KRAFTON India Launches KIGI Academy with IIT
KRAFTON India has partnered with IIT Madras to launch KIGI Academy, a six-month, fully-funded game development training program for 30 students, aiming to
KRAFTON India has launched the KIGI Academy, a new game development training program, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras). The six-month, fully-funded course will train 30 students in its first cohort, with the goal of building a pipeline of industry-ready developers.
The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IIT Madras to run the academy's inaugural batch. The program includes a residency at KRAFTON India's office in Bengaluru. Anuj Sahni, Head of the KRAFTON Incubator Program, stated that India possesses strong talent but lacked a structured path connecting academic learning to real game development work.
Program Structure and Phases
The KIGI Academy program is divided into two distinct phases over its six-month duration.
| Phase | Duration | Location | Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campus Phase | 4 months (16 weeks) | IIT Madras campus | Core game development skills using Unity, mobile gaming, weekly collaborative builds |
| Residency Phase | 8 weeks | KRAFTON India HQ, Bengaluru | Real-world game production, final vertical-slice project |
During the campus phase, students will build foundational skills. The subsequent residency in Bengaluru is designed to immerse them in a professional studio environment. Each participant will work towards a final, showcase-ready game slice.
Eligibility and Selection for the First Cohort
Admission for the first batch is restricted to students currently enrolled at IIT Madras. The program aims to select 30 individuals for the initial campus phase, with only 10 of those students progressing to the Bengaluru residency.
Eligible applicants include third-year and fourth-year Bachelor's students, Dual Degree students from all years, and postgraduate or Master's students from any engineering discipline. KRAFTON India has confirmed that no prior game development experience is necessary to apply.
The selection process involves three steps. Students must apply through the official IIT Madras placement portal. Applications are then screened, followed by a personal interview for shortlisted candidates.
Mentorship and Career Pathways
Participants will receive mentorship from industry experts throughout the program, gaining exposure to KRAFTON's internal development standards. The hands-on residency is a key component for career development.
Students who perform well during the Bengaluru residency may receive full-time job offers from KRAFTON India. This opportunity builds on an existing relationship between the company and the institute, which has previously led to job offers for IIT Madras students through events like technical festivals and game jams.
Connection to KRAFTON Jungle and Strategic Goals
The KIGI Academy is modeled after KRAFTON Jungle, a project-based residency program the company has operated in Korea since October 2022. That program guides developers through a complete game development cycle, from prototype to launch. KRAFTON aims to scale the Korean initiative to train 1,000 developers annually.
Mentors from the established Jungle program will also guide developers selected for the new Indian academy, creating a link between the training models in different markets. Saurabh Shah, Head of People Operations at KRAFTON India, said the program is meant to identify promising talent early and connect students to careers through practical training.
Prof. Prathap Haridoss, Dean of Academic Courses at IIT Madras, noted the collaboration shows how academia and industry can tackle practical challenges together. The institute has held the top rank among India's engineering institutions for ten consecutive years in the National Institutional Ranking Framework, a factor in KRAFTON's partnership decision.
