India has already banned over 59 Chinese apps last month, including Tik Tok and games like Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and Clash Of Kings. A new report from India Today has claimed that they might ban over 200 more Chinese apps soon, which potentially includes extremely popular games like Tencent’s PUBG Mobile.

Previously, the Indian government had alleged that the 59 banned apps were engaged in activities that were “prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, the security of the state and public order”.

According to video games industry analyst Daniel Ahmad, PUBG Mobile has already amassed a whopping 180 million downloads to date, with over US$30 million monthly revenue. If India does decide to ban PUBG Mobile, the country would lose its number one mobile game, which would then become Garena’s Free Fire.

If the title is banned then India loses its #1 mobile game.
Free Fire would be poised to take the #1 spot.

Mobile esports industry driven by PUBGM recently.
Banning the game would have a significant impact on this segment.

Overall impact would be negative in the short term.

— Daniel Ahmad (@ZhugeEX) July 27, 2020

The move would ultimately negatively impact the local mobile games industry in India. However, it remains to be seen if PUBG Mobile will be flagged for “security reasons” or “data sharing and privacy concerns”.

The Indian government reportedly follows a particular process before banning any of the Chinese apps. An official from the ministry of electronics and information technology (MeitY) had told India Today that “there is a process involved, there is a committee in place for such ban orders. If there is such an order, then it will act”.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrhdaKb_9pM&w=560&h=315]