PUBG Competitor Krafton Battlegrounds Mobile India Returns in South Asian Market: No Longer a National Security Concern?

Urian B., Tech Times 29 May 2023, 01:05 am

One of the more popular PUBG competitors, Krafton's Battlegrounds Mobile India, is returning to the public after being ousted because of concerns regarding national security. The game can finally be downloaded on Android after around a year of being ousted.

South Asian Players Can Now Access BGMI Update Version 2.5

According to the story by Tech Crunch, the game is finally returning to the South Asian market, and according to its South Korean developer, the game's launch will be included in its 2.5 version update.

This means not only will the game be accessible again, it will also include new features like Nusa, a new map, along with some upgraded weapons to celebrate the return. However, the game's return comes with a three-month trial.

Indian Ministry of Electronics and IT Gives BGMI a Three-Month Trial Period

The Indian Ministry of Electronics and IT said they would allow BGMI to return to India for a three-month trial period. Per the ministry, they would still observe the game to see if it had negative effects or any signs of disruption.

One sign of disruption mentioned was whether the game was addictive in nature. To address the concerns, Krafton revealed that they would be placing a cap on how long specific players can use the game.

Game Will Impose Three-Hour Limit for Those Under 18 and a Six Hour Limit for Adults

It was noted that they would only allow players below 18 to play the game for three hours daily. Adults would get longer playtimes but capped at just six hours daily. Fans can download the game from Google Play Store, and remains free to play but with in-game purchases.

This comes after PUBG was previously crowned as one of India's favorite games. However, the game was banned in 2020 due to India and China's geopolitical strains, as explained further in an article by Indian Express.

BGMI Nusa Resort Island Gets New Features

Krafton also noted that the new Nusa resort island in BGMI would allow players to use a new navigation mechanism. This would then let them recall certain players that have died within the game.

However, this would only be applicable for certain conditions, and not all players could be recalled. The new resort island would also get new vehicles, including a two-seater for players to drive in-game.

Mechanics of the Battle Royale Game Would Remain the Same

The battle royale game follows some of the same dynamics as PUBG, where gamers drop around an island where they must find weapons and slowly work toward the center. Nothing will change regarding the shrinking territory and the survival-of-the-fittest dynamics of the game.

Regarding BGMI, the game still provides interesting skins and upgrades that players can take advantage of when battling each other across the map. With its return to India, players within the country would instantly have access to the updated version 2.5.