The Indian government earlier this week banned a 59 Chinese apps for posing a threat to the country’s sovereignty, defence and public order. The list included popular apps such as TikTok, Shareit, UC Browser and Clash of Titans. However, the government did not ban popular mobile games PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty Mobile despite the apps’ Chinese connection.

The obvious question that everyone is asking here is -- why? Why weren’t PUBG Mobile and CoD Mobile apps banned? Well, the reason is simple: because the apps are not entirely ‘Chinese’.

Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds Mobile also known as PUBG Mobile is developed and managed by PUBG Corporation, which is a subsidiary of the South Korean gaming company Bluehole. After its initial success, Chinese giant Tencent joined hands with Bluehole to distribute the game in China. Subsequently, Tencent brought the game to India.

Call of Duty Mobile, which is popularly known as CoD Mobile, on the other hand, is published by TiMi Studios, which is a subsidiary of Tencent Games. The app, however, is published on Android and iOS by Activision, which is a subsidiary of the Santa Monica, California based company called Activision Blizzard.

While the government hasn’t exactly specified, one reason why these gaming apps were not banned in India is because of their mixed ownership.