PUBG Comeback: Will Battlegrounds Mobile India Be Banned? Know Why Politicians Are Opposing Its Launch

New Delhi: Ahead of the much-awaited launch of PUBG’s Indian version ‘Battlegrounds Mobile India’, concerns over its Chinese affiliation and calls for imposing a ban have already begun.

While Krafton continues to tease the launch of ‘Battlegrounds Mobile India’, the political atmosphere regarding its launch seems to be heating up with several BJP leaders demanding a ban or other similar steps to stall the launch, listing their suggestions.

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In a recent instance, MP Arvind Dharmapuri from Telangana’s Nizamabad, wrote a letter to Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad seeking action against the game’s launch.

“Given the huge Tencent stake in Krafton, it will be contractually bound to transfer this data,” the minister wrote stating his concerns. and requested the Union Minister to seek Krafton’s investment and shareholder agreement with Tencent for government scrutiny.

He went on to tweet: “Massive threat to data of our citizens, circumvention of laws by the creators, National security and the concerted cyberbullying of our North-East representatives – The GAME is not just virtual”.

Earlier in May, Arunachal Pradesh Member of Legislative Assembly Ninong Ering demanded in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleged that by launching the new game, its developer Krafton was sidestepping Indian laws.

Ninong Ering, MLA from Arunachal Pradesh, also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that Battlegrounds Mobile India has been developed to deceive the government as well as the citizens of India. 

He too raked up the issue of China-based Tencent’s investment, writing that it remains the “second-largest stakeholder” of Krafton with a 15.5 percent stake.

MLA Ering claimed that Nodwin Gaming, an Indian company that Krafton invested in recently, has “ongoing ties” with Tencent.

Citing these concerns and claims, BJP spokesperson Suresh Nakhua tweeted to request PM Modi to “take strict action against Chinese company.”

Besides BJP leaders, Congress Spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi has called the launch – BJP’s tactic to “divert youth’s attention”.

“Instead of fighting pandemic, govt is allowing PUBG to divert youth’s attention. Govt first banned it and then allowed indirect entry to the company with a 15.5% Chinese stake. 
I haven’t seen a bigger fan of Chinese tech than parts of this govt,” he wrote on Twitter.

PUBG’s Ties With Tencent

Last year, after the Indian government banned over 200 Chinese mobile applications, the South Korean PUBG Corporation broke its ties with China-based Tencent Games which distributed the game in India in hopes to bring back the popular battle royale for its massive India userbase.

“In light of recent developments, PUBG Corporation has made the decision to no longer authorize the PUBG Mobile franchise to Tencent Games in India. As the company explores ways to provide its own PUBG experience for India in the near future, it is committed to doing so by sustaining a localized and healthy gameplay environment for its fans,” the company stated adding that it “hopes to work hand-in-hand with the Indian government to find a solution”.

PUBG is not entirely Chinese, the game was developed and published as a subsidiary of South Korean video game company Bluehole. After it started gaining popularity Chinese company Tencent joined with Bluehole to handle distribution and market it in China.

Now with the alleged China connection of Krafton being raked up, will the plans to bring back the viral game to the Indian userbase be stalled once again? Remains to be seen.