The South Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) has fined game publisher Krafton 2.5 million won (approximately $1,800) for misrepresenting loot box probabilities in PUBG: Battlegrounds. The fine is part of a broader regulatory push following amendments to South Korea’s Game Industry Act, which now requires developers to clearly disclose the odds of obtaining in-game items tied to random chance.

The KFTC’s ruling focuses on two specific violations during Krafton’s promotional events. Between March and June 2023, Krafton launched a collaboration with K-pop group NewJeans and advertised that players would be guaranteed to receive a specific cosmetic item on their fifth attempt. In reality, the actual success probability on the fifth try was only 9 percent. In another case, the company displayed drop rates between 0.1414% and 0.7576% for certain item crafting systems, but the actual chance of success was zero.

Mobile game publisher Com2uS received the same penalty for its game Starseed: Asnia Trigger. Between March and May 2023, the company sold bundles claiming that three items each had a 24 percent chance to enhance character stats. However, only one item had any actual effect, while the other two were functionally useless.

In addition to the fines, both companies must submit preventive action plans to the KFTC within 30 days. Krafton has refunded over 1.1 billion won (around $870,000) to more than 380,000 affected players and issued about 9.8 billion won in in-game currency as compensation. Com2uS granted 200,000 won worth of in-game currency to each of its 1.55 million users, regardless of whether they made related purchases.

The KFTC stated that it will continue to monitor game publishers closely and enforce stricter oversight of misleading loot box practices. It added that additional penalties will follow if companies fail to comply with disclosure rules. Investigations into other major developers, including Webzen and NCSoft, are ongoing.

In related news, Ayaneo recently launched the Pocket S2 and Pocket S2 Pro gaming handhelds, featuring a detachable D-pad and a 10,000mAh battery.

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Krafton, the studio behind BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) and PUBG Mobile, is facing legal action in India. The company has had a rocky relationship with the Indian government, and now, it is facing an FIR over user privacy concerns.

FIR filed against Krafton

The FIR against Krafton was filed by Santosh Torane, marking a legal dispute over digital privacy in India. TalkEsport managed to get the legal document related to the case which accuses Krafton India and four of its executives of violating an online service agreement. This agreement includes strict confidentiality clauses that allowed Torane to use Krafton’s game services. However, the FIR states that Krafton has violated these terms by disclosing his personal information and monetizing it.

Simply put, Krafton is basically facing action for illegally selling user information. The complainant alleges that confidential data was leaked and shared with external parties. This data was reportedly sold for a around 2,000 INR per subscriber. So Krafton was charged with criminal conspiracy (IPC 120-B), cheating (IPC 420), and violations under Sections 72, 72A, and 85 of the Information Technology Act, 2000. The court has now ordered the police to start investigation against these claims.

In response, Krafton India has filed two writ petitions in the Bombay High Court, which challenges the FIR and seeks to put a stop to this investigation. The studio is fighting for relief against these allegations and is contesting the legal proceedings. TalkEsport had reached out to Krafton officials and their PR for an official statement, but haven’t received any word from them so far.

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Krafton, the renowned developer behind the global phenomenon “PUBG: Battlegrounds,” is exploring exciting new frontiers in gaming with the help of OpenAI. In a meeting with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman during his recent visit to Seoul, Krafton CEO Kim Chang-han discussed potential collaborations that could revolutionize the gaming experience.

Can OpenAI Make NPCs Smarter?

The primary focus of these discussions centered around leveraging OpenAI’s cutting-edge large language models (LLMs) to develop sophisticated AI-powered characters. These “virtual cooperative characters” (CPCs) will go beyond traditional non-playable characters (NPCs) by engaging in natural and meaningful conversations with players, creating a more immersive and interactive gaming environment.

This collaboration aligns perfectly with Krafton’s recent advancements in AI-driven gaming. Earlier this year at CES 2025, the company showcased its own innovative CPC technology developed in partnership with Nvidia. This technology marks a significant leap forward, enabling players to interact with AI characters in a more dynamic and realistic way.

