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For PUBG Mobile specifically, GameLoop was the better default choice in 2020. It was Tencent’s own game-focused emulator, had PUBG-oriented keyboard and mouse controls, and was the product formerly known as Tencent Gaming Buddy. Tencent Gaming Buddy was rebranded as GameLoop in 2019.
BlueStacks was the better all-purpose Android emulator and a sensible fallback if GameLoop was unavailable or unstable on a particular PC. However, there was no reliable apples-to-apples 2020 benchmark proving that either emulator delivered universally higher FPS. Hardware, emulator settings, drivers, game version, and regional edition all affected the result.
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Quick verdict
| Need | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| PUBG Mobile first | GameLoop | Tencent’s PUBG-focused emulator with direct game integration and purpose-built controls. |
| PUBG Mobile plus many Android apps | BlueStacks | Broader Android compatibility, Google Play support, customizable controls, and multi-instance features. |
| Least PUBG setup | GameLoop | The game-focused workflow generally required less control mapping. |
| Most control customization | BlueStacks | Its control editor allowed users to create and adjust mappings. |
| GameLoop will not install or run | BlueStacks | A legitimate alternative, provided the official installer and unmodified game client are used. |
| Native PC PUBG | Neither | An Android emulator runs PUBG Mobile, not PUBG: Battlegrounds for PC. |
What happened to Tencent Gaming Buddy?
Tencent Gaming Buddy and GameLoop were not two competing emulators. Tencent Gaming Buddy was the earlier name for Tencent’s Android gaming emulator; it became GameLoop in 2019. Therefore, a 2020 search for “Tencent Gaming Buddy” was usually looking for GameLoop.
Old videos, articles, and download pages may still use the former name. Use the official GameLoop website rather than an old third-party installer, APK mirror, or “optimized” package.
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Why GameLoop was the better PUBG Mobile choice
GameLoop was designed around mobile gaming and officially positioned its platform around titles including PUBG Mobile. Its official PUBG Mobile page identifies GameLoop as the official PUBG Mobile emulator.
That association did not guarantee perfect performance or immunity from account penalties. It did make GameLoop the most logical first choice for a PUBG Mobile player because:
- The emulator and game came from the same broader Tencent ecosystem.
- PUBG Mobile was a central supported title rather than just one Android app among thousands.
- Keyboard and mouse controls were designed around the game.
- The intended installation path was direct: install GameLoop, find PUBG MOBILE in its catalog, and install it.
GameLoop could still suffer from stuck installations, rendering problems, low FPS, memory errors, virtualization issues, DirectX problems, or compatibility failures. Its official status meant better alignment with PUBG Mobile—not universal reliability.
Where BlueStacks was stronger
BlueStacks was a general Android emulator for Windows and Mac. PUBG Mobile was one supported game, but the platform was also built for a much wider range of Android games and applications.
Its main advantages were:
- Broader app compatibility: useful if PUBG Mobile was not your only Android title.
- Custom key mapping: the control editor let players modify keyboard and mouse actions instead of relying solely on a preset.
- Multi-instance support: useful for running separate Android environments, subject to the game’s rules and the limits of the PC.
- Google Play integration: the usual installation route was to sign in, search for PUBG MOBILE, and install it.
BlueStacks’ official documentation covers PUBG Mobile installation, keyboard controls, custom mapping, and performance settings. See its PUBG Mobile support guide and installation instructions.
The trade-off was that BlueStacks could require more tuning. The Android instance, renderer, CPU and RAM allocation, GPU driver, resolution, and PUBG Mobile build all influenced performance. Being able to install PUBG Mobile did not prove that it would run smoothly on every PC.
Performance: which emulator was faster?
GameLoop was the more defensible performance recommendation for PUBG Mobile, but not because a trustworthy 2020 test established a universal FPS winner. Its game-specific design made it the more logical optimization choice. BlueStacks could also perform well, particularly after configuration, but its results were more dependent on the selected instance and settings.
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Exact FPS claims should be treated skeptically unless they disclose the complete test:
- Identical PC hardware and Windows build.
