JAKARTA, Nov 10 — Indonesia is mulling new curbs on violent video games such as PUBG: Battlegrounds following a recent school explosion that injured nearly 100 people, Bloomberg reported.

President Prabowo Subianto has ordered his Cabinet to explore possible restrictions after receiving updates from police investigating the blast, said State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi in Jakarta yesterday.

“We’re thinking about restrictions because, in these games, there’re many different kinds of weapons. It’s easy to learn. And, psychologically, it makes violence a normal thing,” Hadi told reporters, without elaborating on what form the measures might take.

Developed by South Korea’s Krafton Inc, PUBG: Battlegrounds is credited with popularising the “battle royale” genre, in which players fight to be the last one standing. The mobile version, developed in partnership with China’s Tencent Holdings, is widely played in Indonesia, where gaming has become a booming youth pastime.

Neither Krafton nor Tencent responded immediately to Bloomberg’s requests for comment.

The debate was triggered by a November 7 explosion at a school mosque in north Jakarta, which occurred just before prayers. Close to 100 people were injured, and police are investigating the possible involvement of a student in the blast.

The Indonesian government has previously discussed regulating online content deemed harmful or morally questionable, but this marks one of the first instances where mainstream gaming titles could come under scrutiny. 

Similar debates have surfaced elsewhere in Asia, including Malaysia, where authorities have expressed concern over links between gaming and violent behaviour — though conclusive evidence remains elusive.