KRAFTON Opens Bidding for BGMI Franchise League, Invites Investors, Celebs, and Gaming Fans to Join

Image: BGMI/Krafton India

KRAFTON has officially announced a new franchise-based Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) esports league in India and is now inviting brands, celebrities, and gaming fans to become part of it.

The company is offering select team slots to those who want to invest in India’s fast-growing gaming scene. With over 450 million gamers in the country and a 400% rise in esports viewership over the last three years, KRAFTON believes this is the right time to launch a full-fledged league.

This league will not follow the usual tournament style. Instead, it will run like some of the world’s top esports leagues, where teams have permanent slots and compete regularly.

KRAFTON is calling on companies, sports personalities, influencers, and gaming lovers to express interest. The last date to apply is July 4, 2025. Once someone shows interest through email, KRAFTON will send them all the necessary information, including a presentation, a Letter of Intent (LOI), and details about the next steps.

Here’s what this league offers:

• Permanent team ownership: no short-term entries; owners will stay part of the league.

• Brand Engagement: With millions of engaged viewers and a young, digital-first audience, this is a golden opportunity for brands to connect and grow.

• Stable Ecosystem: Permanent teams mean better planning, structured revenue, and a real chance to build fanbases over time.

This type of franchise model has already worked well in other countries. For example:

• The Overwatch League and Call of Duty League in the U.S. run with city-based franchise teams.

• Riot Games uses a similar system for League of Legends in North America, Europe, Korea, and China.

These leagues helped bring professionalism, steady income for teams, and better experiences for fans — something KRAFTON now wants to bring to India with BGMI.

This move comes right after the success of KRAFTON’s recent tournaments in India. The BGMI Series (BGIS) 2025 ended in April with a record prize pool of ₹3.2 crore. The BMPS 2025 is also running strong, showing how serious KRAFTON is about growing esports in the country.

By switching to a franchise model, KRAFTON aims to take Indian esports to the next level — just like how the IPL changed cricket in India.

While the franchise-based esports model has seen success in various parts of the world, it also comes with a fair share of criticisms and challenges. Franchise models usually require large upfront payments to buy a team slot. Further, teams get permanent slots, which means new teams can't enter by just winning matches or qualifiers.

Nevertheless, a franchise-based BGMI league could transform the perception of esports in the country — from short-term entertainment to a serious professional pursuit with real-world career opportunities. It could also bring in diverse sponsors and partners who have so far remained on the sidelines due to the lack of consistent league infrastructure.

More details about slot pricing and league structure are expected soon.