Gaming
Krafton launches PUBG successor Battlegrounds Mobile India
Mumbai: South Korean video game company Krafton has officially launched Battlegrounds Mobile India in the country, a successor to the popular mobile game PUBG that was blocked by the government last year. Battlegrounds Mobile India is meant to be a replacement for PUBG Mobile.
Krafton announced the launch via an official post on Facebook. “Fasten your seatbelts and get your squads ready, we welcome one and all to the official launch of BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA!,” the post reads. “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the fans in India who have been waiting for the official launch of Krafton’s BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA. As of July 2, 2021, thanks to your support, BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA has been officially released.”
The new mobile game, developed exclusively for gaming enthusiasts and fans in India, had received 40 million pre-registrations that went live on May 18, 2021, the company said in a statement.
PUBG Mobile was one of the more than 200 Chinese apps banned in India last October following the Galwan Valley clash with China. Battlegrounds Mobile India had recently also stirred controversy over the alleged misuse of Indian players’ data by sending it to servers in China. The company, at that time, had said it will continue to closely monitor and protect any data being transferred to “unexpected and restricted IP addresses”. The company had also said it is working to fully comply with the Indian laws and regulations.
“We at Krafton are delighted to introduce Battlegrounds Mobile India for our fans in India today. Designed exclusively for our Indian fans and gamers, Battlegrounds Mobile India will provide a superlative gaming experience,” Krafton Inc CEO CH Kim said speaking on the launch of its new game, as mentioned by PTI.
“This is just the beginning of a series of new content, collaborations, and esports tournaments coming users’ way and the company will strive to ensure that fans and community in India can fully enjoy the battlegrounds experiences”, he added.
Krafton recently also made its first India investment in Mumbai-based game live-streaming startup Loco. The company was among the multiple investors in the startup’s first-ever fundraising.
Gaming
Konami concludes successful eFootball India campaign
Campaign featuring Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy and other stars boosts engagement ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.
MUMBAI: When cricket meets football in the virtual world, even the biggest fans can’t help but score and Konami’s latest eFootball campaign in India has clearly hit the back of the net. Konami Digital Entertainment has successfully wrapped up its India campaign for eFootball, which brought together cricketers Rinku Singh and Varun Chakravarthy, actors Naslen Gafoor and Chandu Salim Kumar, and footballers Sahal Abdul Samad and Shubhasish Bose. The multi-star campaign generated strong excitement across gaming, football, and creator communities through social content, fan participation, and in-game engagement.
Building on the initial launch that featured a limited-time Lionel Messi card, the campaign united fan communities, lifestyle creators, football creators, and competitive eFootball influencers. It significantly expanded the game’s visibility and deepened engagement with fans across the country.
The campaign also saw thousands of entries submitted as part of its social media engagement challenge, reflecting high levels of community enthusiasm and active creator involvement.
Looking ahead, Konami plans to build on this momentum with more eFootball experiences for Indian fans as the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaches. With global attention on the tournament set to rise, India will remain a key market for deepening community engagement and bringing fans closer to the action.
In a country that lives and breathes sport, Konami has shown that mixing real-world stars with virtual thrills is a winning formula leaving fans eagerly waiting for the next goal.
