PUBG: Banned but accessible on PCs; alternative games with similar theme

Team Udayavani, Sep 3, 2020, 7:06 PM IST

Popular gaming app PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) Mobile, with over 35 million active users in India itself was blocked by the government along with 117 other mobile applications citing security threats to citizens and the nation.

All of the banned apps including Baidu, Baidu Express Edition, Tencent Watchlist, FaceU, WeChat Reading and Tencent Weiyun, besides PUBG Mobile and PUBG Mobile Lite have Chinese links.

PUBG, owned by Tencent, a Chinese company entered the Indian market in 2017 and parents of children who felt that the game culture exposed their wards to a negative, crime-filled, and violence-induced world are definetley happy with the ban. It must be noted here that in South India, parents and people representatives had even gone to the courts to bring an order to ban the battle royale game.

Here are few incidents which would make one feel that the ban is a welcome move

Incident 1: Answer sheets turns into PUBG guide

A Karnataka-based boy who excelled in academics, wrote the dos and don’ts of PUBG game instead of elaborating on National Income and GDP in his Economics examination paper. The boy, got addicted to the game and used to bunk classes to play the game. After his parents came to know of his addiction, they took his mobile away.

Incident 2: Engrossed in game, man consumes acid instead of water

A 25-year-old man, who was so engrossed in a PUBG match ended up drinking acid instead of water to quench his thirst. The incident took place in Chhindwara in the year 2019. Fortunately for him he was saved but the acid caused ulcers in his stomach and he was not able to eat anything for a few days.

Incident 3: Teen stabs sibling for stopping him from playing PUBG

In a tragic happening, a 15-year old boy stabbed his elder brother to death after being reprimanded for playing PUBG. The incident took place in Maharashtra’s Thane. The young boy got so angry with his brother that he banged his head against the wall and stabbed him repeatedly with scissors.

Accessible on PCs/consoles

The latest order by the government is only restricted to PUBG Mobile and PUBG Mobile Lite and Players can still play PUBG on their computers and consoles – Xbox or PS. However, while the mobile versions are free, the versions available on consoles and laptops are paid and offers its users much more impressive graphics and gameplay.

Alternate options to PUBG

There are several other gaming options available on Google Play store that have a game theme similar to PUBG.

Call of Duty: Mobile (by Activision Publishing, Inc)

Exclusively designed for mobile phones, users can play iconic multiplayer maps and modes anytime, anywhere. It offers 100 player Battle Royale battleground, Fast 5v5 team deathmatch, Sniper vs sniper battle, Activision’s free-to-play CALL OF DUTY: MOBILE has it all.

Battlelands Royale (by Futureplay)

Made for mobile, Battlelands Royale is a casual gun game. A user will face 32 players in 3-5 minute battles. No waiting in lobbies; no complicated menus to navigate. Just play, parachute, loot, shoot and survive!

Sniper 3D: Gun Shooting Games (by Fun Games For Free)

Sniper 3D is a fast-paced multiplayer FPS (First Person Shooter) assassin game and the ultimate aim is to become the best sniper assassin. Players can unlock fun upgrades and build the best guns. It offers free online and offline game modes. It is available on Apple App Store (name as mentioned above) and on Google Play store, it is named– ‘Sniper 3D: Fun Free Online FPS Shooting Game’