BGMI Ban: Krafton Says 'Working Hard' To Resolve Issues, Tipped To Return 'Soon'

BGMI was removed from app stores in India without any prior intimation.

BGMI is a rebranded version of PUBG Mobile.

In July, Battlegrounds Mobile India — commonly known as BGMI — was removed from Google Play store and Apple’s App Store. While South Korea-based developer Krafton said it is “working hard” to resolve issues, it has now been tipped that the popular battle royale will make its return to app stores in India “soon”. For those unaware, BGMI is a rebranded version of PUBG Mobile, which was banned in India along with 117 other Chinese apps by the Centre in 2020 as they were found to be “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.”  The game was eventually relaunched as Battlegrounds Mobile India by South Korea-based Krafton with some tweaks in 2021. 

Commenting on the return of BGMI, Krafton India CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn said in a prepared statement, “We are committed to the Indian market and are positive about the opportunities in the country.” As reported by Sportskeeda, Sohn added that Krafton has “always been compliant” with all Indian laws and regulations, including “data protection laws and regulations”. 

“We have been working hard to communicate our sincerity with the concerned authorities and resolve the issues,” said Sohn. “We kindly request you to wait to hear from us.”

On August 14, renowned social media influencer and gaming-focussed YouTuber Maxtern took to Twitter to share that as per sources, “BGMI has high chance of coming back soon”.

Earlier this month, some gaming companies wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting 'fair treatment' to help foster the gaming ecosystem in the country. The gaming platforms reportedly urged the government to provide "a uniform and fair treatment of all entities operating in India".

"While capital and infrastructure are critical to the survival and development of the industry, the leading global video gaming companies with their experience and next-generation technology are needed for establishing a robust gaming ecosystem in India," read the letter.

"There is a greater need for a clear set of standards and framework to ensure fairness and uniformity to all stakeholders. The industry wishes to pro-actively engage with the government in forming a robust set of video games-centric policies based on global best practices," the letter noted.