On October 15, 2026, KRAFTON India confirmed that BGMI Lite will now be called BGMI Air. The announcement arrived together with a second milestone: pre-registrations have crossed 10 million. Here is exactly what was confirmed, what stays the same, and what it means if you have already pre-registered.
The Announcement
KRAFTON India issued a press note from Bangalore on October 15, 2026, stating that its upcoming game, earlier announced as BGMI Lite, will now be known as BGMI Air. The same news was posted on the game’s official Instagram account, with the caption “Lighter name, same heavy action.”
The Google Play listing has also been updated. It now reads “BGMI Air – Pre-register for the lighter battlegrounds!”, and it is the same listing players have been using to pre-register since August 25, 2026.
Why the Name Changed
KRAFTON India describes the rename as the next chapter in its plan to bring the core BGMI experience to a wider audience through a lightweight and highly accessible version of the game. It has not given a more detailed reason than that.
There is some useful context. In September, the global sibling of this game, PUBG Mobile LIGHT, was renamed PUBG Mobile FLASH, and many players guessed that BGMI Lite would become “BGMI Flash.” KRAFTON India chose its own name instead. BGMI Air and PUBG Mobile FLASH remain two separate games for two separate markets.
What Changed and What Stayed the Same
| Detail | Status after the rename |
|---|---|
| Name | Changed from BGMI Lite to BGMI Air |
| Pre-registration | Unchanged, open on Google Play for Android since August 25, 2026 |
| Initial download size | Unchanged, approximately 1GB |
| Account | Unchanged, no account transfer needed for existing BGMI players |
| Items | Unchanged, owned items carry over when you log in with your BGMI account |
| Cross-play | Unchanged, BGMI and BGMI Air players can team up |
| Starting map | Unchanged, classic Erangel |
| Launch window | Unchanged, later in 2026, with no exact date announced |
| Minimum requirements | No change announced, 1.5GB RAM and an Adreno 306 or higher GPU were confirmed earlier |
10 Million Pre-Registrations
KRAFTON India says pre-registrations for BGMI Air have crossed 10 million on Google Play. That is double the 5 million milestone the game’s official account announced earlier. Pre-registration is still Android-only, and the announcement did not include any iOS details.
KRAFTON has not announced any reward tied to the 10 million figure, and the “Rewards for Pre-Registration” section on the listing is still marked as coming soon.
Do You Need to Pre-Register Again?
KRAFTON has not issued a separate instruction on this. What the available facts show is that the Google Play listing is the same one, now carrying the new name, and the 10 million figure counts registrations made since August 25. That strongly suggests existing registrations carry over, but it is an inference, not an official statement.
The easy check is to open the Google Play listing for BGMI Air. If the button shows that you are already pre-registered, you are set.
The Open Beta: What We Know
KRAFTON India says an open beta will begin shortly. The stated purpose is to let players test the game, share feedback, and help optimize gameplay before the full release.
No beta date and no sign-up method have been announced. KRAFTON says further details will be shared through the official BGMI Air Instagram page and other official channels.
This is exactly the kind of announcement that fake download sites exploit. Until KRAFTON publishes an official beta link, any “BGMI Air beta APK” you find on a random website is not authorized by KRAFTON, and installing it puts your device and your BGMI account at risk.
Is BGMI Air a Separate App? Will BGMI Be Replaced?
BGMI Air is a separate game with its own client, and standard BGMI is not being replaced. Existing BGMI players can play BGMI Air without transferring their account. The listing adds that owned items carry over, that players can team up with friends who are on BGMI, and that BGMI Air will stay updated alongside BGMI so players of both games get new content together.
When Will BGMI Air Release?
KRAFTON India says BGMI Air will launch later this year and has not announced an exact date. Anything claiming a specific release date is not coming from KRAFTON.
What Existing Pre-Registrants Should Do
Open the BGMI Air listing on Google Play and confirm it shows you as pre-registered. Turn on the auto-install option if it is offered, so the game installs itself when it is released. Follow the official BGMI Air Instagram page for the open beta announcement. Ignore any site selling pre-registration codes or offering a “BGMI Air APK,” since the only official way in right now is the Google Play listing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BGMI Lite the same as BGMI Air?
Yes. KRAFTON India renamed BGMI Lite to BGMI Air on October 15, 2026. It is the same game under a new name.
Why was BGMI Lite renamed to BGMI Air?
KRAFTON India describes the rename as the next chapter in bringing the core BGMI experience to a wider audience through a lightweight version. It has not given a more detailed reason.
Do I need to pre-register again for BGMI Air?
KRAFTON has not issued a separate instruction. The Google Play listing is the same one, so existing registrations appear to carry over. Check that the listing shows you as pre-registered.
When does BGMI Air release?
KRAFTON India says it will launch later in 2026. No exact date has been announced.
Is there a BGMI Air beta?
KRAFTON India says an open beta will begin shortly. No date or sign-up method has been announced, so any beta link outside official channels should not be trusted.
Do I need a new account for BGMI Air?
No. Existing BGMI players do not need to transfer their account, and owned items carry over.
Is BGMI Air the same as PUBG Mobile FLASH?
No. PUBG Mobile FLASH is the global game published by Level Infinite. BGMI Air is the India-specific game published by KRAFTON India, tied to BGMI.