Why PUBG Mobile Got Banned: Reasons Behind Country-by-Country Restrictions

PUBG Mobile got banned in several countries for different reasons—not because of one worldwide prohibition. India’s September 2020 block was rooted in national-security and data-privacy concerns. Other authorities cited excessive gaming, potential effects on children, violent themes, or public morality. Some measures were later suspended or reversed, so a list that simply labels every country “banned” is misleading.

The most useful distinction is between a government restriction on an app, a temporary internet-access block, and a player-account ban imposed for cheating or violating game rules. This article covers government restrictions on PUBG Mobile and the wider PUBG game, not anti-cheat penalties against individual accounts.

Was PUBG Mobile banned worldwide?

No. The history of PUBG restrictions is country-specific. A national regulator may order app stores to remove a title, tell internet service providers to block access, or restrict particular versions. Separately, a game publisher can choose which regions it supports. None of those actions proves the game has been banned everywhere.

Which countries banned PUBG Mobile, and what happened afterward?

Status note: These are dated, documented actions rather than a real-time country-by-country app-availability test. Regulations, enforcement, and storefront listings can change independently.

Why India banned PUBG Mobile in 2020

India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology invoked Section 69A of the Information Technology Act on September 2, 2020, to block 118 mobile applications. The published appendix explicitly named PUBG MOBILE Nordic Map: Livik and PUBG MOBILE LITE. In its explanation, the ministry described complaints and reports concerning unauthorized collection and transmission of user data, including concerns involving servers outside India. The government framed its decision around sovereignty, defense, state security and public order. Read the original September 2, 2020, government notice.

That statement sets out the government’s grounds for the block; it should not be paraphrased as independent proof that every PUBG Mobile player’s personal information was stolen. The issue also involved broader geopolitical and regulatory questions. Chinese technology company Tencent’s involvement with the international PUBG Mobile business was part of the public debate, but the formal Indian notice is the stronger source for what the authorities actually alleged.

Did PUBG Mobile come back to India as BGMI?

Not exactly. Krafton launched BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA (BGMI) for the Indian market in July 2021. It is an India-focused game based on the PUBG franchise, not proof that the original international PUBG Mobile listing was reinstated. Krafton’s Krafton’s July 2021 launch announcement described BGMI as available specifically for players in India.

BGMI then faced its own app-store restrictions in 2022. On May 19, 2023, the game’s BGMI’s May 19, 2023, official notice announced that Indian authorities had permitted operations to resume. These two events are often conflated: the 2020 PUBG Mobile block and the 2022–2023 BGMI interruption were separate episodes.

Why other governments restricted PUBG

1. Concerns about excessive gaming and minors

Nepal’s April 2019 blocking order followed complaints from parents, schools and police about children’s behavior and academic performance. On April 19, Nepal’s Supreme Court issued an interim order staying the ban, finding that the government needed adequate justification for restrictions affecting freedom of expression. That makes Nepal a clear example of a temporary ban challenged in court, rather than a straightforward permanent prohibition.

Pakistan’s telecommunications authority similarly suspended PUBG access in July 2020 following complaints about its effects on young people. It allowed the game again on July 30 after discussions with representatives of the company about safeguards and controls. These cases show why the date of an official decision matters as much as the ban headline.

2. Violence, culture and public-morality concerns

In Iraq, parliament voted on April 17, 2019, to restrict electronic games it regarded as encouraging violence, including PUBG and Fortnite. An account published by the Basra Governorate report on Iraq’s parliamentary vote describes worries about public health, culture and social security. A parliamentary vote, however, should not automatically be represented as proof of uninterrupted nationwide blocking years later.

Jordan’s Telecommunications Regulatory Commission said its block took effect on July 4, 2019, following public complaints. Its Jordanian telecom regulator’s July 7, 2019, statement emphasized effects on young users and the regulator’s public-interest rationale. Afghanistan’s telecommunications ministry subsequently reported that its checks in Kabul found PUBG filtered across named operators in 2024; see the Afghan telecommunications ministry monitoring report. The policies, mechanisms, and levels of documentary certainty differ among these countries.

Are privacy, addiction and violence claims all proven?

They should be evaluated separately. A country’s announcement tells us why officials acted; it does not necessarily settle every scientific or technical claim used to justify that action.

• Data privacy: India documented security and cross-border data concerns. To establish a specific leak or misuse, readers need evidence about the particular incident—not just the existence of a block order.
• Gaming disorder: The World Health Organization explanation of gaming disorder recognizes a relatively uncommon clinical pattern involving impaired control, gaming taking priority over other activities, and continued play despite serious consequences. It does not declare that everyone who plays PUBG is addicted, or diagnose players solely by daily screen time.
• Real-world violence: The American Psychological Association’s 2020 statement warns that the available evidence does not justify claiming a causal link between violent video games and violent criminal behavior. This does not erase parents’ concerns about age-appropriate content, but it does rule out simplistic conclusions.

Claims that all players spend six hours a day gaming, or that PUBG itself directly caused specific deaths or crimes, require credible, case-specific evidence. Those claims should not be treated as established facts merely because they appeared in old viral stories.

What should players do if PUBG Mobile is unavailable in their country?

1. Check the exact product. Identify whether the missing app is PUBG Mobile, PUBG Mobile Lite, BGMI or PUBG: Battlegrounds on PC or console. Similar names do not mean identical licensing or availability.
2. Check official availability. Review the app’s publisher page on Google Play or the Apple App Store for your region and look for a current notice from the relevant telecom or technology regulator.
3. Use legitimate alternatives. Where supported, BGMI is intended for India. Other authorized battle royale games may be available, but availability and age ratings vary by region and store.
4. Avoid unofficial downloads and account risks. Third-party APK sites can distribute modified or malicious files. A VPN does not automatically make a restricted game lawful or officially supported, and may conflict with platform or game rules. Do not assume a universal fine or penalty applies to every country.
5. If the app is listed but will not connect, troubleshoot first. Check the publisher’s service announcements, update the app, and verify your network. A connection error on one phone is not evidence of a new national ban.

FAQ: PUBG Mobile bans

Is PUBG Mobile permanently banned in every country on old ban lists?

No. Nepal’s 2019 measure was stayed by the Supreme Court, while Pakistan lifted its temporary restriction in July 2020. Other countries have different histories, and up-to-date access must be checked using the relevant regulator and official storefront.

Is BGMI the same as the globally available PUBG Mobile app?

No. Both are connected to the PUBG franchise, but BGMI was launched specifically for India. Its 2023 return does not mean the original 2020 ban on international PUBG Mobile listings was formally withdrawn.

Did the World Health Organization ban or classify PUBG Mobile as an addictive game?

No. The WHO recognizes gaming disorder as a clinical condition under defined criteria. It did not issue a global ban on PUBG Mobile or diagnose a particular game title as a disorder.

The bottom line

Why PUBG Mobile got banned depends on the country and date. India cited national security and data protection; Nepal and Pakistan took temporary steps amid concerns about young players; Iraq, Jordan and Afghanistan documented restrictions tied to their own social or regulatory policies. The essential facts are the authority that acted, the product affected, the official rationale, and whether a later decision changed the original restriction. Without those details, any claim that “PUBG is banned everywhere” or that a historic order is still fully enforced is unreliable.