Why The Latest Versions of Games Like BGMI Are Leading to Their Own Downfall?

Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), the Indian adaptation of PUBG Mobile, once dominated the mobile gaming scene in India, amassing over 100 million downloads by July 2022 and fostering a vibrant esports ecosystem. However, despite its initial success and a triumphant return after a government ban in 2022, recent versions of BGMI and similar battle royale games are facing a noticeable decline in popularity.

A combination of technical issues, monetization missteps, and a failure to address core player concerns is pushing these games toward a potential downfall. This article explores the key factors contributing to this trend, drawing on player sentiments, industry insights, and the evolving expectations of the gaming community. In this article there will be reasons for Why The Latest Versions of Games Like BGMI Are Leading to Their Own Downfall?

Technical Instability: Bugs, Glitches, and Server Woes

One of the most significant issues plaguing BGMI’s recent updates is technical instability. Players have reported persistent bugs, including lag, frame drops, audio issues, and map-loading glitches, which severely disrupt gameplay. The notorious “server time out” bug, for instance, disconnects players during high-stakes matches, impacting rankings and competitive integrity. Even in flagship tournaments like the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGIS) with a ?2 crore prize pool, server issues have led to matches being rehosted, undermining the game’s credibility in the esports scene.

Social media platforms like X echo this frustration, with players reporting heavy lag and frame drops following recent patch updates. For example, a post from April 2025 highlighted issues post-update, suggesting that Krafton’s patches often introduce new problems rather than resolving existing ones. These technical hiccups are particularly damaging in a battle royale game where smooth performance is critical for fast-paced, strategic gameplay. The rise of more stable alternatives like Call of Duty: Mobile, which is praised for better optimization and anti-cheat measures, is drawing players away from BGMI.

Moreover, BGMI’s performance on lower-end devices has deteriorated with each update. As new features and complex graphics are added, the game becomes less accessible to players with budget smartphones, alienating a significant portion of its target audience in India, where affordable devices dominate the market. This exclusionary effect contradicts the game’s original appeal as an accessible, mass-market title.

Rampant Cheating and Ineffective Anti-Cheat Measures

Cheating has become a pervasive issue in BGMI, with hackers using aimbots, wall hacks, and other exploits to gain unfair advantages. Players have reported instances where cheaters freeze entire lobbies during matches, securing easy kills and ruining the experience for others. A well-known BGMI content creator, LolLzZz Gaming, showcased such an incident, amplifying community frustration. Despite Krafton’s efforts to implement anti-cheat measures and ban accounts, the mechanisms appear ineffective, as cheaters quickly return with new accounts.

This persistent cheating problem erodes player morale and trust. Competitive players, in particular, feel that matches are increasingly unwinnable due to unfair advantages, pushing them toward rival games with stronger anti-cheat systems. The community’s outcry, evident in trending hashtags like #SaveBGMI on social media, underscores the urgency for Krafton to address this issue decisively. Without robust solutions, BGMI risks losing its competitive edge and casual player base alike.

Monetization Over Gameplay: The Pay-to-Win Perception

Recent versions of BGMI have leaned heavily into monetization, with frequent releases of new crates, lucky spins, and Royale Passes requiring players to spend real money on in-game currency (UC). While these offer cosmetic items like skins and suits, the odds of obtaining high-value rewards are low, and free-to-play players are left with limited options, often receiving time-limited items from free crates. This contrasts sharply with the global version of PUBG Mobile, which offers better rewards for non-paying players.

The focus on “pay-to-win” elements, such as exclusive outfits and gun skins that some perceive as offering subtle gameplay advantages, has alienated casual players. Krafton’s emphasis on revenue generation through microtransactions appears to overshadow efforts to improve core gameplay. As one source notes, “Krafton is only thinking about income generation from this game,” neglecting the emotional connection players have with BGMI’s legacy as a cultural phenomenon in India. This shift risks turning the game into a commercial product rather than a beloved community-driven experience.

Declining Esports Ecosystem and Community Trust

BGMI’s esports scene, once a cornerstone of its popularity, is also faltering. Issues like unpaid prize pools have damaged trust, with incidents like Team Omega not receiving ?7.5 lakh from the TWOB Winter Invitational cited as examples of unprofessionalism. Third-party organizers’ failure to honor commitments has demotivated players and discouraged sponsors, weakening the ecosystem. Viewership for BGMI tournaments and content has seen a sharp decline, with prominent streamers like Mortal and Scout struggling to maintain the high viewership they enjoyed a few years ago. A Reddit user in 2023 noted that live viewership for top creators dropped from over 100,000 to as low as 10,000-20,000, reflecting waning interest.

The combination of server issues, cheating, and organizational failures has created a snowball effect, eroding confidence in BGMI’s competitive future. Casual players, observing the disarray in esports, are losing faith in the game’s long-term viability, further accelerating the player exodus.

Failure to Innovate and Retain Players

While BGMI has introduced new features like the Steampunk Frontier Theme Mode, Royale Pass A13, and World of Wonder (WoW) maps, these updates often feel like short-term gimmicks rather than meaningful improvements to the core gameplay. Players on platforms like Reddit express a desire for unique maps akin to PUBG Mobile’s Taego, Deston, or Paramo, which could reinvigorate the experience. Instead, repetitive content and a lack of fresh, engaging modes have led to player fatigue. Many original players have moved on to other games or real-world pursuits, as one Reddit user shared in 2023, citing a shift to activities like going to the gym over gaming.

The game’s inability to evolve with the changing preferences of India’s gaming community, which now demands diverse, polished experiences, has contributed to its decline. Competitors like Free Fire India and Apex Legends Mobile offer smoother gameplay and innovative modes, attracting players seeking alternatives.

The Looming Threat of Another Ban

The Specter of another potential ban continues to haunt BGMI. The game was banned in India from July 2022 to May 2023 due to data privacy concerns, resulting in a significant loss of players. Although it returned with stricter compliance measures, such as addressing server location issues, the possibility of further regulatory scrutiny persists. This uncertainty discourages long-term investment from players and esports organizations, who fear a repeat of the 2022 disruption. The government’s three-month trial approval in 2023, coupled with conditions like potential time limits to curb addiction, adds to the precariousness of BGMI’s future.

Krafton’s Response and the Path Forward

Krafton has acknowledged these challenges, promising updates to fix bugs, optimize performance, and combat cheating. Recent initiatives, like the 3.7 Update and events offering exclusive rewards, aim to retain players. However, the community remains skeptical, with many feeling that fixes are too slow or insufficient to address deep-rooted issues. Krafton’s focus on short-term incentives, like giveaways and cosmetic rewards, may not suffice to rebuild trust unless paired with substantial improvements in stability, fairness, and gameplay innovation.

To reverse the decline, Krafton must prioritize:

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BGMI’s decline is not solely the result of external factors like bans but a culmination of internal shortcomings—technical instability, rampant cheating, excessive monetization, and a struggling esports scene. Once a cultural juggernaut in India, the game risks losing its legacy unless Krafton addresses these core issues. The Indian gaming community, now more discerning than ever, demands stability, fairness, and innovation. As alternatives like Call of Duty: Mobile and Free Fire India gain traction, BGMI’s window to reclaim its dominance is narrowing. For a game that once defined mobile gaming in India, the path to redemption lies in listening to its community and returning to the core principles that made it a beloved title.

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