PUBG Mobile, amidst 118 other Chinese mobile apps, have been banned in India
The game has garnered immense popularity amongst youth
The Ministry of Information and Technology banned PUBG Mobile and the other apps today
One of India's most popular mobile games, PUBG Mobile, has been banned in India by the government. The PUBG Mobile app, which is amongst the 118 Chinese mobile apps banned by the Indian govt today, has almost 18 crore installs. It looks like Indian gamers looking for their PUBG Fix will have to find other alternatives. PUBG Mobile is one of the most popular Battle Royale games in the world, especially in our country, with the most downloads in the world. There was initially a debate on whether or not PUBG Mobile would be banned, and whether it was Chinese or not. We discuss about it in detail here.
The news also comes from a Tweet by the Economic Times which we've embedded below, as issued by The Ministry of Electronics and IT. In a press release, the Ministry of Electronics and IT stated, "The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India invoking it’s power under section 69A of the Information Technology Act read with the relevant provisions of the Information Technology (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 and in view of the emergent nature of threats has decided to block 118 mobile apps (see Appendix) since in view of information available they are engaged in activities which is prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order."
It doesn't come as too much of a surprise considering the spree of Chinese apps being banned in the country. Rumours were already afloat that PUBG might soon be banned, and it looks like it has finally happened.
PUBG Mobile has also become a source of revenue for several Indian gamers who stream the game online and have ammassed a large following and YouTube fame, with the likes of ScoutOP even collaborating with DrDisrespect.
Full list of 118 Chinese apps banned by Govt of India
Here we have a list of all the 118 Chinese apps that have been banned, these include other popular mobile games as well, such as AFK Arena, Arena of Valor, Cyber Hunter, and Mobile Legends in addition to PUBG Mobile. The govt has banned several apps before these as well, you can read about those here and here.