PUBG Mobile was officially launched in India under a new name that includes the word India. It is under the new regime controlled by the PUBG Corporation of South Korea.
HIGHLIGHT
- PUBG Mobile has been relaunched as PUBG Mobile India.
- The new Indian version will have fully dressed characters from the start.
- PUBG Corporation will erect an Indian subsidiary that will also hire 100 employees.
In what could be the biggest reason for Indian gamers to rejoice, PUBG Mobile India has been officially launched in India by PUBG Corporation. The new version is called PUBG Mobile India, where the word “India” denotes the many things that went wrong with the old version and led to the ban. According to PUBG Corporation, the new version is designed specifically for Indian users, including local customizations like the characters who start the game fully dressed. PUBG Mobile India official release date will be announced soon.
South Korea’s PUBG Corporation has said that it will offer safe and healthy gameplay for PUBG Mobile India, which is likely in line with the government’s mandate. PUBG Corporation’s parent company Krafton recently partnered with Microsoft to store user data on Azure Cloud, which is also available locally in India. The government has ordered that the data of Indian users remain within the borders according to the data localization policy. So that’s a marked item from the list.
Aside from government concerns, PUBG Mobile’s rhetoric as a bad influence on Indian teens had a lot to do with the ban simultaneously. The general perception of PUBG Mobile as a violent game that goes against certain “cultural practices” is something that PUBG Corporation is tackling head-on. In the India-specific PUBG Mobile India, the characters will be fully clothed, unlike the normal version where the avatars are half-naked and must be dressed with the help of outfits earned or purchased in-game. The game will also take place in a virtual simulation training ground that is familiar to Indian users.
One of the main reasons behind the firing of PUBG Mobile was health reasons. PUBG Corporation is also addressing that aspect with the new feature within PUBG Mobile India that will place restrictions on playtime “to promote healthy gaming habits for younger gamers.” But the effectiveness of this feature is something that remains to be seen and observed over time.
PUBG Corporation has also announced that it will create an Indian subsidiary to “improve communications and services with players.” The Indian subsidiary will employ 100 people specializing in the areas of business, esports and game development, through which PUBG Corporation plans to allay the fears of the government and users associated with foreign labor. This move is also beneficial to PUBG Corporation as it will increase jobs in the country, especially as the Indian app ecosystem is undergoing a major change as a result of the backlash against Chinese apps.
Beyond employment, PUBG Corporation will invest $ 100 million in India’s diverse ecosystems to “cultivate local video game, esports, entertainment and IT industries.” According to the company, this could be the largest investment of a Korean company in India, apart from those of the manufacturing industry. A significant portion of this investment will go to e-sports events and tournaments that the new Indian subsidiary will host from time to time to give a boost to the Indian gaming community. These events, the company says, will be “exclusive to India” and will bring big prizes and tournament productions.