Krafton plans to integrate this advanced AI technology into its existing and upcoming game titles. “PUBG: Battlegrounds,” the game that catapulted Krafton to global fame, is poised to benefit from this collaboration, offering players even more engaging and unpredictable gameplay experiences. Additionally, “inZOI,” an upcoming life simulation game scheduled for release later this year, will also incorporate these cutting-edge AI features, promising to redefine the genre.

Beyond gaming, OpenAI is also expanding its footprint into hardware, robotics, AI chips, and quantum computing. The company’s recent trademark filings suggest an interest in AI-driven consumer devices, including smartwatches, AR/VR headsets, headphones, and humanoid robots with advanced learning abilities.

OpenAI is also collaborating with Broadcom and TSMC to develop custom AI chips, targeting a 2026 launch. While these projects are still in their early stages, OpenAI is actively working with partners to bring AI-powered innovations to market.

This partnership between Krafton and OpenAI marks a major step toward the future of gaming, where AI will play an increasingly crucial role in shaping immersive, interactive, and personalized experiences for players worldwide.

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Mahindra has teamed up with Krafton India to introduce the BE 6 electric SUV into Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), marking a unique collaboration between the automotive and gaming industries. Starting Jan. 16, players can explore and interact with this dynamic SUV within the game, adding a layer of realism and innovation to their gaming experience.

Mahindra BE 6 in BGMI

From Jan. 16 to Feb.15, BGMI players can elevate their gaming experience by taking the sporty Mahindra BE 6 electric SUV for a virtual spin. Along with the BE 6, players can access exclusive in-game rewards that reflect its adventurous and high-performance design. These include themed items like the Quantum Flux Suit, Chrono Charge Suit, Volt Tracer Gun, Neon Drop BE 6 Parachute, Flashvault BE 6 Backpack, and SparkStrike Pan. Players can acquire these items through the “Lucky Spin,” adding a unique touch to their gameplay.

The partnership introduces the Mahindra BE 6 Exchange Centre, an engaging event where players complete missions to earn “Nitro Wheels,” a special currency to unlock exclusive rewards. These rewards include: Protective Vanguard Suit, Mahindra Event Crate, and Mahindra Space Gifts. In particular, the Mahindra Event Crate offers a chance to win collaboration-themed items, enhancing the overall thrill and challenge for participants.

Chance to win the Mahindra BE 6

Taking the experience beyond the virtual battleground, Krafton and Mahindra offer participants the chance to win a real BE 6 electric SUV. Players participating in the contest must complete in-game missions to collect the “Nitro Wheel” and redeem the “Mahindra Event Crate.” They are then required to create a short video (10–30 seconds) showcasing the BE 6 in BGMI and post it on Instagram or YouTube.

To qualify, participants need to tag BGMI’s and Mahindra Electric’s official accounts and include the hashtags #BGMIxMahindra and #UnleashTheCharge. The contest, which begins on Jan. 25 will come to an end on Feb. 25.

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Krafton, the developer of PUBG Mobile, has announced that the popular battle royale game will soon receive a 120fps mode. This new mode will be available in the upcoming version 3.2 update, offering players a smoother and more responsive gameplay experience.

PUBG Mobile Will Get 120fps Mode in v3.2 Update

Previously, PUBG Mobile offered a maximum of 90fps for a smoother experience. Now, they’re pushing the boundaries for mobile gaming by introducing 120fps. However, there’s no official confirmation yet on whether this feature will be available for both Android and iOS devices.

The 120fps mode will likely be optimized for high-end and upper mid-range smartphones due to the demanding nature of rendering the game at a higher frame rate. Entry-level devices may struggle to maintain consistent performance at 120fps, even with lower graphics settings. And most entry-level devices also don’t feature the 90fps yet.

The news also extends to BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India), the Indian version of PUBG Mobile. BGMI is also expected to receive the 120fps treatment in the coming days, aligning it with the global version.

Beta testing is currently underway. Some beta testers of both PUBG Mobile and BGMI are currently experiencing the 120fps mode firsthand. They’ve reported warnings from the game about potential heating issues and increased battery consumption when using this mode.

For the 120fps mode to truly shine, smartphone manufacturers will also need to optimize their devices to take full advantage of this feature.

