Krafton India CEO Urges Support for Developers

By Pickle August 13, 2024

Sean (Hyunil) Sohn pointed out the challenges students face in India, including limited institutional backing and lack of access to essential hardware. He urges Indian parents to support their children’s ambitions in gaming, similar to the support he received in South Korea

Sean (Hyunil) Sohn, Vice President of the Indian Digital Gaming Society (IDGS) and CEO of KRAFTON India, emphasized the need for greater support and improved infrastructure for aspiring game developers in India at the India Gaming Conclave held in New Delhi on August 12 . Reflecting on his experiences with young developers, Sohn pointed out significant challenges faced by students, particularly those lacking institutional support and access to necessary hardware.

He shared a personal anecdote from a recent visit to IIT Delhi, where he interacted with six students eager to pursue careers in game development. However, he noted that the students faced hurdles, such as limited support from their educational institutions and insufficient access to essential hardware. “One of their pain points was the lack of support from the school. I don’t want to blame IIT Delhi, but it’s a general sentiment across universities,” Tone remarked.

Drawing parallels with his own experiences in South Korea, Sohn highlighted how early support from his family, despite financial constraints, played a crucial role in his career. He called for a similar cultural shift in India, encouraging parents to be more supportive of their children’s aspirations to become game developers. “I want to see many Indian parents become more supportive of kids who want to be game developers,” he said.

The KRAFTON India CEO also discussed the need to improve the general perception of the gaming industry in India. He emphasized that while the IDGS is committed to skill development and communication, there is also a need to work on changing public perception. “We need to do a lot to improve the general perception of the industry,” Sohn stressed.

He expressed optimism about the future of gaming in India, pointing to events like the India Gaming Show and the India Game Developers Conference in Hyderabad, which have gained international recognition. Sohn hopes that these events will continue to evolve and become key platforms for global developers to engage with the Indian market.

Sohn called on industry professionals to contribute their time and effort to improve the industry’s image and support the next generation of talent. “We have 100,000 people in the industry in India, but we need to bring in younger talents who are super smart and can make something great out of all these resources,” he said.