‘PUBG’ within the crosshairs as Indonesia mulls gaming restrictions after Jakarta college blast injures almost 100

JAKARTA, Nov 10 — Indonesia is mulling new curbs on violent video video games akin to PUBG: Battlegrounds following a latest college explosion that injured almost 100 individuals, Bloomberg reported.

President Prabowo Subianto has ordered his Cabinet to discover attainable restrictions after receiving updates from police investigating the blast, stated State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi in Jakarta yesterday.

“We’re thinking about restrictions because, in these games, there’re many different kinds of weapons. It’s easy to learn. And, psychologically, it makes violence a normal thing,” Hadi informed reporters, with out elaborating on what type the measures may take.

Developed by South Korea’s Krafton Inc, PUBG: Battlegrounds is credited with popularising the “battle royale” style, during which gamers battle to be the final one standing. The cellular model, developed in partnership with China’s Tencent Holdings, is broadly performed in Indonesia, the place gaming has change into a booming youth pastime.

Neither Krafton nor Tencent responded instantly to Bloomberg’s requests for remark.

The debate was triggered by a November 7 explosion at a college mosque in north Jakarta, which occurred simply earlier than prayers. Close to 100 individuals have been injured, and police are investigating the attainable involvement of a pupil within the blast.

The Indonesian authorities has beforehand mentioned regulating on-line content material deemed dangerous or morally questionable, however this marks one of many first cases the place mainstream gaming titles might come beneath scrutiny. 

Similar debates have surfaced elsewhere in Asia, together with Malaysia, the place authorities have expressed concern over hyperlinks between gaming and violent behaviour — although conclusive proof stays elusive.