Users with the latest flagship smartphones with powerful processors like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 are expected to experience the 120fps mode without issues. Similarly, iPhones with 120Hz displays are also likely to support the new mode.

The announcement of the 120fps mode comes shortly after the release of PUBG Mobile version 3.1 update. The 3.1 update introduces several notable features, including the new themed mode “Skyhigh Spectacle” set in the skies with unique modes of transport and strategic items.

Additionally, the “Home” gameplay mode allows players to customize and build their own homes, explore others’ homes, and engage in various activities, enhancing social interaction. Furthermore, updates to Miramar, WOW gameplay, and Metro Royale add new elements like urban areas, creative possibilities, and firearm attachments, enriching the overall gaming experience.

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Krafton, the publisher behind the massively successful PUBG franchise, is looking to empower the Indian gaming ecosystem. The company will invest in local gaming startups, betting on the region’s growth potential.

Krafton investing in India’s gaming future

Earlier today (10th August 2023), the company announced that it will be investing a sizeable sum of 150 million US Dollars in India for gaming and interactive entertainment startups. This investment will be across the next two to three years. The move from Krafton is likely to expand its presence in the region, which has immense potential in the gaming market. Its hefty investment also follows after its initial 140 million US Dollar investment across 11 Indian startups back in 2021.

In other words, Krafton has poured 290 million US Dollars into the country so far, making it one of the major investors in recent times. The publisher first began its investment with the esports gaming firm Nodwin. It invested in Series A to Series B stage startups for gaming and entertainment like esports, multimedia entertainment, content creation, and more.

As of right now, Krafton has invested in various game development studios like Nautilus Mobile and Lila Games along with the game streaming platform Loco, and others. Now, a third of its 150 million US Dollar investment will be for deep tech companies while another third will go towards new startups.

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BGMI, the Indian exclusive version of the popular battle royale PUBG was abruptly banned and subsequently removed from the Google Play Store as well as the Apple App Store. Initially, the reasons behind the game’s removal remained undisclosed. However, RTI later confirmed that the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) officially banned BGMI following requests made by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Now, according to a News18 report, Krafton recently held discussions with officials from the Indian government who have recommended certain modifications to lift the ban on BGMI for a limited period of time. These modifications include restricting playtime to address addiction issues, removing blood from the game due to concerns about its violent nature, and making internal and server changes to prevent cyber threats, including protecting user data from potential profiling and cyber-attacks.

The Indian government has imposed restrictions on the hours of gameplay to address addiction issues, as there have been incidents of suicides and murders due to high addiction to the game. According to the report, players will no longer be able to play the game 24 hours a day, seven days a week. However, the specific number of hours for the playtime restriction has not been specified.

The removal of blood from the game is in response to concerns about its violent nature and its potential impact on young players. The game’s color scheme will reportedly be changed to support yellow and green blood, similar to the version currently available in China (Peacekeeper Elite).

In addition, the game has been accused of addiction, with reports of players becoming obsessed with it and committing violent acts. Concerns have also been raised about user data being harvested for profiling, which could result in targeted cyber-attacks on Indian users. The government has asked Krafton to make relevant internal and server changes to address these concerns.

In summary, the recommended modifications aim to ensure a safer and healthier gaming experience for Indian users. It remains to be seen how Krafton will implement these changes, and whether they will be sufficient to lift the ban on BGMI.

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The popular battle-royale game Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) was banned as a result of a report from a central intelligence agency and a message from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity).

The report discussed offenses that could lead to cyber dangers by gathering user data for the purpose of conducting targeted cyberattacks against Indian users.

A senior government official claims that although the application has other problems, the biggest issue was that it was talking to servers that are either directly or indirectly situated in China. Other apps that have “rebranded” have also been confirmed by sources to be connecting with Chinese servers and are under investigation. After several iterations of study by the Indian officials, the government requested Google to delete the application from the Play Store.

According to News18, a senior government official on the condition of anonymity said, “The analysis also showed that this application has malicious code and also acquires a host of critical permissions, which could be misused for compromising user data for surveillance through camera/microphone, location tracking, and malicious network activities.”