- Identical GPU driver.
- The same emulator versions.
- The same PUBG Mobile version and regional edition.
- The same resolution, graphics quality, and frame-rate setting.
- A repeatable match or test sequence.
- Frame-time consistency, stutter, input latency, crashes, loading time, and audio issues—not only peak FPS.
Promotional videos often quote average or maximum FPS without publishing those details. That makes their numbers unsuitable for a universal 2020 comparison.
Controls and input
GameLoop
GameLoop’s main control advantage was convenience. PUBG-oriented presets and game-specific keyboard and mouse mapping meant that a player focused only on PUBG Mobile generally had less configuration to do.
BlueStacks
BlueStacks was stronger for customization. Its control editor could be used to adjust movement, sprinting, crouching, prone, firing, reloading, inventory, map, and item-interaction actions. Exact default mappings changed between versions, so current BlueStacks controls should not be presented as verified 2020 defaults.
Keyboard and mouse input can offer advantages over touch controls. That is one reason PUBG Mobile has used emulator-related matchmaking systems. Do not attempt to remove or bypass those systems.
Installation in 2020 terminology
GameLoop
- Download GameLoop from its official website.
- Run the installer and open GameLoop.
- Search the catalog for PUBG MOBILE.
- Select the game and choose Install.
- Launch the game after its files and updates finish downloading.
Menu labels and catalog behavior varied between builds, so this describes the intended workflow rather than guaranteeing that every 2020 screen used identical wording.
BlueStacks
- Download BlueStacks from its official website.
- Install and launch the emulator.
- Sign in to Google Play.
- Search for PUBG MOBILE.
- Install the publisher’s legitimate listing and launch it from the BlueStacks home screen.
Do not make a random APK the default solution when the game is missing. A missing listing may indicate a regional restriction, the wrong edition, an outdated emulator, Google Services trouble, insufficient storage, or a temporary compatibility problem.
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Hardware and settings that mattered
Emulator performance depended on more than a published minimum specification. Important factors included:
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- Available RAM and background memory use.
- GPU capability and driver support.
- Hardware virtualization.
- Storage speed and free space.
- Windows power mode.
- Laptop thermal throttling.
- Renderer, resolution, graphics quality, and frame-rate settings.
Minimum requirements generally meant “the software may launch,” not “the game will provide stable competitive gameplay.” A lower graphics preset with consistent frame pacing was preferable to high graphics with repeated stutter.
Virtualization
Hardware virtualization could improve emulator compatibility and performance, but it was not a universal fix. In BIOS or UEFI, Intel systems commonly label it VT-x or Intel Virtualization Technology; AMD systems may use SVM Mode or AMD-V. The exact path varies by motherboard and manufacturer, and Windows virtualization features can interact with other emulators. Consult the PC or motherboard maker’s instructions before changing the setting.
BlueStacks settings
BlueStacks’ current official guidance recommends, for supported current builds, High, 4 cores for CPU allocation and Enhanced, 4 GB for memory allocation. It recommends HD graphics and Extreme frame rate in PUBG Mobile for up to 60 FPS, with Balanced or Smooth as fallback settings when performance is poor. These are current recommendations, not verified 2020 settings. See the official settings guide.
Fixing lag, stutter, or crashes
- Update the emulator and PUBG Mobile through official channels.
- Update the GPU driver.
- Close browsers, overlays, recording software, and unnecessary background programs.
- Check whether hardware virtualization is enabled and supported.
- Lower PUBG Mobile’s graphics preset before aggressively lowering resolution.
- Try another rendering mode if the emulator provides one.
- Cap the frame rate at a stable value instead of chasing an unstable maximum.
- On a laptop, select an appropriate performance power mode and confirm that the emulator uses the dedicated GPU.
- Check free storage and allow updates to complete.
- Reinstall the game or emulator only after confirming that your account-login information is available.
GameLoop’s support center specifically includes guidance for low FPS, virtualization, DirectX 11, low memory, installation failures, rendering abnormalities, Google Services, and version errors.
