In a move that has stunned the entire Indian gaming community, Krafton India has cancelled the much-hyped BGMI Franchise League that was set to roll out in September or October 2025. After years of planning, deep background checks, and early buzz from creators and esports organisations, everything has now come to a screeching halt. Just two months before its official kickoff, the league has been shelved due to a shortage of confirmed franchise bids.
This league was supposed to be BGMI’s boldest play yet—a permanent tournament structure, a ₹5 crore prize pool, regular match days, and a grand LAN finale. The entire blueprint was designed to solidify BGMI as the top-tier title in India’s competitive esports ecosystem. But behind closed doors, Krafton simply couldn’t lock in enough teams to get the format off the ground.
Sources say the league fell short by just three to four franchise bids. Despite a wave of interest from athletes, streamers, investors, and esports brands, the final confirmations didn’t meet the mark. Without a full set of franchises locked in, the logistics of running the tournament became impossible.
Krafton’s leadership had repeatedly emphasized the importance of doing things right over rushing timelines. That strategy, which included intense financial vetting of prospective teams, may have disqualified more bidders than expected. And now, the consequences of that slow-and-steady approach are clear.
For now, the BGMI Franchise League has been pushed to 2026. Whether it returns in the same format or sees a complete overhaul remains unknown. What’s certain is that the cancellation leaves a major void in the competitive roadmap, right when BGMI was picking up serious steam. With packed LAN events, rising viewership, and unprecedented org participation in 2025, this league was meant to be the crown jewel. Its absence hits hard.
Krafton has not issued any official statement yet. But for fans and stakeholders who were banking on this league, the silence is deafening. The wait just got longer, and the disappointment is real.
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