Krafton Reportedly Halts Its BGMI Franchise League Plans in India

13 AUG 2025, 11:26 AM

Highlights

Krafton has postponed its much-awaited BGMI franchise league due to an “unsuitable environment.”
The franchise model remains part of Krafton’s long-term vision, with plans to revisit it in the future with a potentially improved and more inclusive format.
Despite the setback, BGMI esports is thriving with major KRAFTON tournaments like BGIS and BMPS generating over 15.1 million total views in 2025.

Krafton, the publisher behind Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), has opted to postpone its much-anticipated franchise league. The league, officially announced on June 24, 2025, was touted as a “revolutionary esports initiative” with Krafton opening up bids and inviting organizations to be part of a new era for BGMI esports. The league is now reportedly halted indefinitely as the publisher plans its next steps.

According to Inside Sport, Krafton said the current environment wasn't conducive to launching a franchise league at the scale and impact it had envisioned. The publisher acknowledged strong industry interest in the concept but pointed to external conditions as obstacles requiring a strategic reassessment.

However, people familiar with the matter suggest financial considerations played a significant role in the decision. An esports organization owner involved in the bidding process told Esports Insider that participants were "very disappointed" with the postponement, though Krafton has promised to develop an improved model for future implementation.

The decision has frustrated several organizations that had been preparing to join the league. One team owner described the situation as a missed opportunity, comparing the league's potential reach to the Indian Premier League cricket tournament. Despite the setback, Krafton has assured stakeholders it will develop a more comprehensive model with greater input from teams and brands.

Krafton maintains that franchise leagues remain central to its long-term strategy for BGMI esports. The company said it would revisit the concept "as the landscape evolves" in coming years, suggesting the postponement reflects timing rather than a fundamental shift in priorities.

The delay comes as India's mobile gaming sector continues to expand rapidly, with BGMI maintaining its position as one of the country's most popular battle royale games. Major tournaments like NODWIN Gaming's BGMI Masters Series continue to draw significant viewership, with the fourth season scheduled to run from August 18 to September 14 in Delhi.

Abhimannu Das

Author

Abhimannu Das is a web journalist at Outlook India with a focus on Indian pop culture, gaming, and esports. He has over 10 years of journalistic experience and over 3,500 articles that include industry deep dives, interviews, and SEO content. He has worked on a myriad of games and their ecosystems, including Valorant, Overwatch, and Apex Legends.