PUBG Mobile's new 'Gameplay Management' will combat addiction accusations

PUBG Mobile players will start seeing some changes to the game soon. The developers behind the popular battle royale shooter are implementing a new “Gameplay Management” system that will help players understand how much time they’ve spent playing and encourage them to take breaks.

The new system is a response to countries attempting to ban PUBG Mobile due to accusations that the game is addictive and has a harmful impact on players, especially younger players.

The Gameplay Management system likely takes some inspiration from Google’s Digital Wellbeing initiative. With the new system in place, a pop-up notification will alert players of just how long they’ve been playing PUBG Mobile. The alerts will also suggest players stop playing or at the very least take a short break.

The system will also force players under the age of 18 to agree to a “gaming advisory” upon logging in. What this advisory will say is unclear at this time, but it’s assumed it will have safety suggestions. We’ve reached out to the game’s developers to find out more.

While the developers of PUBG Mobile don’t admit as much in the press release surrounding Gameplay Management, it’s clear this new system is a direct response to attempted bans of the game in countries such as India and Nepal. Recently, 16 players were arrested in India just for playing PUBG.

In China, PUBG Mobile exists under a new moniker, “Game For Peace,” in response to the game’s high levels of blood, gore, and violence. In Game For Peace, there is no blood or gore and “killed” players do not die: they go down on their knees and give you a friendly wave.

Gameplay Management is already rolling out to countries in Asia and North Africa, including Indonesia, India, Nepal, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. The system will eventually roll out globally in stages.

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