BGMI or PUBG? 5 Real Differences and Why BGMI Went Viral

Before 2020, PUBG was the go-to game for many Indians. Then it got banned, and BGMI suddenly took over like a storm. But is BGMI better? Or just the same with a new name?

In this article, we’ll talk about why many Indian veteran players think BGMI is more suitable for them, we'll share five games features they love, and explain how this game sparked a craze with over 100 million downloads in India.

Origin of PUBG and BGMI

PUBG started with an Irish guy, Brendan Greene, who went by PlayerUnknown online. He got hooked on the idea of a last-man-standing game after watching Battle Royale and messing around with ARMA 2 mods.

In 2017, he teamed up with a South Korean studio, Bluehole (now part of Krafton), to create PUBG, and it became a global hit.

However, in India, things became complicated. The government banned PUBG in 2020 over data privacy worries, leaving players gutted. Krafton stepped up with Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), a version tweaked just for us Indians, with local servers and rules to keep things legit.

Why Indian Players Love BGMI

BGMI is like PUBG Mobile’s cousin, built just for India. You can still drop into Erangel or Miramar, loot your M416, and fight to be the last one standing, but it’s got a desi twist that makes it feel like home.

Indian players, especially the OGs who’ve been grinding since PUBG’s early days, swear by it. Here’s why it’s a big deal.

Local Servers, No Lag Pain

BGMI’s server is located in India, therefore, you don’t need to struggle with 100ms+ ping issues like we had to do after 2020 ban, at that time we had to use VPN to login to PUBG’s foreign servers.

Whether you’re on a budget Redmi or a fancy OnePlus, BGMI runs like butter—think 40-50 FPS even on spotty 4G. Plus, your data stays local, so no need to feel stress about sketchy leaks like we heard about with PUBG. It’s just for you, Erangel, and a smooth headshot.

Desi Vibes All the Way

BGMI feels like it was made for us. During Diwali, you’re dropping into Erangel with maps lit up like a Diya stall, snagging kurta skins or guns that shoot gulal for Holi.

They’ve got loot boxes with saree-style outfits and lanterns that scream festivity. You can flex a Hardik Pandya cricket skin or emotes with Deepika Padukone’s Bollywood flair—imagine taunting your squad with Ranveer Singh’s energy!

Best part? Voice packs in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, or even Kannada, so you’re yelling “Chicken Dinner!” in your own language, making every match feel like a desi party.

Parent-Friendly Gameplay

BGMI keeps the fun while landing into Erangel through skydive, looting airdrops, and spraying with your M416, but it’s toned down so your parents don’t lose it.

No more red blood splashes—now it’s green or yellow, like Holi vibes. Instead of “killed,” you'll see “downed” or “finished,” which feels less intense.

The game nags you to “play responsibly” before you start and pops up “take a break” reminder if you’re grinding too long. If you’re under 18, you can only play for 3 hours a day under parent's consent, and you can’t blow all your cash on crates.

Indian players loves the vibe, even elders can’t complain about it.

Fewer Hackers, Fairer Fights

BGMI isn’t perfect—high-rank lobbies still have some cheaters, but it’s much better than PUBG Mobile’s global version, where hackers used to snipe you through walls like it’s nothing.

With India-only servers, the player pool is smaller, it's almost impossible to run into an aimbot like a fool in casual matches. Ranked games feel fairer too; you can actually clutch a Chicken Dinner without some loser freezing the lobby.

Even it’s not foolproof, players are hyped that Krafton’s cracking down with bans.

Esports That Hit Home

BGMI’s esports scene is pure desi pride. Tournaments like BGMI India Series (BGIS) and Pro Series (BMPS) are built for Indian players, with massive prize pools—₹2 Crore for BGIS and ₹4 Crore for BMPS in 2025, plus ₹1 Crore for iQOO Battlegrounds Series.

If you're 16 or older with a Platinum I rank, you can jump into BGIS qualifiers and dream of becoming pro. Stars like Mortal and Scout are basically legends now, teams like Versatile, who crushed BGIS 2025, are showing the world what India’s can do.

Unlike PUBG’s global tournaments that lock us out, BGMI gives local talent a real shot to shine, whether you’re grinding in Kolkata’s LAN finals or cheering from your couch.

Not everyone can grind to Mortal’s hand speed, but no worries! Plenty of players love betting on BGMI matches while watching live streams, guessing which team will snag the Chicken Dinner, earning some pocket money, and feeling totally in on the action.

Common Questions About BGMI