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Indonesia mulls PUBG restrictions after Jakarta school explosion
Indonesia is considering restrictions on video games such as PUBG after an explosion at a Jakarta school injured nearly 100 people.
President Prabowo Subianto has asked his cabinet to review possible measures following police updates on the incident, according to state secretary Prasetyo Hadi.
PUBG: Battlegrounds, developed by South Korea’s Krafton and with a mobile version in partnership with Tencent, is widely played in Indonesia.
Hadi cited concerns over the depiction of weapons and normalization of violence in such games, but did not specify what form any restrictions might take.
The explosion took place at a mosque in a North Jakarta school on Friday, with authorities investigating a student’s suspected involvement.
No details were provided on when or how a decision about restrictions will be made.
🔗 Source: Bloomberg
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Implications, context, and why it matters.
New limits on violent games would face two tests. Enforcement has been uneven. Publishers also face fresh compliance steps.
Indonesia has struggled to enforce gaming restrictions despite past alarm
- Kominfo and the Indonesian Ulema Council (the country’s top Islamic clerical body) weighed a PUBG ban in 2019 then left it unresolved 1. In 2021 Kominfo said it was still assessing a district head’s request to block PUBG and other games, so no nationwide block existed 2.
- The national age-rating system, the Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS), started in 2016 and gained a 2024 rule mandating classification 3. As of Oct. 14, 2025, igrs.id listed 12 registered games and 6 publishers 3.
- Game content that violates Indonesian law can be marked “unrated” by IGRS 3. Kominfo holds blocking powers under Ministerial Regulations No. 5 of 2020 and No. 10 of 2021, yet actions have often been delayed for more study 24.
Game publishers will need local compliance infrastructure to operate in Indonesia
- A 2024 ministerial regulation requires every game distributed in Indonesia to get IGRS classification, with a transition window through January 16, 2026 5.
- Through the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), platform stores like Google Play and PlayStation Store can automatically get Indonesian ratings, since IGRS participates 6.
- Government Regulation No. 17 of 2025 on governance of electronic systems for child protection covers how online services handle minors 3. The push puts more weight on age-appropriate access and oversight 3.
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