Things are not looking good in India for some earlier banned Chinese apps, and if the latest report is anything to go by, fans of "PUBG Mobile India" might not get their hands on the much-awaited game anytime soon.
The latest information came from Livemint, which reported that the Indian government had sent notices to Chinese apps that were banned in the region last year. TikTok, one of the banned apps, received the note from the Ministry of Electronics and IT, informing them that after reviewing the replies of blocked apps, the order to block them will continue. The publication claimed it got its information from a source who wished not to be identified.
TikTok reportedly confirmed to have received the notice from the Indian government. "We continually strive to comply with local laws and regulations and do our best to address any concerns the government may have." The spokesperson added that "Ensuring the privacy and security of all our users remains to be our topmost priority.".
While the report did not say anything about "PUBG Mobile India," it appears that the Indian government has not indicated anything positive about the launch of the new game. It was rumored earlier that the game might launch sometime this March, but the latest news about the government not nudging on banned Chinese apps might hint that the mobile shooter's launch in the region is a distant possibility.
It was in Jun. 2020 when the Indian government decided to ban 118 Chinese apps along with "PUBG Mobile" as they were considered a "threat to the country's security and sovereignty." Since then, PUBG Corporation intervened in the game's operations in the region in the hopes that it could relaunch. It removed Tencent's connection to the game and even made several changes to the mobile shooter game, but to no avail.
Last year, under Krafton Inc., PUBG Corporation teased about the launch of "PUBG Mobile India" and officially announced the game at last year's Diwali. The company even shut down its servers in the region to safeguard its players' accounts. Unlike the original "PUBG Mobile" title, the new game features a lot of changes to fit the rules of the Indian government.
While there are rumors that the game could arrive this year, nothing about its release date is official yet. All of those claims about the launch window are all unconfirmed and should be taken with a good amount of skepticism. PUBG Corporation, meanwhile, announced that it is working on another mobile game based on "PUBG Mobile," which could launch in 2021.
