Esports; FIFA will make its debut as a medal event at the 2 Asian Games with eight video games, including PUBG Mobile, Arena of Valor, Dota 2, League of Legends, Dream Three Kingdoms 2022, Hearthstone and Street Fighter V.
A separate Asian Games version is in development for PUBG Mobile and Arena of Valor. However, according to a new report, it seems that the Asian Games version of PUBG Mobile will be quite different from the original.
According to a report by South Korea's Money Today newspaper citing a Krafton official, players will not be allowed to shoot each other in the Asian Games version of PUBG Mobile. Instead, players will compete in driving and aiming skills. This means that the battle royale experience PUBG is known for could be removed in Asian Games. The report states that this is due to concerns that it will "harm harmony" between countries.
Dot Esports reached out to Krafton for comment, but was referred to the Asian Esports Federation (AESF) in charge of esports at the 2022 Asiad. AESF did not respond.
However, Tencent explained to Dot Esports: “In keeping with its sportsmanship and Olympics vision, the PUBG Mobile Asian Games version will integrate the iconic gameplay of PUBG Mobile with the true sports gaming experience.”
It seems that the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) wants to prevent the spread of violence at the Asian Games, so players will not be allowed to shoot others. It's unclear what Tencent's statement means, but the game's latest update may provide a clue.
In the latest version 1.9 of PUBG Mobile, a new shooting range and racing mode were introduced to Cheer Park. Players can practice on the shooting range to earn points based on their hit rate. The racing mode, on the other hand, allows players to race one-on-one with other players in different vehicles of PUBG Mobile. The Asian Games version may be trying to provide a different competitive experience while eliminating players hitting each other.
It's not surprising to see such a thing happen. Last year, when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted for closer ties to esports, the institution's president, Thomas Bach, said that video games that incite violence would not be included. He said this is because these games go against "Olympic values."
In addition to PUBG Mobile; Arena of Valor, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Street Fighter V all have a significant amount of violence. If these games go on without any changes, it can be expected that the word "Olympic values" will be explained in more detail.
Before the Asian Games in September, an IOC-sanctioned esports event, the 13 Southeast Asian Games, is held in Vietnam from May 21 to 2021. It also includes PUBG Mobile along with seven other games. At the moment, there are no reports on whether a similar arrangement has been made for the battle royale game at SEA Games as well.
Kaynak