PUBG For The Chinese Market Will Be Infused With ‘Socialist Values’
By Ryan General
“Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds” (PUBG), the immensely popular multiplayer online video game, will soon be available in China — with some tweaks incorporating “socialist values.”
South Korean game developer PUBG Corporation, a subsidiary of its parent company Bluehole Inc., has reportedly signed a publishing agreement with Chinese internet conglomerate Tencent to officially bring the game into the Chinese games market. Previously, the game had been banned from the country, as it “deviated” from core socialist values; now, the title has found favor with Chinese censors, as long as certain changes to the battle royale-style game have been agreed upon by both parties take place, Reuters reports.
“We will do our best to present a great game to the Chinese users in close cooperation with the company,” PUBG Corp. chief executive officer C.H. Kim was quoted as saying.
“Tencent will localize and operate the game by catering to the preferences of Chinese gamers. We will also offer a different, fun experience on PC.”
Tencent, which recently became the first Chinese tech firm valued over $500 billion, said it plans to incorporate changes to “PUBG” that would align it with “socialist core values, Chinese traditional culture, and moral rules”.
While Tencent now owns exclusive rights to release the game in China, its competitor, NetEase, has earlier released two mobile games that are almost carbon copies of “PUBG”. Currently taking the top and third spots as the most downloaded free mobile games in China, NetEase’s “Terminator 2” and “Wilderness” have both incorporated government in-game propaganda, such as red banners and slogans touting phrases such as ‘safeguard national security, safeguard world peace’.”
While Tencent now owns exclusive rights to release the game in China, its competitor, NetEase, has earlier released two mobile games that are almost carbon copies of “PUBG”. Currently taking the top and third spots as the most downloaded free mobile games in China, NetEase’s “Terminator 2” and “Wilderness” have both incorporated government in-game propaganda, such as red banners and slogans touting phrases such as ‘safeguard national security, safeguard world peace’.”
“PUBG”, which is currently the top-selling title on gaming platform Steam, after selling over 20 million copies since its early access release on PC in March, is expected to arrive on consoles in the near future.
Feature Image via Steam / Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds
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