If you were an active mobile battle royale fan in India a couple of years back, you probably remember the chaos when one of the country’s most popular games vanished from app stores overnight. Even today, thousands of players search what happened to BGMI every month, confused by the mix of old ban news, re-release announcements, and conflicting info floating around social media. This post breaks down the full timeline, current status, and all the changes you need to know if you’re thinking of jumping back into the game.
What Happened to BGMI During the 2022 Government Order
To understand the full story, we have to go back to BGMI’s launch in 2021. Krafton released the game as an India-specific alternative to PUBG Mobile, which had been banned a year earlier over similar data privacy concerns. For the first 12 months, BGMI grew to over 130 million registered users, becoming the top-grossing mobile game in the country. But in July 2022, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) issued an order removing BGMI from all app stores under Section 69A of the IT Act. Data security risks related to user location, contact lists, and device information being shared with servers outside India were cited as the primary reason for the ban. Many players assumed the game would be gone for good, just like PUBG Mobile before it, but Krafton quickly announced it was working with regulators to address all concerns. The ban meant existing users could still open the game for a few weeks after removal, but new downloads were blocked, and eventually server access was cut off entirely for all players.
BGMI's Official Re-Release: Terms and Regulatory Compliance
After 10 months of negotiations and system overhauls, Krafton got approval to re-release BGMI in India in May 2023. The re-launch came with a long list of mandatory conditions set by the Indian government to ensure user data safety. All user data for Indian BGMI players is now stored exclusively on servers located within India, with no data shared with overseas third parties. Krafton also cut all remaining ties with Tencent, the Chinese tech company that previously handled PUBG Mobile distribution in India, to address concerns around foreign ownership links. The initial re-release was an early access phase open to all existing players first, before rolling out to new users a month later. The game also launched with built-in age verification requirements, a feature that didn’t exist before the ban. Players under 18 have strict playtime limits of 3 hours per day, and can only make in-app purchases up to ₹7000 per month with parental consent. Adult users who submit a valid government ID for verification face no playtime or purchase limits at all, a common point of confusion for many returning players.
Key Changes to BGMI You’ll Notice Post Re-Release
If you haven’t logged into BGMI since before the ban, you’ll spot a lot of differences the second you open the app. Krafton has focused heavily on making the game tailored specifically for Indian players, rather than just porting over global PUBG Mobile content. Some of the biggest updates include:
You’ll also notice much better performance even on slower internet connections. Average ping rates for most Indian players have dropped from 80-120ms pre-ban to 20-40ms post re-release, thanks to the local server infrastructure. The global leaderboard feature was removed entirely, replaced with regional and state leaderboards to focus on local player communities. Many players prefer this change, as it means you’re competing against other players in your region with similar connection speeds, rather than pro players from other countries with better hardware. You’ll also find more local language support now, with 12 regional Indian languages added to the in-game chat and interface options, up from just 3 before the ban.
Common BGMI Issues Returning Players Face (And How to Fix Them)
Even with all the improvements, the re-released version of BGMI isn’t perfect, and many returning players run into small issues when they first log back in. The most common problem is missing old in-game skins and items that you purchased before the 2022 ban. Krafton stored all user purchase data for the duration of the ban, but sometimes items don’t sync automatically when you first log in. If this happens to you, you can submit a support ticket through the in-game help center within 30 days of your first login, and the team will restore your missing items within 72 hours. Another common issue is unexpected playtime limit pop-ups for adult users. This almost always happens if you haven’t completed the full age verification process. You just need to upload a clear photo of your Aadhaar card, PAN card, or driver’s license through the account settings page, and the limits will be removed within 24 hours. Login errors are also common if you’re using a different phone number than the one you used to register your account pre-ban. If you can’t access your old number, you can contact support to verify your identity using your old purchase receipts or account ID. Always make sure you download BGMI only from official Google Play Store or Apple App Store listings to avoid fake modded versions that can steal your account data. A lot of third-party sites claim to offer exclusive skins or unlimited UC for BGMI, but these almost always contain malware or are designed to phish your login details.
What happened to BGMI is a rare example of a banned game making a successful comeback in India, after the developer put in the work to meet local regulatory requirements. The current version of the game is safer, faster, and more tailored to Indian players than it ever was before the ban, with regular updates adding new local content every month. If you stopped playing during the ban, it’s worth giving the new version a try, even if you’re just curious about the new maps and collaborations. Just make sure you complete your age verification first to avoid any unnecessary limits on your playtime.