PUBG Mobile: Indian Government calls it violent and addictive as Krafton works on the return

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar shared a new statement around the popular smartphone Battle Royale title, PUBG Mobile. Government officials have repeatedly noted that they have no plans to approve the relaunch of the game. It also comes just hours after Krafton, the company behind PUBG Studio outlined that it is continuing its efforts for a relaunch. Javadekar shared this statement as part of his address during the opening ceremony of Khel Khel Mein: A Pan Maharashtra Toy/Game/ Project Design Competition. Let’s check everything new we know around PUBG Mobile and Krafton’s efforts for a relaunch here.

PUBG Mobile an example of a violent, explicit, and addictive game, details

Looking at the statement, Javadekar stated that PUBG Mobile is an example of a violent, explicit, and addictive smartphone game. He noted that PUBG was just one example of the many smartphone video games out there. Javadekar also announced that the government is looking to set up a “center of excellence” for gaming. This center will focus on courses in VFX, gaming, animation, and more. The government is aiming at promoting video games that focus on “Indian cultural ethos”. PUBG Mobile was one of the most high-profile games that the government of India banned last year.

Javadekar claimed that many smartphone games are “violent, explicit, addictive and tend to create a complex in the mind of children.” He went on to add, “PUBG was just one example of it, but criticizing those games is not the solution. The solution is to create our own games and apps in line with #MakeInIndia for the world so that these are adopted world over for their basic values.”

The statement comes just hours after a Krafton official noted that the company is “constantly communicating with the Indian government”. The official stated this in a response to the question regarding the PUBG Mobile relaunch after the FAU-G launch as outlined in a report by E Today. It is worth noting that this is no different than what multiple sources have outlined in the last couple of months. The problems in the relaunch of the localized version of PUBG Mobile called PUBG Mobile India could extend to the recently announced PUBG: New State. As noted in our previous report, PUBG: New State is not available for pre-registration in India.