After rumors that "PUBG Mobile" would be announced during the Diwali Festival, PUBG Corporation confirmed on Thursday that it would relaunch the game in the region.
The new game is called "PUBG Mobile India," which, according to PUBG Corporation, has been specially designed for users in India. The Korean gaming giant, along with its parent company Krafton also announced that they plan to make an investment of around $100 million and hire over 100 employees in the region. The investment is to help cultivate the local video game, eSports, IT and entertainment industries ecosystems.
So, what can gamers expect from "PUBG Mobile India?" The new version of the hit battle royale game would optimize data security for players, as well as strictly follow the country's regulations, revealed the announcement. There would be regular audits and verifications on the game's storage system that houses Indian players' personal information. This way, both the company and its players can make sure that data is kept safe.
Additionally, "PUBG Mobile India" would feature improved and customized in-game content to reflect local needs, the announcement noted. New changes would include green hit effects instead of red, new characters, new clothing and a virtual simulation training ground setting. Moreover, "PUBG Mobile India" players' time playing the game would be limited in order to promote 'healthy habits for young players.'
PUBG Mobile India available for pre-registration in tap tap store. pic.twitter.com/kK0ecffcUA — Ankit (@TechnoAnkit1) November 12, 2020
Niko Partners Senior Analyst Daniel Ahmad mentioned on Twitter that these changes are similar to the changes made on the Chinese version of "PUBG Mobile," which was developed by Tencent. He also mentioned that it is not surprising that PUBG Corp took this route. The hit mobile battle royale game was the top-grossing mobile title in India and its ban was felt not only by players but also by devs, Ahmad added.
"This new custom version will aim to satisfy regulators, but it remains to be seen if this will be enough," the senior analyst noted. Meanwhile, Rishi Alwani, an analyst of the Indian gaming industry, said that "PUBG Mobile" helped establish an entire ecosystem of eSports organizations. Before the ban, the game has over 50 million monthly active users, an impressive figure that no other mobile game has achieved in India.
Unfortunately, PUBG Corporation did not say when it plans to release "PUBG Mobile India." However, it assured fans that it would release more information about the game later. Meanwhile, "PUBG Mobile" is available on iOS and Android devices and playable worldwide except in India and China.
