A controversy has emerged just days before the PUBG Mobile World Cup at the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC), after a player representing an Indian team was found to be competing under the in-game name “Hitler”.
India, represented by Team Aryan – another reference to the Nazi leader’s regime – had recently secured a special invite to the tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, scheduled to take place from 25 July to 3 August. The team earned its spot after winning the Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series (BMPS) 2025, marking a rare moment of international representation for the country following a period of restriction due to previous game bans.
However, attention quickly turned to controversy rather than celebration after the discovery of one player’s in-game alias. The name “Hitler” drew backlash across social media platforms, with critics citing its association with the Nazi dictator and its impact particularly in Europe.
Clarification on the issue was provided by journalist Musab Zaman of India Today Gaming, who explained that the use of the name in India carries a different, often colloquial, meaning. In Indian contexts, “Hitler” is sometimes used informally to describe someone who is strict or authoritarian. According to Zaman, the player and team had no malicious intent, but the cultural dissonance highlights the importance of sensitivity in international competitions.
Questions have since been raised over how the name was allowed to pass through official channels. Zaman suggested that the responsibility for flagging potentially offensive names should lie with tournament organisers and game publishers. As the BMPS 2025 winners were known in advance to be representing India at the EWC, stakeholders such as developer Krafton and the tournament organisers had time to intervene before the team’s details were publicly shared.
The situation has also drawn attention to the team’s name — Aryan — which, while controversial in some global contexts, is a widely used and culturally significant name in India, deriving from Sanskrit and often interpreted to mean “noble” or “warrior-like”.
Zaman argued that the episode underscores a broader need for cultural awareness and proactive education within global esports. While acknowledging the validity of international concerns, he also called for constructive dialogue rather than online vitriol. According to his reporting, the player in question is expected to change his in-game name ahead of the tournament.
As India returns to the global stage in PUBG Mobile esports, the incident serves as a reminder of the reputational risks involved and the importance of fostering mutual understanding in an increasingly interconnected competitive scene.
UPDATE 16 July, 2pm GMT+1: The player has officially changed his in-game name to Henry and issued a statement on Instagram: “Hey everyone, I want to sincerely apologise for my previous esports ID, and apologise to anyone who’s hurt by it. It was highly insensitive and hurtful, and I used it without fully considering the weight and historical pain associated with it. It was never my intention to offend anyone or glorify anything negative.
“I have changed my esports ID to Henry. Thank you to those who helped me realise this. I’m committed to making sure I represent myself and the esports community with more awareness and respect moving forward.”
