Krafton’s Battlegrounds Mobile India, the once chart-topping mobile game in the South Asian market, is now available to download on Android almost a year after it was pulled due to national security concerns.
The South Korean developer said Monday that BGMI is returning with the version 2.5 update, which includes a new map, Nusa, and upgraded weapons.
The Indian Ministry of Electronics and IT said earlier this month that BGMI is returning to India as part of a three-month trial. The ministry will monitor the game for any signs of disruption, including the addictive nature of the game. In response, Crafton said it would cap gameplay at three hours per day for players under 18 and six hours for adults.
The re-emergence of the game comes as a relief to millions of gaming enthusiasts in India, who once crowned its predecessor, PUBG, as the country’s favorite. That game was banned in mid-2020 amid rising geopolitical tensions between India and China.
The resurgence of BGMI could open doors for around 300 other apps looking to re-enter the Indian market. In a similar vein, Chinese fashion giant Shein has revealed a new partnership with Indian conglomerate Reliance to re-enter its own market.
For BGMI, Crafton said the resort island of Nusa has a new navigation system, the ability to recall players who have died under certain circumstances, and new vehicles including a two-seater.
