How other games takes advantage of Pubg ban

 

The ban on PlayerUnknown’s Battleground (PUBG) Mobile, one of the most popular virtual gaming platforms across the world, has sparked off a frantic search for alternatives among Indian gamers.

Downloads for rival games Garena Free Fire and Call of Duty (COD) Mobile have risen steadily since PUBG was taken out of app stores over security concerns on 2 September.

Data from app analytics firm Sensor Tower showed Free Fire and COD Mobile were downloaded 3.7 million and 1.4 million times, respectively, between 3 and 9 September. The number of downloads grew 147% and 267%, respectively, from the previous week.

The virtual gaming industry, which for many decades has been dominated by a select few names, is fast giving way to newer challengers. As per industry data, online gaming platforms dominate nearly three-fourths of the domestic gaming market, thanks to the rapid rise of smartphone users. Online gaming, as a segment, is estimated to be a $1.1 billion opportunity in India by 2021, according to a Google-KPMG report.

India is expected to have more than 628 million gamers. Experts attribute the shift in market share to revenue from mobile gaming surpassing those of gaming consoles, prompting major game developers to switch to mobile platforms.

While some still expect PUBG to make a return, at the moment, gamers seem to be shifting to its rivals—much as people did when TikTok was banned. However, unlike the short-video app, PUBG doesn’t have an Indian alternative and therefore, its absence is expected to benefit foreign, non-Chinese game publishers.

According to Harsh Kothari, who runs e-sports firm Neon Gaming, users who had bought in-app items in PUBG Mobile are going to incur losses and may still use virtual private networks to access the game.

 Sensor Tower’s data suggests that of the $3.5 billion PUBG earned worldwide during its lifetime, $41.2 million came from India. While this is only 1.2% of the game’s global revenue (a major part comes from China), PUBG Mobile was the top grossing app in India between 1 January and 31 August this year.

How Pubg Mobile Ban Impacts On Esports & Gaming Phone - Makers in India

 PUBG Mobile had more than 33 million daily active users in India

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ban on PUBG Mobile may have come as a shock to the gaming community in India but there are far bigger things happening behind the scenes. PUBG Mobile is not only a mobile game but is a big brand in the country.

There are major PUBG Mobile gaming tournaments in Esports being sponsored by some of the biggest smartphone manufacturers. Some of these brands manufacture gaming-centric smartphones. Players can win up to Rs 15 lakh as prize money in these tournaments.

With PUBG Mobile now out of the picture, how does it affect the Esports industry and would gaming phone-makers take a hit with such a decision? We hear from the experts.

How Does PUBG Mobile Ban Affect Esports In India?

  It’s also important to know that most of these professional gamers interact with their fans online by streaming their gameplay. This is another way to garner a larger userbase.

The Indian esports industry and especially professional gamers will undoubtedly take a blow owing to the fact that the bulk of the tournaments were of PUBG.

"The overwhelming majority of mobile game tournaments organised in India were of PUBG," an industry insider told ESPN. The strongest teams in India made hundred's of thousands of dollars in prize money even as international esport teams had also set up partnerships with Indian outfits. TSM Entity, a partnership between esport giants TSM and Indian team Entity Gaming, earned $182,067 in prize money while Orange Rock, which was acquired by multinational video game service company Pole, earned over $120,000.