PUBG Mobile removes ‘Hand of the Almighty’ card after complaints

PUBG Mobile removed an in-game card called ‘Hand of the Almighty’ and issued a public apology on Tuesday after players in the Middle East and North Africa and the Philippines raised concerns that the name referenced a sacred Islamic name.

The card was introduced in the Hero’s Crown update as part of the Card Collection System. Players posted complaints on PUBG Mobile’s Arabic and Philippines Facebook pages and in app store reviews, pointing out that ‘Al-Jabbar’ is one of the 99 names of Allah, commonly translated as ‘the Almighty’ or ‘the Compeller.’

In a statement the studio apologized for “the hurt and anguish” the content caused and confirmed the card’s immediate removal. The developers described the incident as a failure in their content vetting process and pledged to review and strengthen internal checks. The statement thanked players for raising the concern and said the team will keep the game sensitive to different religions, cultures and practices.

The Hero’s Crown update had not yet rolled out in Pakistan when the concerns were raised, and the company removed the item before it reached that market.

PUBG Mobile has altered or removed content after religious sensitivity complaints in prior cases. In May 2024 the studio apologized and pulled a promotional asset that used Islamic calligraphy. In 2020 the developer removed the Mysterious Jungle game mode after players said a mechanic that required praying at totems resembled simulated idol worship.

The game’s player base is heavily concentrated in South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, regions with large Muslim populations and active mobile esports scenes. The developer runs regional tournaments and national circuits in those markets.

The studio wrote it will take steps to avoid similar oversights. For now, the ‘Hand of the Almighty’ card remains removed and the apology is on record.