BGMI banned in India: Krafton may have known that a ban is coming – Times of India

In a blow to the fans of the popular battle royale game Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), the app has been removed from Apple and Google app stores in India.

In a blow to the fans of the popular battle royale game Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), the app has been removed from Apple and Google app stores in India. The ban on BGMI comes after a government order. A Google spokesperson confirmed to TOI Tech-Gadgets Now that the app has been removed after orders from the government authorities. “On receipt of the order, following the established process, we have notified the affected developer and have blocked access to the app that remained available on the Play Store in India,” said a statement from Google. Though Apple refused to comment, the BGMI game app has been removed from the company’s India App Store as well.
Krafton on its part has said that it is clarifying the ban with the government. “We are clarifying how BGMI was removed from Google Play store and the App store and will let you know once we get specific information,” said Krafton in a statement.
However, it seems that the BGMI publisher may have seen the ban coming. Less than a fortnight ago, Krafton released an update that allowed users to download the APK version of the game from its website. “Not only is BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA available on the App Store, and the Google Play Store, but players can now also download the game from the BGMI website itself! With the latest update, users can click the APK download button on the website to directly install the game.” said the BGMI developer Krafton in the release.
What is APK file and what BGMI APK means for Android and iPhone users
For those not aware, APK stands for Android Package (sometimes Android Package Kit or Android Application Package). The file format that Android uses to distribute and install apps. Users can use APK files to download apps that are not available on the Google Play store. It is also called SideLoading of apps. While Google advises users to download APK files as they may contain malware, spyware or other dangerous code; Apple does not allow sideloading of apps on iPhones. This means that iPhone users cannot use the BGMI APK update released by Krafton.
What Krafton said on BGMI APK
According to Krafton’s release, the APK file makes the game easier to download and much lighter. While the download size on the Google Play Store is around 860MB, the file size of the build on the website is 600MB. “For those playing the previous version, one can easily install the latest version over the existing game, and the data will automatically be updated to the latest,” the update release added.
APK file of no other popular game available
Incidentally, no other popular mobile game (top 5 in India as per downloads) offers APK files on its website. The most popular Android game of 2021 Garena Free Fire too does not offer users an APK download option. Garena Free Fire was banned by the government in February 2022.