Nabin Tamang is playing PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) since the past six months. Tamang’s obsession with the game has kept him awake till midnight. “It is a competitive game. You don’t realize spending nine hours a day when you’re engaged in a competitive bout,” he confirmed.  PUBG requires shooting precision. The last man standing, from a batch of 100 players, is declared the winner. It is also a game that tests your patience, as it can take up to 30 minutes – given that you enter the final duel – to complete a single game. 

Experts of the game suggest adopting one of the two strategies – attacking, or camping. Attacking is advisable for sharpshooters with excellent aiming capability. On the other hand, camping is for those who prefer waiting for their prey. 

“Camping means you’re avoiding battles, and it’s only when your opponents find you that you die, else you can escape your way, unharmed, to the final battle,” explained Tamang. “Out of 100, only one player is declared the winner. The winners get virtual chicken for dinner; hence the phrase: Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner.”

18-year-old Madi Joshi’s is among many passionate about PUBG. His obsession has led to him staying up till 2. He has his eyes glued to his mobile screen all night long. “PUBG is an interesting game. I like the quality of its graphics. It’s a shooting game, but the features like bike rides, dancing and swimming notches up the excitement,” he shared.

Battle Royale Game
PUBG is a multiplayer online battle royale game. Following the custom of most battles royale games, it is also a last-man-standing game. It amalgamates survival, exploration and scavenging strategies using weapons and tools for survival.  

The gaming modes vary depending on your strategy. You can either play solo, where the last man standing wins, or assemble a squad comprising up to four players to battle against hundreds of other contestants. The game begins when all 100 players parachute down from a plane onto an 8 x 8 km Island. 

More than just a game
Real survival scenario and high definition video quality add up to the game-play experience. The technical and visual quality rightly puts it as the next level of gaming. 
First time players, be warned; it is addictive. So addictive that there’s a Facebook group – PUBG Mobile Nepal – that acts as the junction for all PUBG fanatics of Nepal.

Safal Hyozu, the founder admin explained, “There are many battle royale games but this one is different, mainly because it also has its own PC version.”

He added that the game provided unique updates with every upgrade. “The latest update introduced gun skins. It’s nice to change the outlook of your gear,” he confirmed. 

The social buzz
PUBG has been creating a buzz since it was introduced in mobile. From café to social media, PUBG has been the center of conversations.

Safal Hyozu speculated the craze soon after the launch of the game. Consequently, he, along with four other admins, created a fan page.  The page has active engagement and is the promotion platform of the game in Nepal. 

Safal Hyozu says there are five admins, including one female, of the page.  “We encourage further PUBG engagement. We’re looking to organize tournaments, customize rooms, and start live streaming in the near future. However, we are focused on conducting a tournament at the moment.”

Planning for a competitive bout
Youth admiration and engagement compelled different players and several groups to come together to organize a PUBG tournament. The tournament, the first of its kind in Nepal, is scheduled for 21st August. 

Dipsun Gurung, a member of the organizing committee, said, “The winners will get Royale Elite Pass Mobile Trigger and PUBG T-Shirts.  PUBG players are increasing on a daily basis. This tournament will check their aim and reflexes.”

PUBG Mobile VS PUBG PC 
PUBG is available on Xbox, PC, and mobile. However, most prefer mobile in Nepal but for a better experience, PC is advisable.  PC graphics, compared to other consoles are better, and mouse steering is also relaxed.

Sameer Basnet, a PC gamer, shared,“The screen of the mobile is smaller in comparison to PC. Mobile players have to compromise on graphics and steering quality.”
Similarly, Manzil Shrestha -- a PUBG admin, admitted, “PC heightens the gameplay experience. I’ve never tried playing in PC, but I dream of building a personal console.”