How to Stop Playing PUBG (PlayersUnknown Battleground)

Welcome to our guide on How to Stop Playing PUBG (PlayersUnknown Battleground). If you find yourself playing PUBG too much, or you are concerned about a loved one, then we will show you step-by-step how to get control back.

PUBG, also known as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, is one of the most popular Battle Royale games. For many, it was the game that started the craze around the Battle Royale genre, which includes popular games like Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Apex Legends.

PUBG is one of the most popular games on Steam, with 500,000 monthly active users. Its mobile version, called PUBG Mobile, has close to 1 billion downloads across mobile platforms. The desktop and console versions of PUBG are available to be bought for a low price of $30. The free-to-play PUBG Mobile version of the game, which includes in-app purchases, has been addictive to some players.

The problem became so bad that PUBG Mobile was banned temporarily in India and Bangladesh amid all the concerns regarding PUBG addiction.

If you’re looking for ways on how to stop playing PUBG, or if your child is struggling with it, then you’ve come to the right place. You’ll find practical steps to stop playing PUBG in this article.

What is PUBG, and How Does It Work?

PUBG (Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds) is a Battle Royale game that pits 100 players against each other. The game’s goal is to outlive your competitors. 

You start the game on an isolated island without any equipment. Then you collect as many weapons, gear, loot, and resources as possible to help you survive and defeat the other players.

In addition, there is a “zone of survival,” which shrinks every few minutes, bringing other players closer to your position, making it more difficult to survive.

What Makes PUBG So Addictive?

Although PUBG is a game that appears harmless at first, there are specific game design features that can cause addiction and negative effects to some players. 

1. It’s competitive. The biggest attraction of PUBG is its immersive nature. Competing in a Battle Royale mode against 100 other players creates a rush and thrill to win. When you come close to winning, you want to try again, creating a “just one more game” mentality. The challenge and competition are a big reason why PUBG attracts players.
2. It’s social. There’s also the team mode in the game where you can play with other players. You can make new friends and play with them on the team, working together to win. Although playing with friends can be a benefit of gaming, it also increases the amount of time you play, leading to negative consequences in other areas of your life.
3. It has loot boxes. Loot boxes are standard in modern games, and they’re a primary reason for gamers developing gambling problems. For example, one 15-year old Indian player stole his father’s credit card to purchase $700 worth of in-game loot.
4. You can progress. In addition to building up your skills to win more games, you also have levels within the game. With each increasing level, you earn new rewards, encouraging new and existing players to keep playing and collect those rewards. The game appeals to skilled players differently than novice ones. “For example, PUBG mobile has crates with rich resources land every cycle. It is easy to pick if it lands on the flat land, while difficult to pick when landing on the roof. The novice players miss it, while experienced players use strategies to jump on the roof to get it.”

Signs & Symptoms of PUBG Addiction

If you or someone you know is addicted to PUBG, you might be experiencing PUBG addiction symptoms and signs. 

Some of the most common signs of this addiction include:

• No control over gameplay
• Loss of interest in other activities
• Continuing to play despite the negative impact
• Withdrawal symptoms when not playing
• Neglect of other areas of life
• Mental and physical health problems

If you experience these symptoms, it might be appropriate to consider talking to a therapist. Alternatively, you can use the following steps to stop playing PUBG.

PUBG Addiction Questionnaire

Concerned about your gaming? Take the Video Game Addiction Test.

The following nine questions can help you better understand if you are experiencing a PUBG addiction or if you should stop playing so much. For each question, answer Yes or No, and keep track of your answers. 

1. Do you spend a lot of time thinking about PUBG even when you’re not playing or planning when you can play next?
2. Do you feel restless, irritable, moody, angry, anxious, bored, or sad when you try to cut down or stop playing PUBG or when you are unable to play?
3. Do you feel the need to play for increasing amounts of time, or to spend increasing amounts of money to get the same amount of excitement you used to get?
4. Have you felt you should play PUBG less but cannot cut back on the amount of time you spend playing?
5. Have you lost interest—or reduced participation—in other recreational activities due to PUBG?
6. Have you continued to play PUBG even though you experienced negative consequences? Common negative effects of gaming include not getting enough sleep, arguing with others, and neglecting essential duties?
7. Have you been deceptive or lied to family, friends, or others about how much you play PUBG? 
8. Do you play PUBG to escape from or forget about personal problems or to relieve uncomfortable feelings such as guilt, anxiety, helplessness, or depression?
9. Have you risked or lost a significant relationship, job, educational, or career opportunity because of PUBG?

