GANDHINAGAR: Amidst media speculation over the future of Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) in the country with reports swirling that the wildly popular mobile gaming app faces the possibility of being banned once more, comes this interesting development.
KRAFTON, Inc., the leading South Korean video game developer and creator of BGMI, has announced a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Gujarat (home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi) and TransStadia Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Per an official release, “This collaboration is set to stimulate the technology, gaming, and esports ecosystem in Gujarat, furthering KRAFTON’s dedicated efforts to cultivate India’s overall gaming and technology.”
“We are immensely proud to announce our partnership with the government of Gujarat, a collaboration representing a significant stride forward for game development and esports in India. By combining Gujarat’s vibrant growth environment and our expertise in game development and esports, we are set to create unparalleled opportunities for talent development, infrastructure enhancement, and community engagement. We firmly believe that this collaboration will have a profound and positive impact, fostering innovation, and inspiring a new generation of gamers and developers.” said Sean Hyunil Sohn, CEO, KRAFTON India.
Harsh Sanghavi, Minister for Home, Sports, Youth and Cultural Activities, Government of Gujarat, remarked, “Government of Gujarat will benefit from this collaboration with KRAFTON as it will undoubtedly catalyze our efforts to transform Gujarat into an indigenous and interactive hub for e-sports. We look forward to the positive impact this partnership will have on our youth and the broader esports gaming community.”
KRAFTON has already invested $160 million (Rs 1,326 crore) in Indian startups since 2021 and plans to invest an additional $150 million over the next 2-3 years. In line with this commitment, KRAFTON recently launched the KRAFTON India Gaming Incubator program, an initiative designed to nurture game development talent in India by providing funding, mentorship, and essential resources to promising developers.
More recently, KRAFTON India also hosted BMPS 2023 (Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series) in Ahmedabad, a collaborative effort by KRAFTON and the city of Ahmedabad to foster the growing gaming ecosystem. With the signing of this MoU, the future of gaming and esports in Gujarat and India at large is brighter than ever. This collaboration is expected to create new opportunities, nurture talent, and establish Gujarat as a landmark destination for the global gaming community.
POSTSCRIPT: The MoU between KRAFTON and the Gujarat state government looks to have put paid to talk of BGMI getting banned again in India.
