Tencent Pulls the Plug on PUBG in China, Swaps in a “Pacifist” Alternative
Feel the shock wave – the iconic battle royale that once ruled Chinese servers has officially gone dark. Tencent’s decision to shut down PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) surprises fans, but the company’s new plan is to hand everyone a fresh, government‑friendly copy called Game for Peace.
What’s the story behind the shutdown?
- After a year‑long wait, Tencent finally lost the “money‑making” green light for PUBG’s in‑app purchases.
- Regulators demanded a complete makeover: no gore, no violent imagery, completely “socialist” compliant.
- In the end, PUBG met its doom, but the company stayed loyal to its massive user base.
Switching gears: The rise of “Game for Peace”
Tencent describes the new title as a tactical shooting game that “pay tribute to the blue‑sky warriors who guard our airspace.” Think it’s a relic of real‑life Chinese air force prestige…
How close is it to the original?
Crunching the numbers: Game for Peace uses the same maps, the same skins, and the same jump‑seat gameplay. Most players say it looks and feels nearly identical. A few commenters swore the game “bleeded from the soil” like they’d finished the same level before.
User reactions – a mix of levity and panic
- “I was scared to death!” – one frustrated gamer recounts losing countless hours to a game that suddenly disappears.
- Someone else laughed at the new lack of gore: “When you shoot, there’s no blood, and the dead just wave goodbye?”
- As the top topic on Weibo, the “PUBG is gone” thread racked up 300 million clicks and nearly 90 000 posts.
Looking ahead – the company’s financial forecast
China Renaissance analysts predict Game for Peace will rake in roughly 8–10 billion yuan (about $1.2–$1.5 billion) per year, thanks to a 70 million daily active user base. The stakes for Tencent are high – a sunset for PUBG, but a bright-new light for the revamped version.
In a nutshell: PUBG is shelved. Game for Peace is the new star. The government approved the money‑making charm, and the players take it home with less blood and more patriotic flair. Whether this new flavor satisfies the heart of gamers— or if the “no‑bleed” lack tickles—or as a new chapter in Chinese mobile gaming: only time will tell.
