BGMI Unban: Battlegrounds Mobile India To Be Playable Starting May 27 For Android Users, May 29 For iOS

BGMI is available for pre-load right now.

BGMI was banned last year by the Centre over security concerns.

Battlegrounds Mobile India, popularly referred to as BGMI, finally has an official launch date. Developed by South Korean gaming giant Krafton, the battle royale will be playable for Android users starting May 27, who can pre-load the game right away. iOS users will have to wait a couple more days, as BGMI will be available for them starting May 29. As per Krafton, some users may have already received an update as part of the BGMI pre-load process. The company assured that the update is "normal and does not require any concern."

To ensure a smooth gaming experience for players amidst the anticipated high number of downloads, Krafton has decided to stagger the availability and playability of BGMI. This approach aims to prevent any interruptions and allow players to enjoy the action-packed battles seamlessly. 

Krafton India CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn expressed his enthusiasm about BGMI's re-release in the country and said, "We are thrilled to announce that BGMI is now available for pre-load. We are constantly working to provide our users with a seamless gameplay experience and are excited to welcome everyone back. We extend our gratitude to the authorities and our users for their continued support as we aim to enhance the gaming experience for our Indian community."

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For those unaware, BGMI is a modified version of PUBG Mobile tailored specifically for the Indian audience and was removed from both Apple's App Store and Google Play store last year due to security concerns. The ban on the previous iteration, PUBG Mobile, remains in effect due to similar security issues and its connection to China.

BGMI's return follows recent media reports highlighting ongoing negotiations between the company and Indian authorities.

Minister of State (IT) Rajeev Chandrasekhar took to Twitter to announce that this is a "three-month trial approval." "We will keep a close watch on other issues of user harm, addiction, etc, in next three months before a final decision is taken," the minister added.

To ensure the game's full reinstatement, Krafton is required to fulfil certain conditions imposed by the government. It is reported that the company must implement a daily time limit for the game over a period of 90 days (equivalent to three months). This measure aims to prevent addiction, particularly among children. Authorities raised concerns about the mental well-being of young players after a tragic incident in which a teenager killed his mother after being prohibited from playing BGMI.

Additionally, authorities have requested Krafton to modify the game's animations to eliminate depictions of blood. In the previous version of BGMI, Krafton changed the colour of the blood to green in order to reduce the perceived violence.

However, it remains unclear whether BGMI will be accessible to users only during specified time slots each day.