The official added that such apps are a risk to India’s security grid and have the potential to harm the country’s sovereignty and integrity. 

Although the official decision to ban BGMI from India has not yet been issued, MeitY has asked the affected companies to remove it from app marketplaces like Google Play and App Store. Following Krafton’s presentation of its case, a final conclusion regarding a complete ban is still impending.

According to the developer, efforts are being made to revive the game. The South Korean video game developer and distributor, recently released a statement in which it expressed its commitment to the Indian market and its optimism about the potential there. “At KRAFTON, the security and privacy of our user data are of utmost importance to us. We have always been compliant with all the laws and regulations in India, including data protection laws and regulations, and will continue abiding by them.”

The report adds that a number of Chinese apps have rebranded themselves to circumvent the ban in India. They don’t have any servers in India and gather sensitive information like ‘location and audio’.

While BGMI was supposed to be a dedicated game for the Indian market and crossed over 100 million users in a year, clearly, the Indian government is still not happy with how the app is processing user data. 

Altogether, the ban seems like a decent way to go if Krafton is unable to deliver a solid case for themselves. However, if the India-dedicated version comes out from the abyss, we shall see a revival of hope for the youth to socialize and entertain once again.

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Krafton has just recorded a notable milestone from its popular mobile game BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India). The company has crossed over 100 million registered users for the title, despite the game not even being a year old.

For those unaware, the studio behind the PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) franchise had launched Battlegrounds Mobile India specifically for the Indian market following the ban of the original PUBG Mobile. It was released in the region back in July 2021 and had seen an explosive success immediately afterwards. Since then, the game has grown exponentially in popularity, with battle royale genre still being a big hit in the mobile gaming market in India.

Furthermore, this success was also backed by Krafton’s heavy investment into the region, with reports stating that the publisher had invested a massive sum of 100 million US Dollars. This figure would be used to grow the local esports for the game as well as entertainment startups to help boost the gaming and esports community in India. Thanks to this, even the professional scene for BGMI has been quite successful, with gaming organizations also forming their official roasters in the country.

Before PUBG Mobile had been banned, the title was the most successful mobile game in India. So it arrives as no surprise that Battlegrounds Mobile India also saw a such robust success. Regardless, the 100 million registered user mark is still quite impressive.

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Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) devs at Krafton have been working hard ever since the launch of the game to make it more optimized and bug-free. The company has just launched a new update for the game bringing fixes for multiple issues that the player base is facing right now.

According to the official patch notes, the new update brings a highly demanded fix for the speed issue after jumping off the Nimbus Island. This is basically a bug that allowed players to move way faster than intended after abusing a glitch spot to jump off the nimbus island. Krafton has confirmed that this glitch has indeed been fixed.

The patch also brings a fix for the issue where other players’ sensitivity codes won’t get applied. These codes usually allow players to share their custom sensitivity settings for the camera, aim down sight (ADS), and gyroscope with others. Other than that, the last gameplay-related patch coming with this update fixes the issue where players were unable to see through the scope when they had the Christmas-themed Merry Tidings skin equipped to their UZI.

In a separately published patch note, Krafton has also stated that it has fixed an issue with a premium crate that gives an unintended item along with guaranteed rewards when opening the crate 10, 20, or 30 times.

Krafrton also recently announced that in the last week of March alone, they had banned over 66,000 accounts for cheating. Players have also stated that cheaters are getting banned at a faster rate compared to previous months. This may be due to improvements made in the Anti-cheat system of the game. The game also encourages players to report any suspicious activity that they come across. If the anti-cheat engine flags and bans an account that you’ve reported, the game rewards you with a “Ban Pan” skin for the iconic Pan.

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Krafton has banned over 66,000 accounts for cheating during the week ending April 3, 2022. The Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) maker also published a list containing the names of all the accounts that have been shut out from its platform.

Krafton had seemingly ramped up its crackdown on accounts using unauthorized third-party programs in the BGMI game. The company said it will continue to implement strong sanctions and strategies that will help to eradicate the use of illegal programs in the game. It hopes to maintain a pleasant gaming environment for its teeming gamers.

