A 16-year-old boy has died by suicide after being told to stop playing PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. The boy’s father is now calling out for the game to be banned.
The tragic incident took place in southern India, and reportedly saw the teen take his own life after being told to stop playing the game and to study for an English exam instead [via The Independent].
It’s not the first time that PUBG has been blamed for such heartbreaking news in India. Earlier this year, two men in their 20s lost their lives when absorbed in the mobile version of PUBG too close to railway tracks.
Some parts of India (more specifically, a number of cities in the state of Gujarat) have already banned PUBG after concerns of it encouraging violent behaviour and distractions from schooling.
Two dozen young people have since been arrested for violating the ban and playing the game.
People seem very divided on the idea of an outright ban of PUBG in India, with lots of people suggesting that simply making the game more expensive or restricting play time would solve the issue.
Don’t ban pubg. Make pubg paid app of 1500/- rupees and charge Rs 100 every time when u open it. Do this for 2 months people will automatically recude their time in it.
— ayk9 (@ayk916) April 6, 2019
Make pubg mobile paid app like pubg for pc is paid. Charge Rs 1500/- for installation and Rs 100 everyday for opening it. After one month everyone stop Playing it
— ayk9 (@ayk916) April 6, 2019
Do you think PUBG needs to be banned in light of the recent deaths in India?
Around 200 young people die by suicide every year, says mental health charity, Samaritans. Samaritans is a UK-based charity dedicated to reducing feelings of isolation and disconnection that can lead to suicide. If you need someone to talk to, contact Samaritans here.
Featured Image Credit: PUBG Corp.