- ByStartupStory | December 4, 2023
In a strategic move to enhance the local flavor of Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Krafton, the South Korean gaming giant, has integrated Bollywood superstar Ranveer Singh as a playable character in the popular battle royale title. This move is part of Krafton’s ongoing efforts to deepen its roots in the Indian gaming community and attract a wider audience.
Ranveer Singh, who was appointed as the brand ambassador for Krafton in September 2023, now graces the game as two distinct 3D avatars – RS Dark Stealth and RS Swaggy Baba. The latest game update not only introduces these playable characters but also includes emotes inspired by the actor’s iconic dance moves. Players can now express themselves through emotes such as Swagster Groove, Swagster Tathad, Swagster Sway, Swagster Twirl, and enjoy a special voice pack, among other items.
The company has unveiled a Ranveer Singh Discovery event, active from December 1, 2023, to January 25, 2024. This event introduces a point-based system where players can earn points by participating in Classic mode matches. With 50 stages, the event offers a range of rewards, including ornaments, space gifts, parachutes, and the opportunity for players to accumulate up to 5,000 points.
To further engage players, Krafton has introduced a “Play pure with Ranveer Singh” event, encouraging gamers to complete various tasks and collect RS tokens. These tokens can be exchanged for permanent rewards in the form of in-game digital goods. Tasks include playing as Ranveer Singh, participating in Pure Showdown, teaming up in the game, showcasing Pure Speed, and daily logins.
Krafton India CEO Sean Hyunil Sohn expressed the company’s commitment to localizing content for the Indian audience. He stated, “The introduction of Ranveer Singh’s essence in the game with this extensive collaboration represents our commitment to localizing content for the Indian audience and creating moments that resonate culturally with our diverse player base.”
This move follows Krafton’s introduction of an Indian faction in its mobile strategy game, ‘Road To Valor: Empires,’ earlier this year. The faction features characters inspired by ancient Indian tales and legends. In August, Krafton pledged a $150 million investment in Indian gaming and interactive entertainment startups over the next two to three years, bringing its total commitment to the Indian market to about $290 million. Additionally, the company announced the Krafton India Gaming Incubator in October 2023, aimed at supporting game development startups in the country with financial assistance and mentorship from local and global Krafton executives and industry experts.
