Tencent Suspends Blockbuster Video Game ‘PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds’ in China

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By Zhao Runhua / May 08, 2019 11:09 AM / Business & Tech

Photo: IC Photo

When it comes to games, regulators aren’t playing around.

Tencent has suspended its China operations of the mobile game “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds,” saying the game’s “testing” phase was over, implying it did not receive official approval.

The game premiered informally in China in February 2018, but Tencent could not charge players and receive commercial gains, though the game was one of the most played in China.

In the meantime, “Game for Peace,” another Tencent-licensed game similar to “Battlegrounds,” will open its test to players on Wednesday. The game received a domestic gaming license from regulators in April.

Tencent didn’t immediately respond to Caixin’s questions regarding any possible resumption of “Battlegrounds” and the newer game’s commercial potential.

On China’s Twitter-like Weibo, topic “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is gone” soared to the second spot with 300 million views.

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