Editor’s Note: This report was done with a positive investigation, keeping in mind that once the game officially launches, it doesn’t face any criticism or ban scenarios. So, without further ado, let’s begin.
UPDATE: Krafton acknowledged and confirmed action to fix the data concern.
Krafton released a press statement about recent concerns about data transfer, which ping data servers (Proxima Beta, which is Tencent) located in China. And they are taking action to resolve it, which they did yesterday by releasing a minor update to the game.
Additionally, they attempt to overcome all such concerns with the Government of India’s Laws and Regulations. Similar popular games like Call of Duty: Mobile and other apps also utilize such third-party services because they offer immersive global experiences. Krafton will use third-party solutions and share data to provide unique game features concerning policy. However, any unexpected or restricted IP will be resolved before the game’s official launch.
Battlegrounds Mobile India recently released its early access to the game, which brought all the essential changes for Indian players following GOVT concerns before the ban of PUBG Mobile last year. However, after the game’s launch, BGMIN recorded 5 million downloads within 24 hours of early access, and they have also crossed over 20 million pre-registrations.
It is worth mentioning that the game has yet to be released, and Krafton is still gathering feedback and suggestions to make all the necessary changes through Battlegrounds Mobile India.
BGMIN Pinging to the China Server
Early access to the game only means sharing, and it is the players’ responsibility to share feedback. While IGN India first reported Battlegrounds Mobile India sending Android data to China Mobile Communication (36.152.4.34 to be precise),
Why BGMIN is Ping to China Server
During the setup of the BGMIN, they mentioned within the Data Transfer Privacy Policy and Terms of Service that “Proxima Beta Pte. Limited” requires consent to transfer data to Krafton, Inc.
Proxima Beta (http://cloud.gsdk.proximabeta.com) belongs to Tencent Group and has a domain registered in China that shows the location of China using Pi-hole, shared by Arjun (author at Beebom).
Additionally, personal data will be deleted from China once the migration is complete. So, the primary reason for pinging the China server was to enable the migration, carryover in-app purchases, and progress to Battlegrounds Mobile India.
Is Battlegrounds Mobile India Ping to China fixed?
After migration, some temporary cache and data might exist on your device, which might ping back to China for some services. Reportedly, the game received a minor update to patch the issue, and we have verified and have yet to find a Tencent or China Mobile Communication server despite Facebook, Twitter, Microsoft Azure, and Amazon Web Server located outside China.
Krafton said the data was processed and stored in India and Singapore, while they also stated that personal information may be transferred to other countries as long as legal requirements are met. This all seems fine, which in any case isn’t unfair, and all action taken by Krafton favors the buoyant industry.
BGMIN is gearing up!
Krafton can transfer all their player data at once, so they don’t have to ping the China server, but if we dig further, many players might want to continue playing on Global. Also, many players might be moved to different games, get inactive, or want to start BGMIN as freshmen. If they do a transfer without a player’s request, they waste their valuable resources by filling their server with time, which leads to delay and the player’s right to choose.
Therefore, handling such a user base or infrastructure is never easy, and there should be no case that restricts the game after launch. This shows Krafton is acknowledging the issues and working to rectify such instances if they are found.
Why is the Packet Sniffer Package enabled by VPN?
There were a lot of people who thought VPN was only used to change locations. There are a lot of benefits to using a VPN, like protecting your identity. It is one of the essential prerequisites for any packet sniffer (packet analyzer, protocol analyzer, or network analyzer) tool. The Packet Sniffer monitors the network traffic using a locally hosted VPN on your device, allowing you to capture logs of your device’s network packets.
Can this cause a Battlegrounds Mobile India ban?
The Indian Ministry doesn’t grant permission to launch the mobile app or company; instead, they block the service if it infringes on the sovereignty and integrity of India under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000. As Krafton has yet to officially launch the game, MeitY and MHA can only proceed once the game is publicly available to play.
We need to keep an eye on Battlegrounds Mobile India, where both the technical and gaming industries co-exist in the ecosystem, to investigate the game and appreciate the effort made by Krafton’s Battlegrounds Mobile India.
About Battlegrounds Mobile India
Krafton announced Battlegrounds Mobile India (the world’s second-largest internet market) on May 6th, which uses the base code of PUBG Mobile. This is fair because they have put years into making the game perfect to make it a unique experience in the industry. According to experts, Battlegrounds Mobile India is likely to boost the online game space in India.
Additionally, they have made necessary changes like Green Blood and tweaked kills to finish, a reminder that you are playing a game in virtual work to depict less violence against children and to make a better ecosystem.