Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) Set to Return: Krafton Announces Imminent Return

Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) developer Krafton has announced that the return of the game to the Google Play Store and Apple App Store is imminent. In a release, Krafton CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn, extended his thanks to the Indian gaming community for their unwavering support and patience during the period of its absence and announced that BGMI would soon be available for download.

Sohn also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Indian authorities for granting permission to resume operations for BGMI in a recent statement issued to the Press. "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," he added.

Krafton Underlines commitment to Indian Gaming and Esports

In the release, Sohn further highlighted KRAFTON's deep commitment to the Indian gaming ecosystem, emphasizing their "India-first" approach as the cornerstone of all of its efforts. The company aims to invest in the Indian gaming industry, contribute to a vibrant ecosystem that fosters growth and innovation, and collaborate with local developers to enhance technological advancements. “To achieve our mission, we aim to augment technology developments in India by collaborating with local developers and promoting the use of cutting-edge technologies. We also recognize the importance of providing skilling and employment opportunities for Indian talent, which can help them nurture their skillset and thrive in the industry,” he added.

In 2020 Krafton revealed that it was planning to invest $100 million USD in India to support local video games, esports, entertainment, and IT industries. So far, the company has invested close to $86 million in various companies. They started with a minority investment of $22.5 million in NODWIN Gaming in March 2021. In June 2021, Krafton participated in a seed funding round of $9 million for the gaming live streaming platform Loco, along with other investors. The company continued its investment spree by participating in a Series D round of $48 million for the Bengaluru-based storytelling platform Pratilipi in July 2022. In December 2022, Krafton invested $6.5 million in Series A funding for FRND, a startup focused on audio romance and friend discovery.

Sohn also expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming love received by BGMI in less than two years since its launch in the country. The game achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing 100 million cumulative users in just over a year. BGMI played a vital role in building a robust Esports ecosystem in India, hosting India-centric events and offering tailored content. Notably, the game made history by becoming the first Esports event to be broadcasted on mainstream television, attracting 24 million concurrent viewers and an overall viewership of 200 million.

Vibhor Kukreti, Head Government Affairs at KRAFTON also expressed appreciation to the authorities for allowing the restart of BGMI operations. He said that KRAFTON emphasized its commitment to compliance with applicable regulations, highlighting the organization's responsible approach as a South Korean entity. “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," added Kukreti.

Kukreti emphasized the importance of responsible gaming practices and players' well-being. KRAFTON is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable gaming experience while encouraging players to prioritize 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. Their continued support means a lot to us, and we promise to keep working hard to ensure that they have the best possible gaming experience," he added.

Krafton is yet to confirm an exact release date for BGMI in this statement, but signs indicate that the release date is close.