BGMI Is Becoming More Than a Game—The Card System Explains Why

When BGMI first came out as PUBG Mobile, it was just another battle royale game that took pride in its realism. This formula took off, and BGMI quickly became one of, if not the most popular, games in India. Today, there’s even an active eSports community. The recently concluded BGIS Grand Finals serve as a great example of the growing popularity, where over half a million tuned in for the live stream.

Somewhere along this journey, BGMI stopped being just about surviving the last circle. It started becoming something bigger. A community where players don’t just compete, but also collect, connect, and stay engaged beyond matches. And the new Card Collection System introduced in the 4.3 update might just be the clearest sign of that shift.

For all the hardcore fans, we do want to point out that the BGMI they know and love isn’t going anywhere. Your rotations, gunfights, and clutch moments remain untouched. But outside of matches, there’s now an entirely new layer to the game. Keeping the whole social layer from interfering with the gameplay was a priority. Commenting on this, Srinjoy Das, Director of Marketing and BGMI Product Management, KRAFTON India, said:

We’ve been very deliberate about making the Card Collection System additive, not intrusive.

What is the Card Collection System Exactly?

The Card Collection System adds a progression loop that lives alongside gameplay. Players can earn cards through everyday activities like Theme Mode missions, Play & Win events, and crate drops. Each card belongs to a specific collection, and completing these collections increases your Collection Level, unlocking rewards like exclusive upgradeable weapon skins.

Interestingly, the fact that these cards are based on BGMI’s historical moments, which players have loved, including theme modes, collaborations, and iconic in-game moments, makes them even more nostalgic. Unlike traditional cosmetic systems locked behind purchases, many of the rewards here, like skins, are tied to progression rather than spending.

According to Srinjoy Das, the inspiration behind this system is deeply rooted in Indian culture.

“If you grew up in India in the ’90s or 2000s, you remember cricket trump cards. Every kid had a stack – you’d compare batting averages, trade duplicates during recess, and argue over who had the rarest Sachin card. That culture of collecting, trading, and showing off your collection to friends is deeply embedded in how Indians play. Each card belongs to a themed set – we’ve launched with cards commemorating iconic BGMI theme modes from over the years, a cricket-themed set timed perfectly with the cricket season, and a Jujutsu Kaisen collaboration set.”

If your friend has a card you’d love to add to your collection, you can even politely ask them to trade with you, just like we did with physical cards back in the good old days.

What’s Next?

We asked Srinjoy Das what’s next for this social layer in BGMI, and he replied that trading is just the beginning. BGMI wants the Card Collection System to serve as a platform. Every new update will be tied to the platform, and there are already multiple things in the works.

On the brand side, we want to collaborate with partners to create special limited-edition card sets. Imagine collecting cards tied to a major brand activation – say an auto or FMCG brand – it turns a one-time campaign into something players engage with over weeks, building their sets and trading with friends to complete them.

On the IP front, we’ve already launched with Jujutsu Kaisen as our first anime collaboration set, and the framework supports bringing in more IPs over time – each with their own themed cards, collection tiers, and exclusive rewards.

Beyond the branded collaborations, cards could also be tied to eSports. There are plans to introduce BMPS-themed cards for players, featuring their stats and tournament moments. This would complete the full circle to the Cricket cards BGMI drew inspiration from.