Kratos Studios

Kratos Studios, established in 2022, is a community-centric gaming platform that utilizes blockchain technology to create economic alignment between game developers, brands, and gamers. The venture was co-founded by Manish Agarwal, the former CEO of Nazara Technologies, and Ishank Gupta, an experienced early-stage investor. Agarwal’s extensive background in the gaming industry, including his leadership at India's first publicly listed gaming company, and Gupta's investment acumen form the strategic foundation of the company. Their goal is to build distribution channels for global Web3 games, particularly in emerging markets.

The company secured significant initial financing in February 2023, raising approximately $20 million (INR 160 crore) in a seed round that valued the startup at around $150 million (INR 1,200 crore). This funding round was led by Accel and saw participation from notable investors including Prosus Ventures, Courtside Ventures, Nexus Venture Partners, and Nazara Technologies. A pivotal early move for Kratos Studios was the acquisition of IndiGG, a Web3 gaming decentralized autonomous organization (DAO), from Yield Guild Games (YGG) through a token swap. This acquisition provides Kratos with IndiGG's intellectual property and its established community, which the company operates under the IndiGG brand.

Kratos Studios' business model revolves around creating a comprehensive ecosystem that supports both gamers and developers. For gamers, the platform offers opportunities to monetize their skills and time, transforming them into creators of digital assets on the blockchain. For developers, Kratos provides a platform to enhance their reach and engagement. In November 2023, the company launched the Kratos Games Network, a program backed by an INR 50 crore grant to help Web2 gaming studios transition to the Web3 space. Selected studios gain access to Kratos' proprietary blockchain technology stack and its large community of on-chain gamers, opening new monetization avenues. The company is building a gamer and publisher engagement platform and a store to create a circular economy where the community can earn and spend, fostering a self-sustaining ecosystem. After an initial launch in India, Kratos has expanded its operations to Brazil, with plans for further growth in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Keywords: Web3 gaming, blockchain gaming, Manish Agarwal, Ishank Gupta, IndiGG, Yield Guild Games, play-to-earn, game-fi, decentralized autonomous organization, gamer community, game monetization, digital assets, emerging markets gaming, Accel, Prosus Ventures, Kratos Games Network, gamer reputation system, gaming platform, blockchain technology, game development, virtual economy