[On-site Report] “BGMI Achievements in India Are ‘Legendary’... Chasing the ‘BGMI Dream’”

[New Delhi (India) = Joo Won-gyu] “Namaste, Battlegrounds Mobile India Yoddhaon! (Hindi: Greetings, Battlegrounds Mobile warriors!)”

When Sangwoo Lim, Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India, greeted the crowd in Hindi at the Battlegrounds Mobile India International Cup 2025 (BMIC 2025) held at the Yashobhoomi Convention Centre in New Delhi on June 2, a thunderous cheer erupted from the 5,000 spectators. Sixteen teams from India (8), Korea (4), and Japan (4) competed in 18 matches over three days using smartphones. In India, where mobile gaming became mainstream before PC gaming, BGMI is leading an unprecedented boom in mobile esports. The tournament was broadcast in four languages and garnered a total of 14,707,000 views on YouTube alone.
Niraj Nikura, a local English commentator encountered at the event, remarked, “Having worked as a commentator for six to seven years, I can say the achievements of BGMI are truly legendary. BGMI is the most beloved game in India and has transformed the entire gaming culture here.” In fact, three hours before the doors opened, a line of about 100 people had already formed at the entrance. Aman, a young office worker near the front of the line, shared, “I once dreamed of becoming a BGMI esports player, but I gave up and now plan to form an amateur team with my colleagues. Every day after work, we spend nearly three hours playing BGMI together.”
As the main matches began, the venue became packed to the brim, and cheers for the Indian gamers’ performances filled the arena. A representative from Krafton Inc. explained, “BGMI is the first sport in India, aside from Cricket, to fill an open stadium to capacity. Last year, we also achieved a record of 500,000 concurrent viewers for an esports tournament.”
Currently at the center of India’s esports ecosystem, BGMI features four official tournaments organized by Krafton Inc. Among them, the BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA SERIES (BGIS) recorded a total of 481.7 million views, marking approximately 252% growth year-on-year. About 327,000 gamers participated, making it the largest open esports tournament in India.
In India, becoming a professional gamer is now considered a ‘dream job,’ with BGMI pros earning monthly salaries of up to $3,500 (about 4.99 million KRW). Stories of BGMI pro gamers lifting their families out of poverty have attracted attention. According to the World Bank, India’s per capita income is around $2,880 (about 4.1 million KRW) per year, meaning BGMI pro gamers can earn roughly 15 times the national average.
Riding this wave of popularity, Krafton Inc. plans to add four more sponsored tournaments next year and expand support for university and amateur leagues. Karan Pathak, Vice President of Esports at Krafton Inc., commented, “This is an opportunity for amateurs and new players to break into the esports scene.”
Yash Bhanushali, owner of the top-rated Indian BGMI pro team ‘Orangutan,’ stated, “Scenes like this were unimaginable six years ago before BGMI existed. Thanks to Krafton Inc.’s community and dedicated efforts, we’ve grown this much, and I believe the Indian esports market will continue to expand in scale.”

wongood@fnnews.com Joo Won-gyu Reporter