KRAFTON CEO Confirms Structured BGMI Esports League Coming Soon — Full Reveal Expected Within Two Months

Image credit: Sohn Hyunil Sohn, CEO of KRAFTON India

KRAFTON is nearing a full reveal of its structured franchise league for Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), with an announcement expected in the next couple of months.

In an interview with The Economic Times, Sohn Hyunil Sohn, CEO of KRAFTON India, confirmed, “We may be ready to share our complete approach maybe in one or two months.”

While the idea of an IPL-style esports league had already been floated, this latest update confirms that the company is moving away from the less formal, open-qualifier tournament structure that’s been the norm for the past three years.

“Our esports structure has been in place for the last three years, but it lacked strict guidelines for team operations and sponsorships,” Sohn explained. “There were a lot of requests from industry peers for a more consistent offering.”

This new league aims to introduce clear rules, legal obligations, and revenue-sharing agreements. The idea is to create a sustainable model where everyone involved — teams, organizers, and sponsors — shares both the risks and rewards.

“The general principle is that all participants in the ecosystem will share both financial and operational burdens and share the commercial upsides in a fair manner,” Sohn said.

KRAFTON has already begun gathering formal feedback from prospective team owners and partners. This follows an earlier open call inviting companies, celebrities, and gaming investors to express interest in owning a team in the league — similar to how Overwatch League and Call of Duty League operate internationally.

Meanwhile, KRAFTON continues to support India’s competitive scene through events like BGIS and BMPS. Notably, BMPS winners will now earn a direct invite to the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2025, marking BGMI’s first official presence in a global tournament.

But concerns around BGMI’s India-only nature still remain. Sohn addressed this too, saying,

“I understand that esports athletes want to play at global events. We are trying to see if we can bring in global teams to India. That’s one way to solve the issue.”

Originally launched as a localized version of PUBG Mobile following its 2020 ban, BGMI has since transformed into a major esports platform. With the franchise league in the works, KRAFTON is looking to lock in long-term investment and take Indian esports to the next level.