A study indicated that many gamers were able to overcome social isolation through mobile gaming during the time of the lockdown.
With the removal of popular game PUBG from all Android and iOS platforms in India, gamers across the country initially expressed shock. Especially during COVID-19 necessitated lockdown, the gamers were very disappointed that the government banned one of the most popular games in India.
However, the move had a transitory impact on putting a dent in mobile gaming. Overcoming the initial shock, gamers have moved on to other games like 'Garena Free Fire' and 'Call of Duty Mobile'.
In fact, a study quoted by the Hindustan Times in its article stated that there has been a considerable increase in mobile gaming during the COVID-19 pandemic. A study conducted by CMR stated that mobile gaming among three out of five gamers has increased, and an average increase of four hours in gaming time ever since the lockdown began in India.
Moreover, the study further stated that 40% of serious gamers were involved in mobile gaming to relieve stress, and 47 percent of casual gamers played for 'fun'.
The study further indicated that gamers were able to overcome social isolation through mobile gaming during the time of the lockdown.
"It is very interesting to note that the PUBG ban had a rather transitory impact on slowing down mobile gaming in India. Beyond the initial state of shock, PUBG users took to other mobile games. Games such as 'Call of Duty Mobile' and 'Garena Free Fire' benefited from the PUBG ban," Hindusthan Times quoted Prabhu Ram, Head-Industry Intelligence Group, CMR as saying.
Now Call of Duty Mobile' and 'Garena Free Fire' have become popular first-person shooter games, and on average Indians have seven games in their smartphones.
Call of Duty (COD) is an uber-popular game from a top franchise. Just like PUBG, COD Mobile also caters a similar in-game environment for its players with 100 players jumping off to a familiar battlefield in the aim to gun-down each other to achieve the ultimate chicken dinner.
Garena Free Fire is also a very similar game that PUBG players can try out as an alternative.
This free-fire game is much easier to play when compared to PUBG mobile due to guns having fewer recoil corrections.
Even after the PUBG ban, Indian gamers play at least four games regularly.
It is to be noted that on September 3, the Centre decided to ban 118 Chinese mobile apps in view of the information available that they are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India and the security of the state. The banned apps include the widely popular game PUBG (PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds).
The apps have been banned by the Ministry of Electronics and Information and Technology. It said that it has received many complaints about misuse of some applications available on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and transmitting users data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India.
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