Krafton’s mobile game BGMI to relaunch in India

New Delhi — The Indian authorities have approved the resumption of operations for the popular India-focused battle royale mobile game Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) developed by Krafton. The game was launched as a replacement for the banned PUBG in the South Asian market and was later blocked by New Delhi.

According to a report published by Tech Crunch, Union MoS Information and Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that BGMI has been granted a “trial approval” for three months after Krafton addressed concerns surrounding data security and the location of its servers. He said a close watch will be kept on other issues of user harm, addiction, etc. over the next three months before a final decision is taken.

Before being banned, both PUBG and its modified version, BGMI, enjoyed immense popularity as mobile titles in India. PUBG, in particular, had more than 50 million monthly active users, surpassing all competitors across various gaming platforms. The surge in PUBG’s popularity also had a notable impact on the growth of the e-sports market in India.

“We are highly grateful to the Indian authorities for allowing us to resume operations of BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI). We would like to extend our gratitude to our Indian gaming community for their support and patience over the past few months. We are excited to announce that BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA will be available for download soon and we cannot wait to welcome you back to our platform. We believe in the power of gaming to bring people together and create unforgettable experiences. We are committed to delivering exceptional products and services to our users in India and beyond, and we look forward to continuing our journey with you.” Krafton India CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn said in a statement.

“KRAFTON, Inc. is a responsible South Korean organization that abides by the law and has put in place several measures to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations. We work tirelessly to ensure that India takes the lead in this domain by embracing innovative practices in collaboration with the gaming ecosystem to support, sustain and promote its growth,” KRAFTON, Inc. India Head Government Affairs Vibhor Kukreti said.

“We strongly encourage our users to prioritize their well-being and follow responsible gaming practices. We are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for our players and believe that by promoting responsible gaming, we can contribute to a healthier gaming culture, where players can enjoy themselves while still taking care of their overall well-being. We want to thank all our fans for their unwavering support, and we want them to know that we are fully committed to bringing BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA back to them soon,” Kukreti added.

This comes at a time when Indian authorities are contemplating reversing the ban on certain applications. Reportedly fashion giant Shein is also set to re-enter the Indian market in a partnership with local retail giant Reliance Retail.