The game-maker also provided the list of all accounts banned from the game last week. This is not the first time that Krafton will be shutting out thousands of accounts from BGMI. Overall, Krafton has banned a total of 122,766 accounts from BGMI since March 6 and 569,420 in 2022. The accounts ban began last year to prevent illegal programs from being used on the platform.

The bans previously did not target devices but now, both the account and device are shut out simultaneously. This means that even if a defaulting gamer registers a new account, he would still be unable to play the game from his mobile device. The ban is a continuous process as the company seeks to safeguard its gaming platform from counterfeiting.

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BGMI devs have just put out a new blog post addressing many of the frequently asked questions and queries from players in the ‘We Heard You’ feedback section. In this installment, the devs have talked about matters concerning the BGMI emulator, redeem codes, 90 FPS support for more devices, bonus challenge, and new character voucher event. So let’s take a look at these issues in detail.

Firstly, the devs have answered the long-standing question of if BGMI will get support for an official emulator version of the game. As we know, the now-banned PUBG Mobile has an official emulator version with Tencent‘s Gameloop emulator, however, players of BGMI don’t have an official emulator and usually make do with the Bluestacks emulator which is not optimized for the game.

The devs have stated that emulators make it easier to modify game files and partake in illegal activities such as the use of cheats, mods, or any other application which can give an unfair advantage. So currently, they are not keen on rolling out the emulator version. So it looks like there won’t be an official optimized emulator for BGMI anytime soon.

On questions about 90 FPS compatibility for other devices, the devs stated that they are currently testing multiple devices to provide 90 FPS support on them. As it stands, a lot of devices currently support 90 FPS performance but in order to ensure a smooth experience across the board – the devs will require extensive testing on a number of devices.

Other than that, the devs have informed us that they are in the process of internally reviewing the redeem code feature on their official website and will soon be launching events where players will be able to use it to redeem codes for in-game rewards.

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Recently, a public interest litigation was filed in Telangana High Court in February seeking the ban of mobile gaming app Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI).

The PIL which was filed by Advocate Anil Stevenson Jangam, called for the ban of the extremely popular battle royale title, claiming that the game was essentially just PUBG Mobile under a different name, ‘BGMI’.

The PIL claimed that the earlier banned ‘PUBG Mobile’ and ‘BGMI’ are essentially the same applications and it also stated that Tencent and publisher Krafton had employed the process of front companies to hide the app’s Chinese ties and hoodwink Indian Authorities.

For those unaware, the game PUBG was banned in India citing Chinese ties specifically its publisher Tencent which is one of the biggest game companies in the world, based in China.

The game was re-launched under the name, Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) after the ban with a few changes by the South Korean publisher Krafton in India.

In response to the PIL, the representative of (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) MeitY N. Samaya Balan responded to Telangana High court and assured the public that the two apps ‘PUBG Mobile’ and ‘BGMI’ are different. The affidavit filed by Balan confirmed that the two applications – ‘PUBG Mobile’ and ‘BGMI’ are not, in fact, the same app. The affidavit later also explained that only the government has the ability and power to restrict computer access.

The response by Meity towards the PIL on BGMI suggests that the game will not be banned any time in the future.

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(via)

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The develop behind PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) has just recently filed a lawsuit against major companies, Apple and Google, along with the maker of “PUBG Clones” developer, Garena as well.

According to The Verge, Krafton Inc is suing Garena for developing two games that are allegedly a copy of its existing title, PUBG: Battlegrounds. This was the original battle royale game that kicked off the BR trend while also spawning its popular mobile spin offs as well. However, Garena is facing the lawsuit owing to its two mobile games, namely Free Fire and Free Fire Max. Furthermore, the company is even suing the two tech giants Apple and Google for distributing the game.

Update on the below:

1. The directors said it's not a PUBG movie, despite basically being a PUBG movie.

2. Krafton said they are considering suing given the similarities to the PUBG IP.

3. You can watch it with English subs here: https://t.co/lS1SfdTRhj https://t.co/pBdcsqZttn

— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) August 15, 2021

According to an official statement from Krafton, “Free Fire and Free Fire Max extensively copy numerous aspects of Battlegrounds, both individually and in combination, including Battlegrounds’ copyrighted unique game opening “air drop” feature, the game structure and play, the combination and selection of weapons, armor, and unique objects, locations, and the overall choice of color schemes, materials, and textures.”