Now it’s time to add up your answers. For every question, you answered, “Yes,” add a score of 1. If you answered yes to three or four questions, you might be at risk of a gaming problem. If you answered yes to five or more questions, you might have a problem, and we recommend seeking professional support.

How to Stop Playing PUBG

Here are practical steps on how you can stop playing PUBG and get your life back on track.

Step 1: Find Your Root Cause

There are many reasons why people play video games.

If you can find out exactly why it is that you keep coming back to PUBG, what the root cause is, then it will be much easier to address that and stop playing PUBG so much. From our experience, some of the most common reasons for playing PUBG include:

• Temporary escape
• Novelty
• Competitiveness
• Mastery
• Risk-taking
• Socialization
• Measurable progress

What are your gaming motivations? What are the primary reasons why you play PUBG? The more clear you can be about this, the more you can redirect your motivations in other areas. For example, if you play PUBG to escape from personal problems, you can find new ways to manage stress.

Step 2: Find Replacement Activities

Now that you know why you play PUBG, you’ll want to find replacement activities for the reasons why you play. It is also essential to fill the time you usually play PUBG with new hobbies.

For example, if you play PUBG for the sense of competitiveness and achievement, then finding an activity such as playing a sport or developing a new skill may be beneficial. Or, if you play PUBG as a social outlet, consider activities to help you socialize, such as after-school programs and group classes.

If you need help to find new hobbies to help you stay away from PUBG, we’ve prepared a list of hobbies for you. Using our new hobby tool, you can filter activities based on achievement, creativity, social, low cost, and offline. 

Step 3: Delete PUBG or Steam

The next step is simple: To help you quit playing PUBG, delete it from your computer and phone. You can also find it helpful to delete Steam altogether.

Deleting the game from your computer or phone will not be enough to stop you from playing, but it will make it easier and reduce your cravings to play.

If you’ve tried to quit before and been unsuccessful, you know how easy it is to install the game and start playing again. The key is finding replacement activities that you’ll do after you quit playing PUBG so that you won’t feel the need to come back to the game.

You don’t have to commit to quitting forever. We suggest starting with a 90-day detox and then re-evaluating whether you want to go back and play in moderation or if you want to quit for good.

Step 4: Stay Strong!

Quitting PUBG will not be an easy task, especially if you’ve been playing for a long time. You’ll need to find the mental resilience to stay away from even installing PUBG on your computer or mobile phone, even if you get urges.

Here are great tips for coping with the tough times that may come your way:

1. Know that overcoming your PUBG addiction or gaming addiction is possible. If you need proof or some encouragement, read our success stories of former gaming addicts who have created a better life for themselves.
2. When you feel an urge, be patient. Cravings will come and go like the waves of the ocean. If you can, try and get out of the house, go for a walk, get some fresh air, and reconnect with nature. You can also try to turn your time into something productive, whether it is a hobby or maybe a business you’ve been considering for some time. 
3. Don’t be afraid to seek help! Talk to your friends, parents, or relatives about your struggles. You can also join our forum, where you can connect with other like-minded peers on a similar journey as you. 

Need Help? PUBG Addiction Treatment

If you feel like you need help with your PUBG addiction, then we’ve designed a program called Respawn. It will help you with the correct steps to overcome your gaming addiction and regain control of your life. Thousands of gamers just like you have successfully quit gaming with the help of the program. Imagine what you can achieve by being more productive instead of wasting your time playing video games. 

Concerned about a family member that suffers from PUBG addiction? Our Reclaim Family Program will help you and your family regain control over gaming.

For professional help and treatment, speak to a video game addiction therapist.