Three Years of BGMI: A Look Back at Its Impact on Indian Gaming
On July 2, 2021, Krafton launched Battlegrounds Mobile India, a battle royale game that would change the Indian gaming landscape. Today, three years later, BGMI has established itself as one of the most popular mobile games in the country, with over 100 million downloads on the Google Play Store alone.
BGMI is a free-to-play, multiplayer online battle royale game where players fight to be the last person or team standing on a large map. The game offers various modes, including Solo, Duo, and Squad, and features a range of weapons, vehicles, and customization options.
One of the key features that sets BGMI apart from other battle royale games is its Indian-themed content, including maps, characters, and events. The game also offers regular updates with new content, modes, and features, keeping the gameplay fresh and exciting for players.
BGMI has had a remarkable journey in India. The game was launched in 2021 as a replacement for PUBG Mobile, which was banned in India on 2 September 2020 due to concerns over data privacy and security.
BGMI was developed by Krafton, a South Korean company, the developer of PUBG Mobile. The game was designed specifically for the Indian market, with features such as a green blood effect, a chat system that promoted friendly communication, and a system that rewarded players for reporting inappropriate behavior.
Despite its popularity, BGMI has faced several challenges and controversies over the past three years. In July 2022, the game was banned by the Indian government due to concerns over data privacy and security. However, the ban was lifted in May 2023, and the game has since continued to grow in popularity.
Another challenge that BGMI has faced is the rise of cheating and hacking in the game. To combat this, Krafton has implemented various measures, including a ban on players who use cheats and hacks, and a reward system for players who report suspicious activity.
Despite its controversial launch, BGMI quickly gained popularity among Indian gamers. The game's engaging gameplay, realistic graphics, and social features made it a favorite among gamers.
Since then, BGMI esports has grown exponentially in India, with numerous tournaments and events being held throughout the year. The game's popularity has led to the creation of a professional esports league, the BGMI Pro Series, which features the top teams from India.
The BGMI Pro Series has been a huge success, with teams competing for a prize pool of Rs 2 crore. The league has also attracted sponsors such as Red Bull, SteelSeries, and AMD, who have partnered with BGMI to promote esports in India.
One of the most significant differences between the PUBG Mobile era and the BGMI era is the prize pool of tournaments. During the PUBG Mobile era, the prize pool of tournaments was relatively small, with the largest tournament, the PUBG Mobile Pro League, offering a prize pool of Rs 1.5 crore.
The prize pool of BGMI tournaments has been significantly higher. The BGMI Pro Series, the largest tournament in the BGMI ecosystem, offers a prize pool of Rs 2 crore. This is a significant increase from the PUBG Mobile era, and it reflects the growing popularity of BGMI in India.
But the difference in prize pool is not just limited to the Pro Series. Other tournaments in the BGMI ecosystem, such as the BGMI Master Series and the BGMI India Series, also offer significantly higher prize pools than their PUBG Mobile counterparts. The BGMI Master Series, for example, offers a prize pool of Rs 1.5 crore, while the BGMI India Series offers a prize pool of Rs 2 crore.
BGMI esports has also led to the creation of a thriving community of gamers, content creators, and streamers in India. Many Indian gamers have made a name for themselves in the BGMI esports scene, with players like Jonathan "JONATHAN" Amaral and Naman "Mortal" Mathur becoming household names in the Indian gaming community.
In addition to esports, BGMI has also launched several initiatives to promote gaming and esports in India. The game has partnered with several Indian universities to launch esports programs and tournaments, to promote gaming as a legitimate sport in India.
BGMI and BGMI esports have had a remarkable journey in India. From its controversial launch to its current status as one of the most popular games in India, BGMI has come a long way. It has promoted gaming and esports as a legitimate sport in the country.
Here are some key facts about BGMI:
- BGMI was launched on July 2, 2021, for Android devices and on August 18, 2021, for iOS devices.
- The game has over 100 million downloads on the Google Play Store alone.
- BGMI offers various modes, including Solo, Duo, and Squad, and features a range of weapons, vehicles, and customization options.
- The game has a thriving esports scene, with several tournaments and events throughout the year.
- BGMI has faced several challenges and controversies over the past three years, including a ban by the Indian government in July 2022.