What Does Rising Stars Programme 2026 Cohort 2 Mean for Esports Creators in India?
KRAFTON India is doubling down on building creators, not just competitors. With the announcement of Cohort 2 of the Rising Stars Programme 2026, the company is quietly shaping what could become one of India’s most structured esports creator pipelines.
After receiving over 2,500 registrations nationwide, KRAFTON India has onboarded nine emerging creators into Cohort 2, each representing a different corner of India’s rapidly expanding esports ecosystem.
The selected creators include:
Chirag Dua (ESWanted), Tanmay Sipahiya (K9xKnighT), Rohit Saxena (NebulaKRATOS), Jatin Kumar (4TRxJatinOG), Aarush Sharma (InfinixTRHydrO), Jasleen Kaur (LExJasleen), Sohail Shaikh (Hector), Akshay Kumar (WELTwJusty06), and Mohit Kumavat (iQOORGExLevi11).
Rather than treating creators as one-time campaign assets, the Rising Stars Programme positions them within a long-term, performance-driven ecosystem.
What Is KRAFTON India?
Headquartered in South Korea, KRAFTON, Inc. is a global gaming company known for building and publishing immersive interactive experiences. Founded in 2007, the company operates a network of studios including PUBG STUDIOS, Striking Distance Studios, Unknown Worlds, and Tango Gameworks, among others. With a focus on innovation and technology, KRAFTON continues to expand across gaming, multimedia entertainment, and emerging tech spaces.
KRAFTON India leads the company’s operations in the country, anchored by its flagship title BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI), which has crossed 260 million downloads. Its portfolio also includes titles like Bullet Echo India and Road to Valor: Empires, catering to a diverse gaming audience.
Beyond publishing, KRAFTON India has played a key role in shaping the esports ecosystem through tournaments such as BGIS and BMPS. The company has also invested over $250 million in Indian startups since 2021 and supports emerging developers through the KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator (KIGI), offering funding, mentorship, and strategic guidance.
How Is Rising Stars 2026 Building Consistent Growth for Esports Creators?
Esports in India has often struggled with consistency, viral moments exist, but structured growth pathways have been limited. KRAFTON’s approach attempts to fix exactly that.
As Karan Pathak, Associate Director, Esports at KRAFTON India, puts it:
“Creators need more than moments of visibility, they need consistent opportunities to compete, improve, and stay relevant.”
This philosophy is reflected in the programme’s tiered model, where Cohort 2 acts as an entry point. Creators gain access to:
- In-game resources like room cards
- Strategic guidance
- Increased visibility within the ecosystem
Consistent performance can push creators into the Elite Rising Stars tier, making the system merit driven rather than popularity-based.
How Is Rising Stars 2026 Blending Content Creation with Competitive Esports Success?
What sets this initiative apart is its hybrid focus, content creation meets competitive exposure.
KRAFTON plans to host multiple Rising Stars tournaments throughout 2026, ensuring creators aren’t just building audiences but also sharpening gameplay in structured environments.
This dual focus reflects a broader shift in esports where being a creator today often means being both an entertainer and a competitor.
The programme isn’t starting from scratch.
In its first year (2025), Rising Stars participants:
- Created over 1,260 pieces of content
- Completed 648 live streams
- Achieved 218,000+ follower growth
More notably, three alumni, Oleed F (Evil), Samihan Kulkarni (Sam), and Saumraj, made it to the Quarterfinals of BGIS 2026, proving that the pipeline can translate into real competitive success.