Indian Esports Stakeholders Welcome the Return of Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI)

Krafton has announced the return of Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) following its removal from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store in 2022. According to a release, the publisher has come to terms with the government of India to re-launch the title which will undergo a three-month trial period, after which authorities will decide if BGMI will continue its operations. The game’s publisher Krafton is yet to announce a release date for the game but we can expect an update on it very soon. 

AFK Gaming reached out to stakeholders in the Indian gaming and esports industry including Loco, The Esports Club, ESFI, 8bit Creatives, Revenant Esports, Reckoning Esports, Global Esports and Skyesports who shared their thoughts about the game’s return to India’s esports scene.

Indian Esports Stakeholders Share Their Thoughts on BGMI’s Return

Loco’s statement on BGMI’s return

Loco founders Ashwin Suresh and Anirudh Pandita feel that BGMI’s return will be a catalyst for innovation, collaboration and community-building in the Indian esports ecosystem. The founders believe that the game’s return will solidify India’s position as a thriving hub for gaming enthusiasts and esports in the country.

“It is exciting to see the return of BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) which has been one of the most popular games for the Indian gaming community. This revival holds tremendous potential for players and the gaming industry as a whole. With BGMI's comeback, content creators, streamers, and esports professionals will be presented with fresh avenues to connect with their audience and showcase their talents in the competitive realm. We can also expect a significant rise in user engagement, esports viewership, and revenue generation opportunities with this re-entry,” they said. 

Skyesports’ statement on BGMI’s return

Skyesports founder and CEO Shiva Nandy believes that the return of the game comes at a great time and will ensure the growth of the Indian gaming and esports industry.

"I welcome Battlegrounds Mobile India’s return to India and extend congratulations to Krafton for accomplishing this feat. The game was an integral part of our Esports roadmap before and while we have diversified to other titles, we look forward to integrating India's favorite battle royale title to our IPs like the Skyesports League, Skyesports Championship, and more in the near future,” he said. 

SuperGaming's statement on BGMI's return

SuperGaming co-founder Roby John hopes that BGMI's return jumpstarts Indian talent towards a bigger and better games industry across content creation, esports and game development.

"There would be no Indus without PUBG/BGMI and playing PUBG and other shooters like Apex, CoD  have defined the space for us and our player expectations. We’re glad it’s coming back, gaming should be without boundaries. It’s yet another signal that gaming and esports are the biggest opportunities in India and now, it comes with the recognition of the government as well."

Global Esports’ statement on BGMI’s return

Global Esports founder Rushindra Sinha says his organization is ready to go all-out on BGMI and leave no stone unturned.

“We’ve been waiting for the return for almost a year now, I think this time everyone in the ecosystem needs to get smarter and learn from the last few years of what’s happened. Athletes, creators, esports organizations, tournament organizers and brands everyone needs to appreciate the impact that the game has on our ecosystem and focus their efforts on the long-term sustainability of the ecosystem,” he said.

The Esports Club’s statement on BGMI’s return

The Esports Club co-founder Ishaan Arya and everyone at TEC (The Esports Club) are excited to have BGMI back and are looking forward to seeing how the game boosts players, teams and fans in the Indian esports community.

“It's an interesting step to see a trial period, where they will work with the government to ensure all compliance while the game is live. It shows Krafton's willingness to work with the government and make sure everything is done right for the Indian market once and for all,” he said.

8bit Creatives’ statement on BGMI’s return

8bit Creatives founder Animesh “Thug” Agarwal says that the return of BGMI represents new energy for the Indian esports community and it will help push the industry to new heights.

“The weekend fever has never been higher for all of us at 8Bit Creatives. The game represents so much for the gaming community, and we are thankful to the team at Krafton, Indian Govt. Officials & everyone else who has been working relentlessly to make this possible. We are looking forward to accelerating this journey, with renewed vigor. We are most thankful to the players, and audiences, who showed great resilience during this period and continued to support the gamers,” he said.

Revenant Esports’ statement on BGMI’s return

Revenant Esports founder and CEO Rohit Jagasia congratulated Krafton on successfully bringing the game back and is excited to see what plans the publisher has for Indian esports.

“We had already heard rumblings of the game's return and had thus strengthened our battle royale roster with new signings. The game's return will definitely be a huge boost to the entire Esports industry and reopen revenue streams for all stakeholders,” he said.

IndiGG's statement on BGMI’s return

Founder and Custodian of IndiGG Manish Agarwal expressed his enthusiasm for the highly anticipated return of BGMI and the significant impact it will have on the Indian gaming industry. He believes that this comeback will inject new life into the industry.

"The comeback of BGMI will give the overall Indian gaming industry a shot in the arm. It will encourage gamers and the gaming community including athletes, tournaments, sponsors and streamers to start generating revenue again. The regulatory environment around gaming is constantly evolving and improving which is forming an amazing foundation for growth of gaming in india in this decade," he said.

Penta Esports’ statement on BGMI’s return

Penta Esports' CEO and founder Anurag Khurana believes BGMI's return will benefit the entire gaming community.

"We’re glad that BGMI is back. BGMI had shown massive traction from the Indian gaming community and it will be great for the community as everyone was eagerly waiting for its return. BGMI’s return will be beneficial for the entire gaming community, including content creators, esports athletes and others," he said.

Orangutan Gaming’s statement on BGMI’s return

Orangutan Gaming co-founder Jai Shah expressed that the revival of the game would foster a sense of unity amongst esports enthusiasts.

"I am absolutely ecstatic about the long-awaited return of BGMI after a 10 month ban. This milestone event brings immense joy to the esports community, providing new opportunities for aspiring players and boosting the mobile gaming sector. The revival of BGMI will create a vibrant competitive scene, attract a massive player base, and foster a sense of unity among esports enthusiasts. As a co-founder of an esports organization, I am thrilled to be part of this remarkable journey and eagerly anticipate the achievements and milestones that lie ahead," he said.

Reckoning Esports’ statement on BGMI’s return

Reckoning Esports founder Sharang Naicker is excited to experience BGMI’s first esports event and the roadmap for future events in India.

“It has been a while since we saw an official BGMI event take place. It is great that the game is back because this is the game that put India on the global esports map. Hopefully this time around there are no hiccups that hinder Indian esports. I am excited to see how India will be represented at the global level with the return of BGMI,” he said.

Villager Esports’ statement on BGMI’s return

Villager Esports CEO Kuldeep Lather feels that Indian esports was saved due to BGMI’s return to Indian esports. “Indian esports suffered greatly due to BGMI’s ban and we feel that the game’s return is a great move that will revitalize the Indian esports industry,” he said.

ESFI’s statement on BGMI’s return

Esports Federation of India (ESFI) Director Lokesh Suji expressed his gratitude to the government of India for bringing back the game. With Esports getting official recognition from the government and the community adapting well to the absence of BGMI by expanding to other titles, the ESFI is anticipating exponential growth in the Indian esports sector. 

“While the game is set to undergo certain changes to ensure a safe and enjoyable gaming experience for users upon its comeback on a trial period, it is encouraging to see the government bringing these safety measures for the youth of the country.” 

Trinity Gaming’s statement on BGMI’s return

Trinity Gaming India’s Founder and CEO Abhishek Aggarwal believes the move will encourage young talent to look at gaming and esports as a viable profession once again.

“We are glad that the government has taken this step. The country has witnessed recent success and holds tremendous scope further in the esports domain."

Krafton is yet to release a roadmap for BGMI esports but we can expect more news following the game’s imminent return. It is an exciting time for the entire Indian esports industry and the void left by BGMI may finally be filled by the game’s return.