PUBG’s Krafton taps ex-Apple, Samsung execs for global business

South Korean gaming giant Krafton Inc. has hired former executives of not only global game developers but also tech leaders such as Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. to manage its overseas markets.

Krafton, renowned for its mega-hit PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), said on Tuesday it has appointed Jin Oh, ex-president of US-based Riot Games Inc. — developer of the popular online battle arena video game League of Legends — as its chief global publishing officer (CGPO).

Oh was managing director of Blizzard Entertainment Inc., known for acclaimed games such as Diablo, where he led the localization of popular titles such as World of Warcraft and StarCraft in Southeast Asia and Korea.

He was also chief executive of Garena, a Singaporean game developer and publisher of free online titles such as Free Fire, a battle royale game.

“The appointment was a move to strengthen the competitiveness of overseas businesses by discovering intellectual property, expanding our publishing businesses,” said a Krafton official. “The new CGPO’s leadership will help us when we are securing IP through active mergers and acquisitions.”

APPLE, SAMSUNG

Oh is the latest in a string of high-profile global information technology experts to join Krafton, which is swiftly expanding its overseas business to become an international game publisher.

The company hired Richard Yoon, who led Apple’s WW health business at the iPhone maker’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, as head of strategy and global operation late last year.

In May, Krafton appointed Thomas Ko, who led the global expansion of Samsung Pay, the Galaxy smartphone maker's mobile payment and digital wallet service, as head of its publishing platform.

Before joining Krafton, Ko was head of business and strategy for Epic Games Inc., known for the online game and gaming platform Fortnite.

TOP PUBLISHER IN INDIA

Krafton has tapped these executives from businesses abroad with hopes to become the top game publisher in India, the world’s most populous country, industry sources in Seoul said.

The company plans to launch at least six titles this year in India, where PUBG was a huge success.

Krafton, which generated 94% of its 665.9 billion won ($483.8 million) in sales from overseas markets, is sharpening the competitiveness of its global publishing business.

Krafton has secured IP for nine games this year for equity investments, after obtaining IP for 10 titles in 2023, seven in 2022 and two in 2021. It invested in UK game studio Red Rover Interactive and US developer C77 Entertainment Inc.

Game companies can diversify their profit sources from the publishing business as it allows them to offset potential weaknesses in sales of titles they developed.

Krafton’s crosstown rivals have joined the move.

Last month, NCsoft Corp. invested 4.8 billion won in Swedish Moon Rover Games and on Monday invested 37 billion won in smaller Korean game developer Vic Game Studios.

Write to Ju-Hyun Lee at deep@hankyung.com
Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.