Battle Stars, an Indian-developed shooter and battle royale title, has reached a significant milestone with over five million players. The developers behind the game, SuperGaming, have announced their ambitious plans for its future.

Battle Stars was initially released as a shooter game and later introduced battle royale features. The positive feedback from players has encouraged the developers to expand on these features. The game will also maintain its quintessentially Indian design by introducing a new map themed after the capital territory of Delhi.

Furthermore, Battle Stars will incorporate new elements into its battle royale mode, such as trios, power-ups, and loot, which are commonly seen in other popular titles. This indicates not only the popularity of the battle royale genre in India but also how incorporating these features can enhance a game’s appeal.

Christelle D’cruz, the game lead and co-founder of SuperGaming, stated, “Season 2 of Battle Stars saw a staggering 20 million matches played. We wanted to take the experience further by bringing Delhi to the game. To do this, we visited Delhi to capture its vibe and culture and bring it to life in the game. We also took input from the community for our new Squad BR features.”

BGMI’s arch enemy?

While five million players is an impressive number, it still represents a small fraction of the vast Indian market. The country’s largest battle royale title, BGMI (BattleGrounds Mobile India), developed by Krafton India, had up to 34 million players before it was temporarily discontinued. However, there are some noteworthy differences between Battle Stars and BGMI.

Firstly, Battle Stars is a relatively new game, having been released in May 2023. Considering its short lifespan, achieving five million players is particularly impressive. Additionally, Battle Stars is a domestically developed product with a distinctively Indian identity, featuring popular esports personalities and themes that resonate with the local audience. SuperGaming has also emphasized the “Indo-futurism” theme in their upcoming title, Indus, further catering to the domestic market.

Krafton has faced difficulties with BGMI in India due to its connections with Chinese companies. Therefore, having a domestic alternative may be preferable for players who prioritize patriotism or want to avoid potential delays or complications in their gaming experience. BGMI’s extended absence may have also impacted its popularity, making it possible for competitors like Battle Stars to capitalize on offering a fresh and innovative gameplay experience.