PlayerUnknown's Battleground, or popularly referred to as PUBG, is one of the most popular games and its introduction to the mobile platform shot its popularity through the roof. With constant updates and new features, PUBG developers are able to keep its players hooked to the game. To what extent though?
Another disturbing incident highlighting the risks of PUBG addiction has been reported in Jammu. According to a UNI report on Wednesday, a fitness trainer was admitted to the hospital due to addiction to the online battle royale game PUBG. The name of the fitness trainer was not revealed, but the report said that he started hurting himself after completing one of the rounds in the game.
PUBG requires a player to survive till the end by killing opponents and staying in the safe zone. The gameplay gets challenging as and when the player levels up in the game, making it difficult to win "chicken dinner." It remains unknown if the fitness trainer self-harmed due to the frustration caused by losing the game one too many times.
As the unidentified male gained injuries, he was taken to the hospital nearly ten days ago and continues to remain under observation. According to the neurologist who's treating the patient, who asked not to be identified, said the patient "is unstable at the moment and has partially lost his mental balance."
"He is under observation and we have started the treatment. We are hopeful that he will be fine in days," the doctor said, adding that the patient is recognising people but is still under the influence of PUBG and not fully conscious.
The report does not reveal the name of the patient, hospital or the doctors in charge of the treatment. IBTimes India was unable to verify if the incident actually took place in the winter capital of J&K.
The UNI report goes on to add that the hospital sources revealed it was the sixth case in a row reported in Jammu alone. The doctors have advised parents to keep a watch on their kids if they spend too much time on their phones continuously.
"The night hour mobile use should not be ignored and if possible, the cellphones should not be in the custody of their children during night time to prevent them from entering into trauma, which could be fatal if it remains unchecked," doctors cautioned.
The locals have reportedly appealed to the J&K governor Satya Pal Malik to get online games like PUBG banned in the state and country as well.
There have been several incidents of PUBG addiction reported in India. Recently, we reported the various challenges the online game has been facing in the country. In an alarming report last month, the Services for Healthy Use of Technology (SHUT) clinic of National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (Nimhans) reported having received about 120 cases of "Mental Health Condition" due to PUBG addiction in the last three months.
Patients are being diagnosed with symptoms of sleep deprivation, loss of interest in real life, missing school and college, poor academic performance and aggression when asked to discontinue the game, Bangalore Mirror reported. Dr. Jini K Gopinath, clinical psychologist, clinical hypnotherapist and director, Psychology, YourDost.com, had compared addiction to gaming similar to that of drugs and alcohol.