Krafton is also accusing Google for hosting YouTube videos with gameplay of the two games as well as “numerous posts containing a feature-length Chinese film that is nothing more than a blatantly infringing live action dramatization of Battlegrounds.” For those unaware, Garena’s Free Fire and Free Fire Max is available in both App Store and Play Store for free. The PUBG developer even added that Garena has earned hundreds of millions from in game sales through Apple and Google app stores.

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Krafton has just recently launched PUBG: New State, which has already become a hit worldwide. Now, the company is planning on taking the franchise to other fields of media as well, with a planned Exclusive web series and music being in the works for the Indian market.

The South Korean publisher behind the popular battle royale title has announced earlier today (26th November 2021) that it has partnered with Sony Music India to bring a new “Bad Boy x Bad Girl” from Indian artist Badshah into the game. Furthermore, this collaboration has also kicked off a new dance challenge, with Krafton also announcing a new PUBG New State based Web Series that is titled New State Chronicles, which aims to expand the game’s presence in the region.

Notably, the song from Badshah, which also features playback singer Nikhita Gandhi, will be used in sponsored content like streams and promotional videos. Similarly, Krafton is also bringing in popular Indian rapper Raftaar to introduce an exclusive song for PUBG: New State. This special song is written by Raftaar and will highlight the game’s new features, which would likely serve as the anthem of the game in India.

Talking about the web series, New State Chronicles is a three part serise that will feature celebrities and influencers like Awez Darbar, Kaneez Surka, Kubbra, Mortal, Mr. Faizu, Raftaar, Rannvijay Singha, Rohan, Scout, The Great Khali, and The Sound Blaze. This web series will premiere in India next month, although, the actual release date has yet to be announced. Krafton will also be hosting a dance challenge that will have winners get Google Play Store Gift Cards worth up to 5,000 US Dollars or 3,74,500 INR.

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Earlier today, Krafton released version 1.7 of BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) to both the Google Play Store and iOS App Store. The update features the new ‘League of Legends, Arcane,’ Netflix series, based event called the Mirror World Theme mode. The update also brings new gameplay elements and mechanics like piggybacking and grenade indicators. The former will allow the players to pick up a downed teammate or enemy.

BGMI X ARCANE

The Mirror Wold Theme is available in Erangel, Livik, and Sanhok starting today. The Mirror World, marked by a blue indicator on the map, appears in the sky after some time passes after entering the maps. Players can enter the mode by using the Wind Wall on the ground, which will transform the player into one of the four legends—Jinx, Vi, Jayce, and Caitlyn—of League of Legends, Arcane, the Netflix series. The player can kill a monster on the Mirror Island with the Arcade character’s weapons and skills. Players can get “Hextech Crystals” as a reward if they kill a monster that can be used to exchange with various battle items. Once the character dies or playtime on the Mirror Island ends, they can return to the normal battlegrounds.

The Mirror world mode also features the Nimbus islands, which you can land on as soon as you get off the plane. Yellow indicators mark these islands on the map. You get a timer of 5 minutes on this island during which you can play on this island. After you die or the timer runs out, you will be kicked off the island and land below the map.

Liverpool FC event

You’ll Never Walk Alone will be an event coming to BGMI starting November 20, featuring the famous football team, Liverpool FC. Krafton confirmed the collaboration with the football club earlier today. The event will offer rewards such as the Liverpool FC parachute, the Liverpool FC backpack, and even the much-coveted Liverpool FC jersey.

Balance and gameplay changes

This update also brings us some balance and gameplay changes. The beloved DP28 has been nerfed with increased recoil when equipping bigger sights and reducing long-range damage. The DMRs like the SLR, SKS, and mini14 have received a buff to their damage on long ranges. On the other hand, changes to gameplay come in the form of a grenade indicator that shows the grenade’s exact location. The piggyback feature will allow the players to pick up a downed teammate or enemy, and while carrying, the player’s movement is slowed, and one cannot use items or ride a vehicle. The carried player’s HP decreases during the carry.

