South Korean gaming giant Krafton’s popular game Battleground Mobile India, the Indian version of global blockbuster PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, has been hit with a download ban in India, its Seoul headquarters confirmed on Friday. Both Google and Apple removed the gaming app from their respective app stores on Thursday, citing the Indian government’s ban. “We are still checking the situation with local authorities,” a Krafton spokesman said without elaborating further, including the exact reason behind the government order. “Users in India who had already downloaded the app can play the game without any issues,” the official added. The latest ban comes after India banned the original version, popularly known as PUBG, along with more than 100 apps believed to be linked to China amid escalating tensions between the two rival countries. At the time, PUBG was distributed in India by Krafton’s publishing partner Tencent, the Chinese tech giant. Krafton managed to return to the market last year with its revamped Indian version, also known as BGMI, after cutting ties with Tencent and pledging a $100 million investment aimed at boosting India’s gaming ecosystem. Since July, more than 100 million users have downloaded the new app. Speculation is mounting as to the reasons behind the latest ban. Among the speculation, some pointed to a case in June in which Indian authorities reportedly launched an investigation into a child accused of killing his mother while under the influence of BGMI. Amid investor concern about the business outlook in one of Krafton’s key markets, its shares fell 4.5 percent to close at 233,500 won ($180) on Friday. The benchmark Kospi closed 0.67% higher compared to the previous trading day. By Byun Hye-jin ([email protected])
