KRAFTON India has announced the launch of KIGI Academy, a new industry-academia initiative focused on developing local game development talent.
The inaugural phase of the program is being rolled out in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), marking the academy’s first academic collaboration.
The program offers students hands-on training across several disciplines, including programming, game design, UI/UX, art assets, and product development.
Program Structure and Selection Process
The six-month, fully funded initiative is divided into two distinct learning stages:
- On-Site Campus Phase (16 Weeks): Conducted at the IIT Madras campus, this stage focuses on foundational game development using the Unity engine, with a primary emphasis on mobile platforms and weekly collaborative builds.
- Bengaluru Residency (8 Weeks): Held at KRAFTON India’s headquarters, this phase immerses students in commercial game production workflows, culminating in the creation and demonstration of a playable vertical-slice game.
The inaugural cohort will admit 30 students for the initial phase, from which 10 will be selected to advance to the Bengaluru residency. Eligibility is open to third- and fourth-year Bachelor’s students, Dual Degree candidates, and postgraduate/Master’s engineering students at IIT Madras. Prior game development experience is not required. Selection involves an application through the IIT Madras placement portal, candidate screening, and a personal interview.
Mentorship and Global Curriculum
KIGI Academy adapts the framework of KRAFTON Jungle, a project-based development residency established in South Korea in October 2022. Rather than relying on traditional lecture-based instruction, the model focuses on end-to-end development cycles from early prototyping to release.
Participants will receive mentorship from both industry professionals and KRAFTON Jungle operators, aligning training with international development standards while tailoring practical projects to India’s mobile-first market. High-performing students from the residency may also be considered for full-time employment opportunities at KRAFTON India.
IIT Madras—consistently ranked as India’s top engineering institution under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF)—was chosen as the inaugural partner following ongoing engagements with KRAFTON India through hackathons, technical festivals, and campus game jams.
Anuj Sahni, Head of KRAFTON Incubator Program & Director Publishing, KRAFTON India, said:
India has no shortage of exceptional engineering and creative talent. What has been missing is a structured pathway that bridges academic learning with the realities of game development. KIGI Academy is our effort to close that gap. For students who have always dreamed of building games, this program offers a rare opportunity to learn how a game is created from scratch, from ideation and design to development, user experience and publishing, under the guidance of industry experts. Through our partnership with IIT Madras, we are creating a platform that prepares the next generation of developers to build world-class games from India.
Saurabh Shah, Head of People Operations, KRAFTON India, said:
At KRAFTON India, we see immense potential in India’s young talent, and KIGI Academy is an important step towards creating meaningful pathways from learning to careers in the gaming industry. Through this programme, we aim to identify promising talent early, give them the right exposure and industry-led training, and create opportunities for them to build careers in game development. By connecting students with real-world skills, experienced mentors and potential career opportunities, we hope to contribute to a stronger and more future-ready talent pool for India’s gaming ecosystem.
Prof. Prathap Haridoss, Dean, Academic Courses, IIT Madras, said:
At IIT Madras, we believe that meaningful innovation happens when academia and industry come together to solve real-world challenges. KIGI Academy is an excellent example of this collaboration, offering students the opportunity to learn directly from industry experts while working on practical aspects of game development. We are pleased to partner with KRAFTON India on this initiative and look forward to nurturing talent that will contribute to the growth of India’s game development ecosystem.