Royal Pass and more

The Royale Pass month 5 rolls out at 360UC starting today, on the theme of the mysterious Mirror Realm. Krafton says the update also brings certain improvements after collecting feedback from the game enthusiasts to allow for greater finesse, control, and strategy during the game. Krafton also teased the fan favourite modes, including Vikendi map, Metro Royale, Survive Til Dawn, and more modes, that will be brought back equentially.

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A few days ago, on 11th November, PUBG: New State was launched for Android and iOS devices as a new battle royale game set in the future. The game has been popular as it has now crossed 10 million downloads on the Google Play Store.

This isn’t surprising as the game had over 55 million pre-registrations prior to its release. It has also claimed the #1 spot in over 165 countries, including South Korea, the United States, Germany, India, and Saudi Arabia, among others.

This new PUBG: New State game has been launched globally in around 200 countries. The game’s publisher Krafton has not yet announced the number of downloads taken place on the Apple App Store for iPhones and iPads.

The game had faced some post-launch issues including server crashes and smartphone bricking. However, the developers seem to have addressed and fixed those issues with a couple of updates. Several users had reported on the day of the game’s launch about the unresponsive loading screens, inability to join a match, and more.

Krafton has put in several new features into the game to make it more appealing and exciting for battle royale players. For starters, the storyline is based in the year 2051 and thus the players have access to futuristic weapons and vehicles.

Earlier this year, the company had launched Battlegrounds Mobile India which is available exclusively for Indian users. The game recently crossed 50 million downloads in the country before it was released on iOS.

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After much speculation and wait, the latest PUBG: New State press release has given the mobile battle royale game a November 11 release date. The game promises to bring a near-console experience to your mobile and will be offered in 17 different languages. It will be going live for both iOS and Android in more than 200 countries on the said date. A final technical test will be performed from October 29 to October 30 beforehand though.

Developed by PUBG Studios, the game will be set in the year 2051 and will be following a futuristic, Sci-Fi theme. It’s very much set in the same universe as PUBG Mobile but is an evolution of the original game. Its story revolves around the fictitious town of Troi in a post-apocalyptic world where society has broken down and divided into factions. This Troi town will be the primary map of the game and will be joined by three more maps including the franchise-staple Erangel.

Based on early gameplay and leaks, PUBG: New State appears to be recycling resources from the original PUBG Mobile game but has added a futuristic twist with game elements like futuristic vehicles and weapons, which have been fused with traditional elements.

Krafton has called its creation “one of the most realistic and technologically advanced mobile games to date” and has promised “a strong and consistent pipeline of new content, global service support, and anti-cheat measures” post-launch.

The South Korean game company has also revealed that they will be actively communicating with players to provide stable game services. This will be done by establishing nine global service hubs.

Extensive anti-cheat measures have also been put in place and Krafton will be banning the use of unauthorized programs, emulators, and even keyboard and mouse. Player sentiment and feedback from the community will be closely reviewed, analyzed, and reflected through in-game updates.

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The popular Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds, widely known as PUBG, is going free-to-play for a week. Not just that, the game is also receiving a name change. While the reason behind this has not been revealed by the company, it is being speculated the company is doing this to gauge player interest for turning this into a completely free-to-play game.

The free-to-play week has now been commenced, starting on August 10, and is going to run until August 16. This also coincides with Kpop mega-group Blackpink’s crossover content launching in the game, with decals on the airship and buildings.

Krafton, the studio that makes the PUBG game is even giving players some rewards for trying the game out during this promotion. As for the name change, Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds will be known as “PUBG: Battlegrounds” going forward, which means the full name of the game is now officially Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds: Battlegrounds.

During this free-play week, rewards can be collected normally and the company has confirmed that mission progress and gameplay statistics will be recorded and put toward achievement progress if players wind up buying the full game.

It’s noteworthy that the promotion is only available on Steam, which means console players will not have access to it. Last month, PUBG got bigger with the launch of a new Taego map which is around 18km by 18km. This is the biggest map in the game for a fair few years, and giving players a vast new area to explore.

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