MortaL, Scout and TSM Entity React To PUBG Mobile Ban

The Government of India banned PUBG Mobile and PUBG MOBILE LITE yesterday along with more than 100 other apps citing security concerns. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology put out a press release citing that these apps were prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, Defence of India, Security of State and Public Order. The pros and streamers who rose to fame for their PUBG Mobile gameplay have talked about the ban on their respective streams. Here is what they had to say about the PUBG Mobile ban. 

Pros React To PUBG Mobile Ban

MortaL

When the ban was announced, MortaL initially tweeted out the following:

In a livestream titled ‘Lets Calm down and talk’, SouL MortaL expressed his views about the PUBG Mobile ban. He confirmed that PUBG Mobile is indeed banned and that the Tencent team is ‘in touch with the officials’. Everything would be put on hold including all the tournaments. However, MortaL said he would continue streaming despite the PUBG Mobile ban. 

Sc0utOP

Scout called the ban ‘big news’ and that we needed to ‘move on’ because it was for the country’s safety. “The country should come first, PUBG is a game”, he continued. He also confirmed that he could continue streaming other games like Call of Duty Mobile or Free Fire. Scout is also looking into VALORANT. 

TSM Entity

TSM Entity Ghatak had tweeted out:

He later spoke to fans about the PUBG Mobile ban on livestream as well. He said as someone who is patriotic and loves his country, it is important to stand with the nation. He also said that we know that data was going to China and India was one of the biggest markets for PUBG Mobile. He estimates that around 60% of PUBG Mobile’s player base is Indian. He also asked the audience and fans for suggestions as to what games they should now play. 

TSM Entity’s manager Sid also commented on the situation saying, “Let’s Chill, the game was also banned in Pakistan and later unbanned. Don’t panic so much, everything will be alright. If one door closes, another opens. If it doesn’t, we’ll break it down and enter.” 

MortaL also seemed to echo this sentiment as he tweeted out:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently spoken out in support of the games industry, encouraging the creation of games based on Indian culture. An official statement published on his website addressed the potential of India's games industry, a category which also includes video games. Modi also emphasised that "India should tap the huge potential in this area, and lead the international digital gaming sector by developing games that are inspired from Indian culture and folk tales." Scout seemed to agree with the Prime Minister’s idea tweeting out:

However, Ghatak also tweeted out the following just as the PUBG Mobile Ban was announced:

Ghatak eventually said on livestream that we should stand with the country and as a patriot, it was his responsibility. Sid chimed in saying that the Prime Minister is aware of how many people rely on PUBG Mobile for their livelihoods and if he has taken such a decision, there is a reason behind the PUBG Mobile Ban. 

Many countries are implementing a PUBG Mobile Ban 

Multiple countries including China themselves, have banned PUBG Mobile or parts of it. The reasons for the ban include ‘aggression and violent nature of the game’ as well as security and privacy concerns. A PUBG Mobile ban was briefly implemented in Pakistan causing the team, FreeStyle to miss the first few days of the PMWL East.

RELATED:  Pakistan Issues Temporary Ban on PUBG

India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology stated that it had ‘received many complaints from various sources including several reports of misuse of some mobile apps’. The apps have been banned for allegedly ‘stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an unauthorised manner to servers which have locations outside India’ and hence a PUBG Mobile ban has been implemented. 

RELATED:  Indian Government bans 118 apps Including PUBG Mobile and Arena of Valor