Are These Countries Following Indonesia in Blocking PUBG Online Game?

Jakarta – Discussions about restricting PUBG game surfaced after an explosion at SMAN 72 Jakarta. Prior to Indonesia, these countries had already blocked the game. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds or PUBG is an online game released by a South Korean game subsidiary, Bluehole. Inspired by the Japanese novel and film Battle Royale, the game is a dystopian thriller about a group of teenagers forced to fight to the death. In this online game, a group of up to 100 players is dropped onto an island with the goal of being the last one standing. Players must battle each other to survive as the game map shrinks. The game can be played on consoles, PCs, tablets, and smartphones. Since its release in 2017, PUBG has been one of the best-selling and most played video games of all time. Despite its popularity, the game has led to psychological dependencies in various countries. In fact, some countries have not hesitated to completely block the game. Which countries have already blocked PUBG? Here is a list. Countries that Have Already Blocked PUBG 1. Nepal The Nepalese government blocked PUBG back in 2019. It was mentioned that the game had negative psychological impacts on children and teenagers. The country’s telecommunications authorities instructed internet service providers to block access to PUBG. Parents in Nepal have even petitioned for a ban following an increase in violent behavior among their children. ‘Parents have petitioned the district court to request a ban. The court ordered the police to consult with psychologists, who recommended a ban due to the negative psychological impact on children and teenagers,’ said Sandip Adhikari, spokesperson for the Nepal Telecommunications Authority, on DW News in 2019. 2. India Shortly after, India also banned the game. This ban was triggered by an incident where a teenager committed suicide when his parents tried to limit his playing time. Indian Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated that the PUBG restriction was to protect the interests and rights of citizens. ‘We banned PUBG because it is our duty to you all to safeguard internet security, preserve internet trust. Although we love innovation and what young people worldwide are doing, we also have a duty to ensure that everything is not bad, unsafe, and untrustworthy,’ he said on NDTV on March 26, 2023. He wanted to ensure that the internet remains a safe place for its citizens. Therefore, there are interventions in the digital space in India. ‘So, there are aspects that we will intervene and say this is not good, and we will transparently explain why it is not good. We want to ensure that the internet is always safe and trustworthy for the 120 crore population of India,’ he said. Discussions on Restricting PUBG in Indonesia The government is considering restrictions on online games following an explosion at SMAN 72 Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. This raised concerns about the use of weapons in online games like PUBG. ‘He (President Prabowo) mentioned that we still need to think about restricting and trying to find a way out from the influence of online games,’ said State Secretary Minister Prasetyo Hadi after a closed meeting with President Prabowo at Kertanegara, South Jakarta, on Sunday (9/11/2025), as quoted from detiknews. Hadi explained that online games mentioned could potentially have a negative impact on children or students. Games like these are typically found in the first-person shooter (FPS) or battle royale categories like PUBG. ‘For example, PUBG. There, we might think about restrictions, in that game there are various types of weapons, and it’s easy to learn, making it even more dangerous,’ explained Hadi. According to him, players in PUBG can experience shooting sensations indirectly. Especially when the target is another player. ‘Psychologically, those who engage in violence may consider it as something that may become ordinary,’ he explained. Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Abdul Mu’ti also highlighted the need for cross-ministerial discussions to address the request for restrictions on games and social media requested by the palace. Mu’ti mentioned that at least four ministries would be involved. ‘Later we have to talk across ministries, this involves at least 4 ministries. We at the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education then Komdigi (Ministry of Communication and Digital), then P3A Ministry (Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection) and also the Ministry of Religion,’ he said.