BGMI Air launches in India on Thursday, December 10, 2026, KRAFTON India announced on November 4. The lighter version of Battlegrounds Mobile India crossed 14 million pre-registrations on Google Play before a date was even announced. A closed beta comes first, from November 20 to 24 in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata.
That’s 36 days from the announcement to launch. For millions of players whose phones couldn’t handle full BGMI, the wait finally has an end date.
When is the BGMI Air launch date?
December 10, 2026. KRAFTON India confirmed the date in a press release on November 4, less than three weeks after BGMI Air crossed 14 million pre-registrations on Google Play.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| November 4, 2026 | KRAFTON India announces the launch date |
| November 20 to 24, 2026 | Closed beta in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata |
| December 10, 2026 | BGMI Air launches in India |
KRAFTON India says more pre-launch details and rewards will be shared through BGMI Air’s official social media handles before launch.
The game has moved fast since the rebrand. It reached 10 million pre-registrations soon after KRAFTON renamed BGMI Lite to BGMI Air, as we covered in our report on how BGMI Air pre-registrations crossed 10 million. It has added another 4 million since.
How big is the BGMI Air download?
Around 1 GB for the initial download, according to KRAFTON India. The game is built for players whose devices or storage kept full BGMI out of reach, while keeping the core gameplay the same.
BGMI Air runs as a separate app. Existing BGMI players can play it without transferring their accounts.
How can you join the BGMI Air closed beta?
You have to earn your spot. KRAFTON India is asking players to post a video explaining why they should be among the first to play BGMI Air and tag the official handle. They then fill in the form linked in the bio of the official BGMI Instagram page. Selected players join the closed beta from November 20 to 24 in Mumbai, Delhi or Kolkata.
The registration form, which we reviewed, sets several conditions:
- Applicants must be 18 or older, and their ID is checked later.
- The video must be 15 to 60 seconds, vertical and in your own face and voice, in any language. No copyrighted music, no other game brands and no AI-generated faces or voices.
- Each player picks one city, Mumbai, Delhi or Kolkata, and can’t change it later.
- Selected players pay their own travel and accommodation.
- Phones go into a locker during the session.
- Selected players must keep everything confidential until 11:59 PM IST on November 24, 2026, and sign an NDA with KRAFTON’s partner agency at the venue.
Our step-by-step guide on how to register for the BGMI Air closed beta covers the form in full.
Will BGMI Air have esports?
Not decided yet. Karan Pathak, Associate Director of Esports at KRAFTON India, told TalkEsport during BMIC 2026 that the company will launch the app first and decide on an esports plan after that. “For now, it is all under structure,” he said.
