PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds Banned in Nepal

On Thursday, Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) permanently banned the online multiplayer battle royale game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), Reuters reports.

“We have ordered the ban on PUBG because it is addictive to children and teenagers.”

Sandip Adhikari, deputy director at Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA)

Released in 2017 on PC, consoles, Android, and iOS, the game won several industry awards and has attracted a worldwide following. But not from Nepal, not anymore.

At the request from the nation’s federal investigation authority, all internet service providers, mobile operators and network service providers discontinued streaming of the game, effective this Thursday.

Games and governments

While citing the negative impact on minors, Adhikari said that there had been no incidents in connection with PUBG. However, according to him, parents expressed concern that the game might be affecting children’s academic performance.

Imposing restrictions on online games is becoming something of trend. Several cities in India banned the mobile version of PUBG from primary schools. Following public outcry, the ban was partially lifted.

And then there is China and its campaign for healthy gaming. We wrote yesterday that Tencent had implemented playtime limits on many of its online titles. The company uses facial recognition system to enforce the restrictions.