As BGIS 2025 progresses into Round 3, the familiar signs of trouble are already surfacing. If the past two years are anything to go by, it’s almost certain that we’ll see hackers advancing through Round 4, the Quarterfinals, and maybe even the Wildcard and Semifinals — with the terrifying possibility that cheaters could make it all the way to the BGIS 2025 Finals.
The reason? Krafton India’s weak anti-cheat system — a persistent problem that has plagued BGMI esports since its return as the Indian version of PUBG Mobile.
A Broken System That Players Are Tired Of
Even after battling through hackers and grinding their way through the tournament, teams face another harsh reality — unpaid prize pools. Year after year, players have voiced concerns about delayed payments, often waiting months or even years to receive what they’ve rightfully earned.
It’s a vicious cycle — and despite streamers and players repeatedly speaking out, nothing seems to change. For the past two years, BGMI esports has followed the same monotonous pattern: hackers in major tournaments, unpaid winnings, and a lack of structure to support players’ growth.
The Harsh Reality Behind BGMI’s Popularity
There’s no doubt that BGMI is India’s biggest mobile game, with millions of loyal fans. But at what cost?
How many gamers have actually managed to build a sustainable career through BGMI esports?
With no international roadmap in place, BGMI players are left with just two major tournaments — BGIS and BMPS — offering a combined prize pool of less than ₹4 crore for the entire year.
Meanwhile, Krafton spends heavily on marketing campaigns, featuring Bollywood stars like Deepika Padukone and other big celebrities. One can’t help but wonder — how much of that budget could’ve been invested in improving the esports ecosystem instead?
Mass Shutdown of Esports Organizations
Over the past year, a staggering 18 Tier-1 esports organizations have shut down their BGMI operations. This alarming trend underscores the financial and structural issues plaguing the ecosystem.
Industry Leaders Speak Out
Prominent figures in the Indian esports community have openly criticized the current state of BGMI esports:
Varun Bhavnani, Entity India: “About time Krafton realizes they need to divert resources to the game and its ecosystem rather than treating its stakeholders as a tool for marketing.”
Kull, Villager Esports: “Bring new leadership staff.”
8bit Goldy, S8UL Esports: “With Global Esports suspending its BGMI operations, it’s the 18th Tier-1 org to shut down in the last 12 months! Wake-up call for who?”
Rushindra Sinha, Global Esports: “When the undeniable best team in the country after winning two official LAN events back-to-back with over $200K in prize pool can’t sustain financially and has to partner with another team to do so, how can any other org even think about profitability?”
8bit Thug, S8UL Esports: “EGO H PAHAAD PE, KHUD CHANE KE JHAR PE. Pese dene wale nahi honge toh ye 2, 3, 4L ki salary kaun bharega? Just wondering.”
S8UL Sid, S8UL Esports: “I’m publicly mentioning here to see how much attention Krafton pays to us: Since there are no official events for a while, I’m hoping Krafton invites all stakeholders of T1/2 orgs for an online call to discuss what’s right, what’s wrong, and what can be better about the scene. Let’s see if this gets organized or not.”
BGMI Isn’t the Game It Once Was
BGMI’s esports scene is no longer what it was in 2019 — a time when the game felt fresh, competitive, and full of opportunity. Today, the excitement seems to be fading, with fewer gaming organizations staying active and an increasing number of players giving up on professional competition altogether.
The Road Ahead
If BGMI esports is to survive — let alone thrive — Krafton needs to act fast. Stronger anti-cheat systems, timely payments for players, and a proper international roadmap are critical. Without these changes, BGMI’s esports ecosystem risks collapsing under the weight of its own mismanagement.
The potential is still there — but time is running out. The community deserves better.
