Interview With KRAFTON: Crafting an Indian Epic in the Gaming World with Garuda Saga

In a bid to resonate more deeply with its Indian gaming community, Krafton, the maker of popular titles like Battlegrounds Mobile India, recently unveiled a new mobile RPG experience titled Garuda Saga. This foray into the Indian gaming landscape marked a departure from Krafton's usual offerings and held promises of delving into the rich tapestry of Indian mythology and culture.

However, while expectations were high for a narrative steeped in Indian lore, Garuda Saga took a different route, presenting players with a unique storyline revolving around the titular character, Garuda, and his quest to aid the imprisoned King Allu.

How Garuda Saga Was Created With The Indian Audience in Mind

Anuj Sahani, Head of KRAFTON Incubator Program & Garuda Saga Lead, shed light on the genesis of the game and the intricate process behind its development in an exclusive interview with AFK Gaming.

Sahani unveiled that Garuda Saga emerged from a commitment to the Indian gaming community, spurred by the positive reception of the Indian Faction in Road to Valor: Empires. "We aimed to create content that truly resonated with our players," Sahani emphasized. The choice of Garuda and Indian themes stemmed from a desire to craft an immersive experience deeply rooted in Indian ethos, offering players a journey into a heroic quest brimming with intrigue.

Collaboration between KRAFTON India and Alchemist Games was instrumental in shaping Garuda Saga. Sahani highlighted the continuous creative dialogue between the two entities, where Alchemist Games guided gameplay intricacies while KRAFTON India infused authenticity into the narrative and characters, ensuring a harmonious blend of visions.

Integrating Indian culture into the game's design posed its challenges, but Sahani explained that extensive research into Indian folklore and contemporary expressions laid the groundwork. Collaboration with Alchemist Games and community feedback facilitated a delicate balance between authenticity and appeal, resulting in a gaming experience that celebrated Indian culture.

Garuda Saga's appeal lies in its personalized RPG experience, allowing players to tailor gameplay to their individual styles. Sahani elaborated on the talent tree system, which offers players a highly interactive way to customize Garuda's abilities, ensuring engagement while maintaining a challenge.

Team collaboration emerged as a crucial takeaway from Garuda Saga's development journey. Sahani emphasized the success of synergizing with global teams and looked forward to fostering more such collaborations to deliver innovative gaming experiences to the Indian audience.

The Developmental Challenges Up Until Now

Navigating the introduction of Indian-themed elements into the game presented challenges, particularly in seamlessly integrating them into the existing framework. Extensive playtesting and iterative adjustments were instrumental in overcoming these hurdles, ensuring a balanced gameplay experience.

Sahani assured players of a steady stream of updates, events, and challenges to keep the game fresh and engaging, with a commitment to incorporating player feedback into future developments. During the soft launch phase, Krafton remained attentive to player feedback, refining the game based on insights garnered. Sahani highlighted efforts to enhance the player experience, demonstrating Krafton's commitment to listening to its audience.

Garuda Saga Wants to Be More Than Just a Mobile Experience

While Garuda Saga currently thrives as a mobile game, Sahani hinted at the potential for future expansions into other media or merchandise avenues, underlining Krafton's dedication to evolving the Garuda Saga universe.

In essence, Garuda Saga represents Krafton's earnest endeavor to carve a niche in the Indian gaming landscape, offering players a unique blend of immersive storytelling and personalized gameplay, while hinting at broader horizons for the Garuda Saga universe. As players embark on Garuda's quest, they find themselves not only in the midst of a captivating adventure but also at the dawn of a new chapter in Indian gaming.