Tencent has implemented a PUBG Mobile gameplay management system for players under the age of 18. The company rolled out the system likely in response to the game coming under scrutiny in various countries.
The system is stated to “promote healthy gaming behaviors,” and works even before players boot up the game. Players will need to “acknowledge a gaming advisory” before the game launches. Meanwhile, people under the age of 18 will now receive pop-up reminders that tell them to take breaks after an unspecified amount of time.
A number of countries have taken notice of PUBG Mobile as of late. Tencent recently released a highly modified version called the Game for Peace in China after the country changed their content guidelines for games. Prior to this, the game was temporarily banned in Nepal, and is still banned in Iraq, as well as a number of cities in India.
Tencent has already launched the system, which it is touting as one of the first of its kind for mobile games, in Indonesia, India, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The company plans to slowly roll out the system in stages to other countries.
Talking to Gamespot, Tencent’s Vincent Wang stated that the “announcement is a proactive step in ensuring that hundreds of millions of players worldwide can continue to enjoy PUBG mobile in a sustainable manner.” The system, he states, allows younger players to “make informed choices” about their playtime.
With the launch of the PUBG Mobile gameplay management system, the question now is if its competitors will do the same. Iraq also banned Fortnite alongside PUBG Mobile. With this in mind, it seems highly likely that Epic Games may follow suit with a system of their own. At the end of the day however, the onus is still on players, to be responsible for the amount of time they spend playing these games.
