Updated: November 18, 2020 8:28:25 pm
PUBG Corporation recently announced that its popular mobile game PUBG Mobile will return to India with a local twist. (Image: PUBG Mobile India)
PUBG Mobile is possibly one of the most popular mobile games around the world and especially in India. And when it was banned in India, in September, there was a huge public outcry for it to be unblocked, but the Indian government did not give in. Now PUBG Corporation has announced that the game will return to the country soon in a special Indian version, although it will depend on the Indian government granting it permission.
Here we will take a look at everything we know about PUBG Mobile’s return to India, from how and why it was banned to what changes we will see in PUBG Mobile India.
PUBG Mobile: India ban
PUBG Mobile was among the most popular mobile games in India. The game had a rapidly growing user base in India since its launch, and both its main version and its Lite version had millions of downloads in the country. But on September 2, the Indian government out of nowhere banned gambling in India under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act.
The reason behind the ban provided by the Indian government was that the app has been involved in activities detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity, defense and security of India.
The game has since been removed from the Google Play Store and Apple’s App Store. But, players with access to the app were able to play as the Indian servers were left online and only recently shut down.
Meanwhile, PUBG Corporation revoked the Indian distribution rights to the game from Tencent Games and announced that it will distribute it independently. However, that was not enough, and the game did not return. After which reports began to appear that the company could partner with Reliance Jio or Airtel to return. None of which came to fruition and PUBG Corporation announced a few days ago that the game will return to the country with a new avatar.
PUBG Mobile India: What is it? What are the changes?
PUBG Corporation recently announced that its popular mobile game PUBG Mobile will return to India with a local twist. The game will now be called PUBG Mobile India and it will be separate from the global version, similar to the Korean and Chinese version.
Changes made especially for the Indian market include a virtual simulation training ground setup, all characters will be fully clothed from the start of the game, and blood will be green instead of red. The company will also impose restrictions on playing time to promote healthy gaming habits for young players.
The possible return of PUBG Mobile India: reactions from the gaming community
In addition to the changes to the game, PUBG Corporation has stated that it will establish an individual Indian subsidiary, which will help it increase communication with players and provide localized services to them. At its Indian subsidiary, it is looking to hire more than 100 employees, who will specialize in business, e-sports and game development.
To fund all of PUBG Corporation’s plans in India, Krafton Inc has announced that it will invest $ 100 million in the country. This money will help run the Indian offices, host exclusive Indian esports events, tournaments and run large productions.
PUBG Corporation has also announced that the privacy and security of Indian gamers’ data is their top priority. It will conduct regular audits and verifications on storage systems containing personally identifiable information of Indian users to enhance security.
PUBG Mobile India: When will it be released?
PUBG Corporation has not announced an exact release date for PUBG Mobile India. And the current speculation is that the game will be available soon. However, there has been no confirmation from the government to allow gambling in India.
According to an earlier report from the India Times, the government remains unfazed on its decision to ban “unless [the PUBG Corporation] address concerns, it will be difficult to grant any relaxation [to the game]. “According to our previous report, the government has not yet had a look at the new version of the application.
PUBG Mobile India: video teaser and website
PUG Corporation recently uploaded various video trailers to promote PUBG Mobile India. These videos feature prominent PUBG Mobile influencers from India like Dynamo, Jonathan, and more. He has also created a site dedicated to the game. The site doesn’t have much information to offer at the moment. Instead, it only hosts a coming soon banner and features links to the game’s social media.
Also read: PUBG Mobile India will have to wait for the government to authorize the relaunch
PUBG Mobile Lite: Will it come back too?
PUBG Corporation has announced that it is currently only bringing PUBG Mobile to India. He hasn’t mentioned anything about the Lite version of the game. It could be that the company first tests the water with its PUBG Mobile India game and then releases its PUBG Mobile India Lite game, with appropriate changes.
PUBG Mobile: Ban in other countries
Besides India, PUBG Mobile is banned in several countries, including Tencent Games’ home country of China. Other countries that have banned gambling include Jordan, Nepal, Israel, and Iraq. In most of these countries, PUBG Mobile has figured out a way to keep working. For example, in China, the game has been heavily modified and has been named Game for Peace.
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