When the government decided to ban PUBG and several other apps under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, it really dampened the spirit of Indian online gamers. But the reentry of South Korean company Krafton owned PUBG Mobile really accepted by gamers with overwhelming response.
PUBG had captured Indian psychy as the game had nearly 33 million users. PUBG Corporation announced its return to India in November of last year, announcing the launch of an Indian subsidiary and a new game and intentions to invest $100 million in the nation to support the video game, esports, entertainment and IT industries.
The BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA gave early access of the game on Google Play Store only to players in India. There was a mad rush on 17th when its was launched as the launch link on Google Play store was given on first come first serve basis.
Commenting on the launch, player Shanku Sivasankaran responded saying that the game should not like Indian serials. “Usually for a kid to be born takes 10 years in serials. 3000+ worst episodes with lots of lag taking the worst emotions of the viewers. Now Krafton India is doing the worst,” said Shanku Sivasankaran.
The relaunch of PUBG Mobile under a new setup could be a huge corporate swindle that warrants an inquiry by the Home Ministry and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into its ties to the previous owner, data IP rights holders, and Chinese ties .
Krafton, a South Korean business with ties to Tencent, the Chinese internet behemoth, controls a major portion of PUBG Mobile. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) mobile game is popular among the teenagers and Gen Z in the country, was banned in September last year along with several other Chinese apps amid incursion attempts into the Indian territory at Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
Expressing happiness over the development, Bijoy from Calicut said it is interesting to see the battle royale game is back in a new guise as ‘Battlegrounds Mobile India.
“Me and friends were weaiting for the day to happen and it is happy to see the waiting is over. The game with additional features tailored to its Indian audience. This would give India’s community-driven, passionate esports industry a major boost,” said Bijoy.
Today’s gamers in India have an average of seven games on their mobile phones. According to the latest data from market research firm CMR, they regularly play at least four of these games. CMR’s Head-Industry Intelligence Group, Prabhu Ram, made the observation.
