The app doesn’t show anymore if you happen to search it on the Play Store and App Store. It is in line with the other Chinese apps which were banned by the government earlier. In the next step for the complete ban to get implemented the Internet Service Providers will have to block access to PUBG Mobile.
The action came after the fresh Chinese incursion attempts in Indian territory at Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh. Unlike TikTok, PUBG Mobile has not stopped its service in the country till now.
The PUBG game now has more than 600 million downloads and 50 million active players globally, not including the Chinese mainland where a rebranded version of the game is called 'Game for Peace'.
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This is the third time in the last few months that the government has banned Chinese apps citing security concerns. “This move will safeguard the interests of crores of Indian mobile and internet users. This decision is a targeted move to ensure safety, security and sovereignty of Indian cyberspace," said the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
In June, 59 Chinese apps were banned including the most popular short video app TikTok. Soon after 47 more Chinese apps were banned in the country which were typically clones and Lite versions of the already banned apps.
There are other games available in the lines of PUBG Mobile including Garena Free fire, Call of Duty, Ark: Survival Evolved, Battle Royale 3d – Warrior63.