BGMI unban: Indian esports industry experts reacts to the game's return
Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) is back to its home and the Indian esports industry is cherishing to it. Here are the reactions to BGMI's return.
Krafton after being silent on the BGMI unban surprised the entire Indian gaming community by teasing the return of the game on Friday, May 19. Krafton thanked the Indian authorities for allowing them to resume BGMI's services in the country. However, the game has been kept on a three months trial by the Indian government. According to Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar, BGMI will be closely monitored during the first 90 days and a final decision will be taken after it. According to reports, Krafton has already brought notable changes to the title to convince the Indian authorities.
BGMI has been the driving force that peaked the esports scene in the country. The news of its return has taken the Indian Esports industry by storm, and various personalities have shared their opinion on the game's return. Here are the reactions from different key personalities from the esports industry.
1. Animesh "Thug" Agarwal reacted to BGMI's return and said,
"The weekend fever has never been higher for all of us at 8Bit Creatives. The game represents so much for the gaming community, and we are thankful to the team at Krafton, Indian Govt. Officials & everyone else who has been working relentlessly to make this possible. This is sure to infuse new energy into the Indian Gaming Industry, and I am sure the whole industry is going to join forces to make it bigger than ever before. We are looking forward to accelerating this journey, with renewed vigour. We are most thankful to the players, and audiences, who showed great resilience during this period and continued to support the gamers. Hopefully, all the patience will be well rewarded and all of us get to work hard, and party harder as we take Indian gaming to newer heights. Personally, I want to take a moment to feel that it's happening, before going back to grind, and making more interesting things happen in the industry!"
2. Mr. Lokesh Suji, Founder of ESFI and AESF said,
"The long-awaited return of BGMI after a 10-month hiatus is a much-needed boost for the Esports community in our country. We express our gratitude to the government of India for bringing back the game for the nation's passionate gaming audience and promoting the Esports ecosystem through this development. While the game is set to undergo certain changes to ensure a safe and enjoyable gaming experience for users upon its comeback on a trial period, it is encouraging to see the government bringing these safety measures for the youth of the country. With Esports getting official recognition from the government and the community adapting well to the absence of BGMI by expanding other titles, we eagerly anticipate the exponential growth that the sector will experience now that the game is back in the picture."
3. Mr Sagar Nair, Co-Founder & CEO, Qlan shared his views on BGMI return, he said,
"The news that was eagerly awaited by the Indian esports community has finally been broken! It is great to see that the patience and perseverance on Krafton’s part to ensure that India’s most loved esports title returns in accordance with the Meity guidelines has paid off. Gamers have long waited for this moment and their happiness will be seen and heard loud and clear in the coming days.
With the Indian authorities sure to keep a close eye on the game during the issued 3-month trial, it will have to uphold the guidelines that are demanded. On a macro level, this could potentially set the tone for future esports titles being released in India. Hoping for a long and continued stay for BGMI with no further complications, as the community rejoices and gets back to the grind."
4. Roby John, CEO and co-founder, SuperGaming reacted to BGMI's comeback and said,
"There would be no Indus without PUBG/BGMI. Playing it and other shooters like Apex and Call of Duty have defined the space for us and our players’ expectations. We’re glad it’s coming back, gaming should be without boundaries. It’s yet another signal that gaming and esports are the biggest opportunities in India and now, it comes with the recognition of the government as well.
Hopefully, this jumpstarts Indian talent for a better and bigger games industry across content creation, esports, and of course, game development."