After a year-long ban, BGMI is finally making its return to the app stores in India.

After a year since the ban, BGMI is set to make a comeback on the Google Play Store and Apple's App Store as Krafton has obtained approval for its relaunch in India.

Krafton has announced on Friday that it has received approval from the Indian government to resume operations of Battlegrounds Mobile India, the popular battle royale game. The South Korean company, which took over from Tencent Games after the ban on PUBG Mobile in 2020, will reintroduce BGMI through Google and Apple's app marketplaces. The launch of the game is expected to happen soon.

In a prepared statement, Sean Hyunil Sohn, the CEO of Krafton India, expressed sincere gratitude to the Indian authorities for granting permission to resume operations of BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI). Sohn extended heartfelt appreciation to the Indian gaming community for their unwavering support and patience throughout the challenging months. He emphasized Krafton's unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional products and services to users in India and beyond. Sohn eagerly looks forward to continuing the remarkable journey together with the gaming community.

The significance of BGMI's "unban" for Krafton and its community.

The company's plan to resume operations essentially involves making the Battlegrounds Mobile India apps accessible once again on the Google Play Store and Apple's App Store. It should be noted that while the Indian government instructed the removal of BGMI from both app stores last year, there was no directive to block access to the game by Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). This is in contrast to the ban orders imposed on the original battle royale game, PUBG Mobile, in 2020, which was associated with China.

BGMI was still playable for those who had it downloaded, but the absence from app marketplaces meant no updates, including new features and security patches. Krafton also ceased publishing new versions of the game in compliance with the order, eliminating the alternative of installing games through APK files. As a result, BGMI lagged behind in terms of new features compared to PUBG Mobile.

The lifting of the ban signifies that users will once again receive feature and security updates. If you have a fresh device or haven't played the game before, you'll be able to download BGMI on your Android and iOS devices.

For Krafton, the ban lift marks the end of their struggle to restore the game. As the South Korean company holding the PUBG IP rights, they made significant investments in India's gaming industry and supported the ecosystem in their efforts to keep the battle royale available in the country. Vibhor Kukreti, Head of Government Affairs at Krafton India, expressed deep appreciation and gratitude to the authorities for allowing the restart of BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI). Krafton is committed to complying with regulations, implementing measures for adherence, and actively collaborating with the gaming ecosystem to promote India's growth and innovation in this domain.

Changes in BGMI

While Krafton has not specifically mentioned any changes in its official statement, there have been reports indicating that the company might introduce further modifications to BGMI. These potential changes include defaulting the green-colored blood spill to replace it by default and implementing a strict timer to limit players' gaming time to less than 24 hours. It is important to note that these reports are not confirmed by Krafton at this time, and any changes to the game's content or features will require official confirmation from the company.

Key Points

1. Krafton announced the reintroduction of Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) through Google and Apple's app marketplaces after receiving approval from the Indian government.
2. The ban on BGMI in India resulted in its removal from app marketplaces, causing no updates, new features, or security patches to be available.
3. Despite the ban, players who had BGMI downloaded could still play the game, but it lacked new features compared to PUBG Mobile.
4. With the lifting of the ban, BGMI will be available for download, allowing users to receive feature and security updates.
5. Krafton's struggle to bring back the game in India comes to an end, and the company has invested in the Indian gaming industry and supported the gaming ecosystem.
6. The company expresses appreciation to the authorities for permitting the restart of BGMI, highlighting their commitment to complying with regulations and promoting India's growth in the gaming domain.
7. While Krafton has not mentioned any changes in their official statement, there are reports suggesting potential modifications to BGMI, such as replacing the green-colored spill as blood and implementing a strict gaming time limit.
8. The exact changes have not been confirmed by Krafton yet.