As of 2018, the global gaming market was worth over ?4.5 trillion, of which mobile gaming contributed around half. This is a trend that has been continuing for years, which promises to only grow more pronounced in the future. Of all mobile games, it has been the battle-royale style game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), which has consistently ranked as the most popular in recent Indian history.
With more players getting involved every day, we want to take a look at exactly what PUBG is, how it became so popular in Indian gaming culture, and how it remains there to this day.
What is PUBG?
PUBG is a battle-royale style shooting game set in large and open fictional locations. In this game, 100 players air-drop into an area and fight to be the last person or team remaining. This is encouraged by a damaging circular barrier that continually forces all players into a shrinking area.
Originally released as a modification for another popular game, ARMA3, PUBG went on to start the battle-royale revolution on PC, leading the way for games like Fortnite. Eventually, this game made its way to mobile devices, aided by a lighter version of the game which was a smaller download, and required less hardware power.
Setting the Stage
Despite having millions of players in India alone, larger game releases like this were not always seen on mobile platforms. Early major developers proved reticent to bring their games to the device, concerned as they were that mobiles were not viable systems.
Somewhat unexpectedly, it was actually casino online games that helped pave the way for more traditional video gaming on mobiles. Translations of the likes of slots, roulette, and poker showed just how successful and professional these games could be, and these are what convinced games like PUBG to make the jump.
PUBG’s Popularity
A lot of PUBG’s popularity comes from the appeal of the base concept. In a normal game, 100 people enter, and one person leaves. This sort of mass-scale combat has long been a dream of gamers, but in most cases, games of this scale have been abandoned or ignored. Combine this appeal with the increasing excitement as you near the end of a match, and the game becomes nothing short of enthralling.
Constantly seeking out new opportunities, and armed with high-quality mobile devices, India’s youth culture was always going to need a game which could scratch their social and competitive itch. PUBG, as a game, ticks nearly every possible box which young men and women could want in a mobile gaming experience. It is highly skill-based, so intelligence and capacity for improvement are a must. It is also highly cooperative, with team-based game types offering fantastic bonding opportunities for groups of friends and strangers alike.
Finally, it also helps that PUBG, like any mobile game, is available regardless of weather, and will almost always be available to play. Whenever an outside opportunity is taken, PUBG can be there, which can give a viable entertainment avenue unlike many crowded physical sports locations can.
In the world of video games, no one entry has ever remained king permanently. While it is inevitable that PUBG will one day be usurped, its current popularity gives a fascinating look into current youth culture, and how it relates to the modern tech world. Whatever comes next, PUBG will always be something special, as nobody ever forgets their first chicken dinner.
