What is PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)?

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) is an online multiplayer battle royale game developed by PUBG Corporation (now PUBG Studios), a subsidiary of Krafton. Built with Unreal Engine 4, the game debuted in early access for Microsoft Windows via Steam in March 2017 and instantly became a hit, selling over 18 million copies in its first eight months.

In PUBG, up to 100 players parachute onto an island, scavenging for weapons and gear to eliminate opponents. The playable area shrinks over time, forcing showdowns in a smaller and smaller space. The last player or team standing wins it all. You can play PUBG in either first-person or third-person modes, and upon release, it received praise from both critics and gamers. This article covers everything you need to know about PUBG—its creation, its impact on the industry, and some cool fun facts. Whether you’re already a fan or looking for a new battle royale to try, this is your go-to guide. Stick around to catch every detail.

Development of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

PUBG’s concept and design were led by Brendan Greene, aka PlayerUnknown. He got inspired by his earlier work—a mod for ARMA 2 called DayZ: Battle Royale—and by the Japanese movie Battle Royale (2000). Back in 2013, Greene was living in Brazil working as a photographer, graphic designer, and web designer. Games like Delta Force: Black Hawk Down and America’s Army also shaped his vision.

He was drawn to the DayZ mod because of its open-ended gameplay and military realism. By playing on custom servers, he started teaching himself programming. He thought most multiplayer shooters felt repetitive, with easily-memorized maps. Greene wanted a more dynamic experience with random elements. He achieved this with bigger maps and randomly distributed loot.

When DayZ became a standalone title, interest in Greene’s ARMA 2 mod faded, so he moved on to work with ARMA 3. Daybreak Game Company then hired him as a consultant to develop H1Z1 and licensed his battle royale concept. In Feb 2016, Daybreak split H1Z1 into two games: Just Survive (survival mode) and King of the Kill (battle royale mode), bringing Greene’s consultancy to an end.

Around the same time, South Korea’s Bluehole wanted to launch a PC hit from its mobile game model. Hearing Greene was available, they offered him the creative lead on a new project. He accepted and moved to South Korea to head up PUBG’s development.

PUBG’s early access launched in March 2017 for Windows via Steam. The full release came out in December 2017, and in that same month, Microsoft Studios released it for Xbox One via the Xbox Game Preview program. Later, it was adapted for PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and Stadia. A mobile version followed for Android and iOS. Since January 2022, PUBG has been free-to-play on all platforms and follows the live service game model.

With the game’s booming success, in 2018, Bluehole created the holding company Krafton to manage its assets and studios. By December 2020, PUBG Corporation was absorbed into Krafton and renamed PUBG Studios.

Gameplay of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

As a classic battle royale, each match in PUBG starts with up to 100 players jumping out of a plane over one of eight available maps, each different in size and terrain. The plane’s route changes every game, so quick decisions about where to land are key.

Players start with nothing and have to search for weapons, armor, vehicles, and other gear randomly scattered around. Riskier zones usually offer better loot. You can also pick up equipment from eliminated players. As time passes, the safe zone on the map shrinks, forcing confrontations. If you’re outside the safe area, you’ll keep taking damage until you’re out. Some map areas are bombarded at random, but there’s always a warning first. Occasionally, planes drop care packages with high-level gear, attracting players and sparking battles. Rounds usually last about 30 minutes, great for quick games.

Since going free-to-play, PUBG now makes money through microtransactions. You can buy weapon and character skins with real cash. One thing that sets PUBG apart is its official support for mods and custom game modes. Greene thought this was crucial for success—he wanted others to have the same modding opportunities he’d had, hoping to find “the next PlayerUnknown.”

Sales of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

PUBG isn’t just popular—it’s a total sales juggernaut. Check out some of its milestones:

• In March 2017, it raked in $11 million in just three days during early access for Windows;
• Three months later, over 5 million copies sold and $100 million made;
• In March 2018, Steam boss Gabe Newell said PUBG was the platform’s third-highest grossing game ever;
• On Xbox, it sold over a million copies in only three days after launching via Xbox Live Preview in December 2017;
• The mobile version hit 100 million downloads by August 2018 and then 225 million by October;
• It was the best-selling paid PC game of 2017, moving 30 million units and earning $900 million;
• It repeated the feat in 2018 with $1.028 billion earned that year.

Since 2017, PUBG’s PC and console versions have brought in $4 billion in revenue. With $9 billion more from the mobile versions by the third quarter of 2022, total lifetime revenue hits $13 billion.

Fun Facts About PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

Here are some cool facts about PUBG:

• The game’s name honors Brendan Greene’s online alias, “PlayerUnknown,” used in modding communities.
• The first map, Erangel, is a fictional Black Sea island inspired by real Russian sites, with a post-war vibe.
• Iconic vehicles like the UAZ (military) and Dacia (civilian) have become game staples, matching the survival theme.
• PUBG’s featured collabs include Resident Evil, Mission: Impossible, and Godzilla, bringing themed skins and events.
• The “Flare Gun” in Erangel could call in supply drops or armored vehicles if used right.
• PUBG’s wild success kicked off the battle royale craze, inspiring games like Fortnite and Apex Legends.
• Fan-favorite maps are full of hidden messages, secret objects, and pop culture references.
• Maps like Miramar and Vikendi have dynamic weather, from sandstorms to blizzards, to keep things challenging.
• Many in-game weapons, like the M416, AKM, and Kar98k, are modeled after real-world guns.
• You’ll even spot “PlayerUnknown” nameplates in some maps as a tribute to the founder.

Read more at: IE Games