The change gives developers at different stages of development an opportunity to enter the same incubator cohort.

According to Moneycontrol, Anuj Sahani, head of the Krafton India Incubator Program said that the annual application cycle had previously left out some studios and games because they were at different stages of development when applications opened. The expanded eligibility is intended to address that gap.

Support shifts toward go-to-market

For projects that are further along, KIGI’s support will extend beyond game development. The program will focus on areas such as go-to-market strategy, marketing, product-market fit and user acquisition.

The change reflects a practical challenge for game developers: building a game and reaching users are separate tasks. KIGI has seen stronger games and more developed projects emerge during its first three years, but some developers still face challenges in taking those titles to a wider audience.

The expanded criteria do not require a game to have a full commercial launch. Mobile titles in beta or soft launch and PC games with eligible Steam demos can still apply.

KIGI builds on its first three cohorts

KIGI was launched in October 2023 to support early-stage game developers in India. Its program provides selected developers with six to 12 months of mentorship covering game development, design, marketing and business strategy.

KIGI also provides milestone-based financial assistance of up to $150,000 to participating developers, according to Moneycontrol.

In its first three cohorts, KIGI has supported 14 mobile gaming and PC studios, with teams from cities including Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Nagaland and Madurai, Moneycontrol reported.

The first cohort included four studios, while the second expanded to six. The third cohort also included four studios, bringing the total number supported across the three cohorts to 14.

Previous cohort development

A KIGI-supported game has already reached commercial release. Mumbai-based Singular Scheme’s “Frontier Paladin”, which was part of the second cohort, became the first PC game from the incubator to launch when it was released on Steam in April 2026.

The release provides a confirmed example of a project from an earlier KIGI cohort reaching a commercial platform. It does not establish an expected launch outcome for projects applying to the fourth cohort.

KIGI’s expanded intake remains broader than commercially launched games. Qualifying projects can be at intermediate stages such as beta testing, soft launch or a PC demo with early traction.

Fourth Cohort Status

KIGI has not yet disclosed the final number of studios that will be selected for the fourth cohort or identified the later-stage games that will receive support.

Sahani told Moneycontrol that the program will continue to assess teams at different stages rather than limiting the cohort to one development phase.

KIGI’s fourth cohort is now accepting applications. The current eligibility framework covers idea-stage and early-stage teams as well as qualifying mobile and PC projects that have progressed further in development.