Pixel P&L: KRAFTON India CEO Reveals Bold Expansion Plans

In today’s Pixel P&L, we cover KRAFTON India’s plans to expand investments and acquisitions in the country’s gaming market, with no upper limit on future spending. Meanwhile, Tencent reported a 90% surge in quarterly profit, driven by AI innovations and gaming successes such as Black Myth: Wukong. Additionally, King’s Candy Crush All Stars tournament returns with a $1 million prize pool, inviting players worldwide to compete in the high-stakes competition.

/ KRAFTON Eyes Expanded Role in India's Gaming Market, CEO Signals Aggressive Growth Plans

KRAFTON India is actively seeking investment and acquisition opportunities in India's gaming industry, according to CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn.

“We want to double down on gaming and its addressable area because we believe now it is time for the gaming industry to become much more sizable and impactful. And we see a much bigger potential for the next 2-3 years,” Sohn said. He added that India’s gaming potential is “very promising,” driven by rapid smartphone adoption and a young, tech-savvy population.

Having already invested $200 million in India, KRAFTON sees no set cap on future investments. "KRAFTON has had a great financial year in 2024. So I think we have more capacity to invest in India, which is one of top performing markets for the company. We will not stop investing... say at USD 200-300 million. We have invested USD 200 million so far, but I think we are still actively looking at opportunities to invest and maybe acquire, if there is an attractive company to acquire and work with. We are very active," he added.

Sohn also emphasized KRAFTON’s commitment to partnering with developers who are “positive and passionate” about India's gaming industry growth.

Tencent Profit Surges 90% as AI and Gaming Drive Growth

Tencent Holdings posted a 90% increase in fourth-quarter profit, reaching 51.3 billion yuan ($7.1 billion), surpassing analysts' estimates. Revenue rose 11% to 172.4 billion yuan ($23.8 billion), driven by Tencent’s enhanced AI-powered advertising platform and stronger performance from its video-gaming business. For the full year, profit climbed 68% to 194 billion yuan ($26.8 billion), with revenue up 8% to 660.2 billion yuan ($91.1 billion).

CEO Pony Ma Huateng credited Tencent’s AI efforts for boosting growth, highlighting the success of its Yuanbao chatbot and Weixin app. The company tripled capital spending to $10.7 billion last year to expand cloud computing and AI services, with plans to maintain similar spending levels this year.

Tencent’s gaming arm also performed well, bolstered by Dungeon & Fighter Mobile and the success of Black Myth: Wukong, a Tencent-backed title that sold 10 million copies in four days

Quick Bytes

Geoff Keighley and Christopher Dring Launch Gaming Business Publication

The Game Awards producer Geoff Keighley and former GamesIndustry.biz editor Christopher Dring have unveiled The Game Business, a new trade publication focused on the gaming industry. The platform will feature twice-weekly video podcasts, newsletters, and a live event called The Game Business Live, scheduled for June 9 in Los Angeles. Keighley’s backing enables faster growth and wider accessibility, while Dring aims to foster industry dialogue and drive sustainable growth in the sector.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows Scores Second-Biggest Franchise Launch

Assassin’s Creed Shadows delivered the second-highest Day 1 sales revenue in franchise history, trailing only Valhalla, according to data seen by VGC. The game surpassed two million players in two days and marked Ubisoft’s best-ever Day 1 launch on the PlayStation digital store. Despite launching in March rather than the lucrative holiday season, Shadows excelled, with PC activations contributing 27% of total sales. The launch arrives as Ubisoft navigates financial pressures and strategic restructuring efforts.

Candy Crush All Stars Returns with $1 Million Prize Pool

King’s Candy Crush All Stars tournament returns for its fifth year, boasting a $1 million prize pool. Kicking off on March 20, the global competition invites players of all skill levels to compete in qualifiers, knockout rounds, and a live final in Los Angeles.

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💡Did You Know

In the 1980s, gamers could download computer programs — including games — over the radio. Since early personal computers like the Apple II, Commodore PET, and TRS-80 stored data on audio cassettes, broadcasters realized they could transmit screechy modem-like sounds via radio waves. Listeners would record the audio onto tapes, then load the data into their computers. Shows like Hobbyscoop in the Netherlands and Ventilator 202 in Yugoslavia popularized this method, which flourished until faster 16-bit computers outgrew cassette storage. 

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