PUBG makes ‘hilariously wholesome’ changes to in-game violence on mobile
L: Tencent. R: PUBG Corp.In partnership with Chipotle. Find out more about the Chipotle Challenger Series here.
PUBG Mobile in China has received a major change to meet new restrictions on violent games, where finishing off a player will see them wave goodbye and hand over their loot.
Back in December, the Chinese government finally lifted a nine-month-long ban on approving new video games into the country. The lifting of that suspension has, however, come with new significant restrictions and requirements – including the outright ban of games that involve gambling, blood, gore, as well as content that shows the country in a negative light.
That ban extends to PUBG, of course, but there is somewhat of a loophole. Tencent has published the mobile version of the game under the name ‘Game for Peace – and it’s very, very different.
The new ‘Game for Peace’ marketing even resembles PUBG.What has changed with PUBG Mobile in China?
When you drop into a game, you’re still going to find yourself in the classic Erangel map, it’s just that the new regulations have extended to making the once-violent game, a little less so. The objective is still the same, though, outlast your opponents by scoring kills.
Now, when you shoot an enemy, players will not be able to see blood splats to show that they have been hit, as that animation has been replaced by a paintball effect.
These changes have made things pretty hilarious in-game, particularly when you eliminate an enemy. Instead of the body disappearing from the floor and leaving only their loot behind, opponents will now wave goodbye and hand over a box of loot instead.
They changed PUBG Mobile in China to comply with stricter game violence laws. Now when you 'kill' someone they give you a loot box and wave goodbye and honestly it's just so hilariously wholesome pic.twitter.com/Q5xkrtM0MA
— Svend Joscelyne (@SvendJoscelyne) May 8, 2019
Why the change from PUBG Mobile?
Over 70 million players were reportedly playing PUBG Mobile on a daily basis, but because Tencent was unable to get governmental approval, they were not able to offer in-app purchases and, in turn, could not make money from the game.
The new game, which – according to the developers – “pays tribute to the blue sky warriors that guard” China’s airspace, even allows players to move over their PUBG Mobile accounts and ranks to the new release.
It’s probably not a good idea to get your hopes up about seeing this new ‘Paintball mode’ implemented in other PUBG games across the world, though. There’s a good chance that this is only going to be available in China.