After much waiting and debating finally, VNG has announced the launch date for Call of Duty: Mobile VN, although it is just an Alpha Test, this is also a sign that the game is “loading 90%” to reach Vietnamese players. Unfortunately, not all 100% of Vietnamese players will get to experience this test version.
According to the announcement from the Call of Duty: Mobile VN Fanpage, this game will set the Alpha Test date on April 14, 2020, on both Android and iOS platforms. Previously, Call of Duty: Mobile VN had been available for pre-registration on the Google Play Store.
Although it has not yet appeared on the iOS App Store, with the Alpha Test announcement on both platforms, it is likely that Call of Duty: Mobile VN will be available on Apple’s store soon, or will reach players through an invitation link via email (the pre-registration method for iOS has been used by VNG for Call of Duty: Mobile VN).
However, not all 100% of players will get to experience this Alpha Test; only 50,000 players who pre-registered for Call of Duty: Mobile VN will receive an email. If the number of pre-registered players exceeds 50,000, players will be randomly selected. This has led to VNG facing backlash from players, especially in the sensitive context where Garena has officially blocked Vietnamese players from the international version of Call of Duty Mobile.
Previously, Garena in Singapore and several countries in the Southeast Asia region have officially blocked the IP addresses of Vietnamese players for the game Call of Duty Mobile. This is seen as a decisive action by this publisher to “bring” Vietnamese players back to their version in Vietnam.
The international Call of Duty Mobile fanpage also sent a message to users who cannot access this game stating: “We sincerely apologize, this game is only available in Singapore, Myanmar, the Philippines, and other regions under Garena’s jurisdiction”.
It seems that the prospect of the international version of Call of Duty Mobile reopening for Vietnamese players is very unlikely to happen in the future. Therefore, players have only two options: either quit the game or be compelled to play the VNG version of Call of Duty in the coming time, whether they want to or not if they still have affection for this game.