BGMI vs PUBG: Differences, India Ban History, Which to Play

By GameDrop Staff · Nov 01, 2026 · Versus · 2 min read

Battlegrounds Mobile India key art — Image: Krafton

People often ask whether BGMI and PUBG are the same game. They share a developer and core gameplay, but they have different publishers, rules and histories in India. With Krafton now developing a PUBG live-action series at Netflix, interest in the franchise is up again. This guide explains how they differ and what happened to each in India.

Quick summary

PUBG Mobile was banned in India on 2 September 2020 along with other apps linked to China; it was published there by Tencent.
Krafton, the developer, launched Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) as its India-specific version, with early access in June 2021 and an Android launch on 2 July 2021 per the Economic Times.
BGMI was removed from Google and Apple stores in India in July 2022 after a government order, and returned in May 2023 on a trial basis.
BGMI is the one Indian players can play; PUBG Mobile stays banned.

Why was PUBG banned in India?

India's IT ministry announced the PUBG Mobile ban on 2 September 2020, saying it and other apps were engaged in activities "prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order", as IGN India's timeline records. The ban was part of a wider crackdown on Chinese-linked apps, and PUBG Mobile was published in India by Chinese firm Tencent, according to the Indian Express.

How is BGMI different from PUBG Mobile?

The Economic Times describes BGMI as having essentially the same plot and mechanics as PUBG, with Indian customisations. Krafton published BGMI itself, partly to address data-law compliance. Differences noted by BlueStacks at launch include:

Blood effect: BGMI's default is green with a feather-like hit effect, and red is not an option.
Under-18 limits: players below 18 need parental consent and are limited to three hours a day, with alerts sent to parents.
Warnings: in-game notices against excessive play and other India-specific rules.

Feature	BGMI	PUBG Mobile
Status in India	Available, after a 2023 return	Banned since September 2020
Publisher in India	Krafton	Tencent (before ban)
Default blood colour	Green	Red
Teen play limit	3 hours a day with parental consent	Not covered in sources reviewed

Battlegrounds Mobile India parachute artwork — Image: Krafton

What happened with the 2022 ban and the return?

Google removed BGMI from the Play Store in India on 28 July 2022 after a government order, and Apple delisted it too, Reuters and TechCrunch reported. Reports cited data-sharing concerns, and the Economic Times said the app was blocked under Section 69A of the IT Act. At that point it had more than 100 million registered users in India. In May 2023 Krafton India's CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn said the game would resume operations, and TechCrunch reported that authorities approved a three-month trial.

BGMI or PUBG: which should you play?

For anyone in India, the practical answer is BGMI. PUBG Mobile remains banned there, and the PUBG: Battlegrounds PC and console game is a separate product. If you are on PC, the main PUBG game is the one to look at. Remember that BGMI's availability has changed before, so check the official stores for its current status.

The franchise is also heading to TV: read our post on the PUBG Netflix series with Donald Glover, and see the launch calendar for upcoming games.