PUBG mask pulled, AI bot renamed over designs attributed to Imperial Japan

Bluehole has apologized after a pilot's mask with the Japanese rising sun symbol and an AI bot named Unit 731 were found by Korean players in PUBG.

PUBG players in Asian markets have received an apology from Bluehole after references to Imperial Japan were found in-game.

As reported by Korean news outlet Bzit via the BBC, a pilot's mask sporting the rising sun symbol was found in-game. The symbol is associated with the Imperial Japanese military during WW2 (thanks, GI.biz).

An AI bot called Unit 731 was found by another player in the Asian market. The AI bot features the same unit name as a biological and chemical warfare research and development unit of the Imperial Japanese Army. The complex was located in the Pingfang district of Harbin in Heilungkiang, China where during Word War 2 prisoners underwent human experimentation.

It has been estimated 3,000 men, women, children underwent involuntary experimentation in this location alone. The majority were Chinese citizens, while other victims were Soviet, Mongolian, Korean, and other Allied POWs.

Korean and Chinese players were understandably upset, leading to an apology from Bluehole, which promised to remove both the mask and the AI's name from the game.

The developer said the mask was never meant to be made publicly available in-game, and all purchases will be refunded.

"We apologize for causing concerns over a pilot mask item," the said Bluehole in a statement. "We will conduct an overall re-examination of our image production process to prevent such a recurrence.

"We will enhance procedures to scrutinize game items before their release and hold the person in charge responsible."