Update, November 22: As part of its Chinese publication, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds will receive adjustments to make sure it fits Chinese values.
As part of the publication of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds in China, Tencent say the game’s content will be adjusted to better fit Chinese values.
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In a statement issued to Reuters, Tencent say they “will make adjustment to content … and make sure they accord with socialist core values, Chinese traditional culture and moral rules.”
The Chinese government has recently announced that it will not be easy for local developers to publish battle roayale games like PUBG in the country, as their depictions of violence go against Chinese moral values.
Original story, November 22:Chinese tech giant Tencent will publish PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds in China. The partnership was announced earlier today.
According to a translated summary posted to Twitter by Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad, the partnership will involve an official Chinese server, an emphasis on banning cheaters, and assistance getting around China’s strict regulations. That last point is particularly important, as while PUBG is available via Steam in what is a regulatory ‘grey area’, an official release would require changes to be made to the game.
Tencent just announced that it will be the exclusive operator of PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS in China after partnering with Bluehole.
Will be official China server + emphasis on banning cheaters + making the game work around regulations. pic.twitter.com/q02njDxiLw
— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) November 22, 2017
Those changes might include toning down some of the game’s more violent elements. When Counter-Strike: Global Offensive was published in China through Perfect World earlier this year, they had to change the colour of the game’s blood from red to black.
The introduction of a dedicated Chinese server and the news that Tencent will assist Bluehole and PUBG Corp in banning cheaters is good news for everyone. A significant number of PUBG’s most prolific cheaters are reported to have originated from China, and a lack of servers in the country means Chinese players can be found across the world.
The partnership is also somewhat likely to herald the start of a closer investor relationship between Tencent and Bluehole Studios. Tencent currently own a 5% share in the Korean studio, and the possibility of increasing that share has been discussed.