
Krafton, the South Korean gaming giant, made an official announcement on Monday, revealing that its highly anticipated video game, Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), is now downloadable on Google Play. However, the game is currently exclusively available for Android devices, as its release on the Apple App Store is yet to come. This means that BGMI users using iPhones and iPad will need to exercise patience. Although the game can be downloaded on Android, the BGMI servers are temporarily down, preventing players from accessing the game.
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Crafton Receives Approval to Resume BGMI Operations in India
Gratitude towards Indian Authorities and Gaming Community
After receiving approval from Indian authorities, Crafton officially declared on Friday that it would resume operations for the Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) video game. The company expressed its gratitude to the Indian authorities for allowing them to continue the game’s operations. Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO of Crafton India, conveyed his appreciation to the Indian gaming community for their unwavering support during the past months. He expressed excitement about BGMI’s availability for download, promising exceptional products and services for users in India and beyond.
PUBG Ban and Relaunch as PUBG Mobile India
Background and New Registration
Crafton’s flagship game, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), faced a ban by the Indian government in 2020 under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000. The ban, along with 117 Chinese applications, was implemented due to perceived threats to India’s sovereignty, integrity, and defence. Despite the ban, PUBG Mobile was rebranded as PUBG Mobile India and reintroduced in November 2020. PUBG Studio and Crafton registered PUBG India Pvt Ltd with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to facilitate the game’s relaunch.
BGMI Release and User Growth
Availability and Government Restrictions
Crafton aimed to release the BGMI game in May 2021. The game eventually became available for Android smartphones on July 2 and for iOS devices on August 18. Within just one year, BGMI gained over 100 million registered users. However, due to government intervention, both Google and Apple removed the BGMI gaming app from their respective app stores, following the provisions outlined in section 69A of the Information Technology Act 2000.