New Delhi: Ahead of the highly anticipated Indian version of PUBG “Battlegrounds Mobile India” launch, concerns about its Chinese affiliation and calls for a ban have already started.
As Krafton continues to tease the launch of ‘Battlegrounds Mobile India’, the political atmosphere surrounding its launch appears to heat up with several BJP leaders demanding a ban or other similar measures to block the launch, listing their suggestions.
In a recent case, MP Arvind Dharmapuri from Nizamabad in Telangana, wrote a letter to Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, demanding action against the game’s launch.
“Given Tencent’s huge stake in Krafton, it will be contractually bound to transfer this data,” the minister wrote, expressing concern. and asked the Union Minister to seek the Krafton investment and shareholder agreement with Tencent for government review.
He went on to tweet: “Massive threat to our citizens’ data, creator circumvention, national security and concerted cyberbullying of our representatives in the Northeast – GAME is not just virtual.”
Earlier in May, Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly member Ninong Ering demanded in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, claiming that by launching the new game, its developer Krafton was circumventing Indian laws.
Ninong Ering, MP for Arunachal Pradesh, also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging that Battlegrounds Mobile India was developed to deceive the government as well as Indian citizens.
He also raised the issue of the investment of Chinese firm Tencent, writing that it remains Krafton’s “second shareholder” with a 15.5% stake.
MP Ering claimed that Nodwin Gaming, an Indian company in which Krafton recently invested, had “continuing ties” with Tencent.
Citing these concerns and claims, BJP spokesman Suresh Nakhua tweeted calling on Prime Minister Modi to “take strict action against Chinese society.”
Besides the BJP leaders, Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi called the launch – the BJP tactic to “distract the youth”.
“Instead of fighting the pandemic, the government is allowing PUBG to distract the attention of young people. The government first banned it, then allowed indirect entry into the company with a 15.5% Chinese stake.
I haven’t seen a bigger fan of Chinese technology than some in this government, ”he wrote on Twitter.
PUBG’s Ties with Tencent
Last year, after the Indian government banned more than 200 Chinese mobile apps, South Korean company PUBG severed ties with Chinese company Tencent Games, which distributed the game in India in hopes of bringing back the popular battle royale for its huge user base in India.
“In light of recent developments, PUBG Corporation has made the decision to no longer license the PUBG Mobile franchise to Tencent Games in India. As the company explores ways to deliver its own PUBG experience for India in the near future, it is committed to doing so, maintaining a localized and healthy gaming environment for its fans, ”the company said, adding that she “hopes to work hand in hand with the Indian government to find a solution.”
PUBG is not entirely Chinese, the game was developed and released as an affiliate of South Korean video game company Bluehole. After starting to gain popularity, Chinese company Tencent partnered with Bluehole to manage distribution and market it in China.
Now that Krafton’s alleged Chinese connection is being raked, will plans to bring the game viral back to the Indian user base once again stalled? That remains to be seen.
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