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Use only an official emulator installer and an unmodified game client. Never install emulator-detection bypasses, modified APKs, cracked clients, scripts, cheats, memory tools, injected DLLs, or files claiming to remove emulator matchmaking.
PUBG Mobile’s anti-cheat announcements specifically addressed attempts to bypass emulator matchmaking and the use of unauthorized clients. They warned that serious violations could result in bans lasting from one to ten years, depending on severity. Later announcements also described ten-year bans for serious cheating. See the emulator-related announcement and 2020 anti-cheat update.
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This does not support the simplistic claim that every third-party emulator automatically caused a ban. Nor does GameLoop guarantee that an account cannot be banned. The safe rule is to use legitimate, unmodified software and follow the game’s rules.
The anti-cheat material refers to an emulator matchmaking system, but the exact matchmaking behavior could vary by game version and region. Do not promise that every emulator player always faced only emulator players. Do not try to alter the system.
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Regional editions and Mac support
PUBG Mobile’s availability depended on country, account region, and edition. Global PUBG MOBILE, BGMI, and other regional versions were not interchangeable in every market. If the game was unavailable, check the publisher’s legitimate regional distribution rather than using a random APK or VPN-based workaround. Region circumvention can create availability, policy, or account risks.
For a 2020 comparison, GameLoop should primarily be treated as a Windows option unless a specific historical Mac build is verified. BlueStacks has current Mac documentation, but current macOS support should not be backdated to 2020. Likewise, current requirements are not evidence of the systems required in 2020.
Which emulator should you choose?
- Choose GameLoop if PUBG Mobile is the main reason you want an emulator, especially on Windows.
- Choose BlueStacks if you also want broad Android-game and app support, multi-instance features, or deeper control customization.
- Try BlueStacks as a fallback if GameLoop cannot access your regional edition or has a specific compatibility problem.
- Use neither if you want PUBG: Battlegrounds, the native PC game. An Android emulator is for PUBG Mobile.
For the exact 2020 decision, the verdict is straightforward: GameLoop—formerly Tencent Gaming Buddy—was the best default PUBG Mobile emulator, while BlueStacks was the more versatile alternative. That is a reasoned historical recommendation, not a claim that GameLoop delivered higher FPS on every PC.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tencent Gaming Buddy the same as GameLoop?
Yes. Tencent Gaming Buddy was rebranded as GameLoop in 2019; they were not separate competing emulators in the 2020 comparison.
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Is GameLoop official for PUBG Mobile?
GameLoop’s official product pages identify it as the official PUBG Mobile emulator. That association does not guarantee perfect performance or make an account immune from penalties.
Best Value
- Compatible with Android devices and fits mobile devices ranging from 100mm to 170mm in length.
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- Refined bumpers and D-pad. Light and tactile.
- 2 Pro back paddle buttons
- Profile button. Wear-resistant metal joystick rings. Turbo function.
Can I play PUBG Mobile on BlueStacks?
Yes, where the game edition is available for your region and emulator version. Install BlueStacks and PUBG Mobile through official sources.
Will BlueStacks get my account banned?
Do not treat installation of BlueStacks alone as an automatic ban trigger. Avoid modified clients, cheats, scripts, and emulator-matchmaking bypass tools, which PUBG Mobile’s anti-cheat notices prohibit.
Do emulators always match only emulator players?
Do not assume this is identical across every 2020 game version and region. PUBG Mobile used an emulator matchmaking system and prohibited attempts to bypass it.
Which emulator is better for a low-end PC?
Neither can be promised to run smoothly without knowing the CPU, RAM, GPU, drivers, thermals, resolution, and settings. Stable lower graphics are usually preferable to unstable high settings.
Should I use a VPN if PUBG Mobile is unavailable?
Avoid treating a VPN as a safe default. Regional editions and account rules differ, and circumvention can create availability or policy risks.
Is PUBG Mobile free on both emulators?
The emulators and the game were distributed as free downloads through their official channels, although internet use, in-game purchases, and regional availability still applied.
Quick Recap
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