Surabaya, 28 March, 2026 – The Deputy Minister of Creative Economy/Deputy Head of the Creative Economy Agency, Irene Umar, attended the 8th anniversary celebration of PUBG MOBILE titled “8EYOND THE CIRCLE” at Grand City, Surabaya, on March 28–29, 2026. The presence of the Ministry of Creative Economy reflects the Government’s tangible support for the development of the digital and creative industries, particularly the gaming and esports sectors, which continue to demonstrate significant growth at both the national and global levels.
The Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, attended the 8th anniversary celebration of PUBG MOBILE titled “8EYOND THE CIRCLE” at Grand City, Surabaya, on Saturday (March 28, 2026).
The Deputy Minister of Creative Economy, Irene Umar, emphasized that gaming is one of the strategic subsectors within the creative economy. According to her, the Ministry of Creative Economy continues to encourage collaboration between global gaming platforms and local creative players. She further stated that Indonesia is not only a market, but also a source of creative talent.
“Indonesian gamers are among the largest in the world, ranking second globally after China. Therefore, if we are not only capable of playing games, but also able to develop digital assets to create content—our peers are exceptionally skilled at producing content—then Indonesia will be on the map,” she said on Saturday (March 28).
Irene further added that behind every major game such as PUBG MOBILE, there is a long creative value chain ranging from programmers, game artists, music composers, story writers, animators, to community managers. The presence of the Government is to ensure that Indonesian talent is given a platform, both domestically and globally. She also emphasized the Government’s broader vision to elevate Indonesia’s position in the global gaming industry.
Doc: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“One of the most remarkable aspects of the PUBG MOBILE ecosystem in Indonesia is the emergence of world-class competitive athletes. As part of this 8th anniversary celebration, we are also witnessing the Grand Final of PMPL Indonesia. This is proof that the community is not only large, but also continuously evolving. Esports is a legitimate profession and a real future. The Ministry of Creative Economy is committed to building an ecosystem that not only produces pro players, but also nurtures behind-the-scenes talents—coaches, analysts, broadcasters, event organizers—across the entire creative value chain in this industry. Our aspiration is clear: Indonesia must move up the value chain from merely being game consumers to becoming game creators,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of East Java, Emil Elestianto Dardak, noted that the 8th anniversary celebration of PUBG MOBILE reflects tangible economic circulation, with gamers from various regions across Indonesia in attendance.
According to Emil, East Java Province is the second-largest contributor to the economy on the island of Java, with a population of approximately 42 million people. He expressed hope that the people of East Java will not only be spectators in the digital space, but also actively participate in the arena.
Doc: Bureau for Communication, Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency.
“Earlier, I met attendees from Jakarta and from Kalimantan. This is real economic activity. They come here, they dine, they shop, and events are organized for them. So it is not only about watching the game. We want people in the digital space not to remain mere spectators, but to be present here. Therefore, we thank PUBG for recognizing this and for organizing such a large-scale event here. This shows that the economy does not only circulate in the digital realm, but also has a tangible, real-sector impact,” he explained.
The celebration was further enlivened by a music concert, cosplay parade, and drone attractions. Players also had the opportunity to obtain exclusive in-game skins for free.
Previously, PUBG MOBILE collaborated with Indonesian musician Juicy Luicy on a remake of the song “Malapetaka,” which was released in February 2026.
A number of officials and stakeholders were also in attendance, including the Secretary to the Director General of Digital Space Oversight at the Ministry of Communication and Digital, Mediodecci Lustarini; SEA Publishing Director of PUBG MOBILE, Rex Wang; Country Manager of PUBG MOBILE Indonesia, Agung Chaniago; Project Manager of PUBG MOBILE Indonesia, Adi Eka Putra; as well as Vice Chair for Competition of PBESI, Glorya Famiela.
On the occasion, the Deputy Minister of Creative Economy was accompanied by the Deputy for Digital Creativity and Technology, Muhammad Neil El Himam; Special Staff to the Minister for Creative Economy Ecosystem and Data Strengthening, Jago Anggara; and Director of Games, Luat Sihombing.
Kiagoos Irvan Faisal
Head of the Bureau for Communication
Ministry of Creative Economy / Creative Economy Agency
