News in short
- Krafton has renamed its upcoming lighter battle royale game from BGMI Lite to BGMI Air.
- The game has crossed 10 million pre-registrations in India.
- BGMI Air is expected to launch in India later in 2026.
- An open beta is planned to collect player feedback before the full release.
- The game will remain separate from BGMI, with no account transfer required.
Krafton India has renamed its upcoming battle royale game BGMI Lite to BGMI Air, ahead of its planned India launch later in 2026. The company has also confirmed that the game has crossed 10 million pre-registrations in the country.
The name change comes as Krafton prepares to expand the Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) franchise. The upcoming title aims to deliver a lighter version of the familiar battle royale experience. It is designed to reach players whose smartphones have limited storage.
Krafton has not announced an exact launch date yet. However, the company has confirmed that an open beta will arrive before the full release.
BGMI Air aims to make battle royale gaming more accessible
In a press note, Krafton India confirmed that BGMI Lite will now be called BGMI Air. The company said the renaming does not involve any other changes to the previously announced game.
The focus remains on a smaller download and a more accessible gaming experience. Krafton has also stressed that the lighter version will not compromise the core gameplay experience.
The game’s initial download size is around 1GB, according to the previously shared details. By comparison, the standard BGMI installation can grow to around 8GB after downloading additional game packages.
This difference could make BGMI Air more practical for players with limited phone storage. It may also reduce the amount of data needed to get started. However, the final storage requirements and performance across different devices will become clearer closer to launch.
BGMI Air open beta is coming soon
Krafton plans to introduce an open beta before BGMI Air’s full launch. The company intends to use player feedback to refine the game ahead of its wider release.
The beta could give players an early opportunity to assess the gameplay and performance. It may also help Krafton identify issues across different Android devices.
Pre-registrations opened for Android users in India on August 25 through the Google Play Store. Crossing 10 million registrations marks a significant milestone ahead of the launch. However, pre-registration numbers do not necessarily indicate how many players will actively use the game after release.
Krafton has yet to share the open beta date or the final launch schedule.
BGMI Air will remain a separate game
Existing BGMI players will not need to transfer their accounts to access BGMI Air. Krafton has confirmed that the upcoming title will operate as a separate game.
Players can therefore continue using the original BGMI while choosing whether to try the lighter version. This approach also means that BGMI Air is not simply an update or replacement for the existing game.
The launch is part of Krafton’s broader effort to expand the BGMI franchise in India. The company first announced BGMI Lite in August, positioning it as another way to bring the game’s experience to more players.
With 10 million pre-registrations already recorded, attention now turns to the open beta and the final release. The game’s actual device compatibility, performance and storage needs will be important factors in determining how well it serves players with entry-level smartphones.
