Commenting on the announcement, Karan Pathak, Associate Director – Esports, KRAFTON India, said: “As the ecosystem grows, creators need more than moments of visibility – they need consistent opportunities to compete, improve, and stay relevant. With Rising Stars 2026, we have built a system that combines structured support with regular competitive exposure. Cohort 2 is an important part of that pipeline, allowing more creators to enter the system and earn their way forward through performance.”
The announcement follows a strong nationwide response to the 2026 edition of the programme, which drew over 2,500 registrations from gaming creators across the country – underscoring the growing appetite among India’s emerging creator community for structured, long-term development opportunities, rather than one-off moments of visibility.
The Rising Stars Programme 2026 has been designed as a tiered development model that supports creators at different stages of growth. Cohort 2 serves as a performance-based entry point within this structure, offering emerging creators access to in-game resources including room cards, strategic guidance, and increased ecosystem visibility. Critically, the cohort functions as a live pathway: creators who demonstrate consistency, engagement, and competitive performance through the year can progress into the Elite Rising Stars tier, making advancement merit-driven and transparent. As part of the 2026 structure, KRAFTON India Esports will host multiple dedicated Rising Stars tournaments throughout the year, giving creators regular opportunities to compete, showcase their skills, and gain structured tournament exposure alongside the main competitive circuit.
Launched in January 2025 as a first-of-its-kind initiative aimed at identifying and nurturing emerging esports talent across India, the Rising Star Programme was designed to offer mentorship spanning live streaming skills, content creation, and personal branding. In its first year, Rising Stars participants produced over 1,260 pieces of content and 648 live streams, while achieving a combined follower growth of more than 218,000 across platforms. Simultaneously, with consistent training, three alumni from the first batch – Oleed F (Evil), Samihan Kulkarni (Sam), and Saumraj – punched their way into the Quarterfinals of BGIS 2026. The 2026 edition builds on this foundation by moving to a more concentrated cohort-based model, placing greater emphasis on quality, accountability, and defined progression – bringing the total programme strength to 16 Rising Stars across cohorts.
The Rising Stars Programme is part of KRAFTON India Esports’ wider commitment to building a sustainable, talent-first ecosystem – one that spans open grassroots qualifiers, professional leagues, campus tours, and now a structured creator development ladder. By empowering and nurturing the next generation of players and creators, KRAFTON India is laying the foundation for a dynamic and sustainable ecosystem that will drive the industry forward for years to come.
About KRAFTON, Inc.
Headquartered in South Korea, KRAFTON, Inc. is dedicated to discovering and publishing captivating games that offer fun and unique experiences. Established in 2007, KRAFTON is home to globally renowned developers that include PUBG STUDIOS, Striking Distance Studios, Unknown Worlds, VECTOR NORTH, Neon Giant, KRAFTON Montréal Studio, Bluehole Studio, RisingWings, 5minlab, Dreamotion, ReLU Games, Flyway Games, Tango Gameworks and inZOI Studio. Each studio strives to continuously take on new challenges and leverage innovative technologies. Their goal is to win over more fans by broadening KRAFTON’s platforms and services. With a passionate and driven team across the globe, KRAFTON is a tech-forward company that possesses world-class capabilities and is set on expanding its business horizons to encompass multimedia entertainment and deep learning. For more information, visit www.krafton.com.
About KRAFTON India
KRAFTON India is responsible for delivering premier mobile gaming experiences in the country, led by its flagship title BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI), which has surpassed 260 million downloads. Its diverse portfolio also includes titles such as Bullet Echo India, Road To Valor: Empires, CookieRun India, and Real Cricket, catering to a wide spectrum of Indian gamers. KRAFTON India has also played a pivotal role in shaping the country’s esports landscape through marquee tournaments such as BGIS and BMPS, setting new benchmarks for development of grassroot talent, competitiveness, and fan engagement, while helping establish esports as a mainstream sporting and entertainment category in India. Beyond publishing games, KRAFTON India is committed to strengthening the digital entertainment ecosystem. Since 2021, the company has invested over $250 million in Indian startups across interactive entertainment, gaming, esports, and technology. The company also actively supports game development talent through the KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator (KIGI), enabling emerging developers with funding, mentorship, and strategic guidance
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