Korean developer PUBG Corporation announced today that they were creating a wholly owned subsidiary in India and working to create a new PUBG Mobile India game for Indian gamers who have been denied their “Chicken Dinners.”
Back in September, India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology listed PUBG Mobile as one of 118 mobile applications which engaged in “activities which is prejudicial to [the] sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order,” based primarily on the fact it was published by a Chinese corporation, Tencent in this case. At the end of October, Tencent shut down PUBG Mobile and surrendered the publishing rights back to PUBG Corporation.
The announcement today states that PUBG Corporation’s new subsidiary will be hiring over 100 people. Additionally, alongside parent company Krafton, PUBG Corporation plans to invest $100 million USD in India in an effort to grow local gaming, esports, entertainment, and IT industries. “Thanks to overwhelming community enthusiasm for PUBG esports in India, the company also plans to make investments by hosting India-exclusive esports events, which will feature the biggest tournaments, the largest prize pools, and the best tournament productions,” the company said in a statement.
There is no word yet on when exactly the new PUBG Mobile India game will be released.
Food For Thought
It will be interesting to see how this move plays out in India. The Modi Government has been vocal about their desire to grow India’s gaming industry. Now, it seems that industry is about to get a shot in the arm from a not-insubstantial presence which is not Chinese in origin or relationship. It will almost certainly create a healthy rivalry with Ncore Games’ FAU-G, which was announced as a viable successor to PUBG Mobile. And since this is going to be coming from PUBG Corporation itself, it’s going to be hard to describe the new game as a cheap knockoff.
