PUBG: Battlegrounds

PUBG: Battlegrounds, originally titled PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, is a battle royale game published by Krafton and developed by its PUBG Studios. Inspired by the 2000 Japanese film Battle Royale, the game builds on mods created by Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene for other titles, evolving into a standalone project under his guidance. Up to 100 players parachute onto an island, scavenging for weapons and gear while eliminating opponents. The play area shrinks over time, forcing survivors into closer quarters. The core loop is simple: drop, loot, fight, survive. It's available on PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and mobile platforms, with cross-play support on some systems.

The game launched on Steam Early Access in March 2017, hitting full release in December 2017. Microsoft Studios brought it to Xbox One via Game Preview that same month, with a full Xbox release in September 2018. PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and Stadia ports followed. The mobile version, PUBG Mobile, arrived on Android and iOS in 2018. In January 2022, PUBG: Battlegrounds went free-to-play across all platforms, shifting to a games-as-a-service model with ongoing updates.

Critics praised PUBG for its tense, accessible gameplay and high replayability, despite technical rough edges. It's widely credited with popularizing the battle royale genre, inspiring countless clones. The game earned multiple Game of the Year nominations and seven Guinness World Records. Krafton has supported competitive play with tournaments and broadcasting tools, aiming to establish PUBG as a major esport. With over 75 million copies sold on PC and consoles, and $13 billion in revenue through Q3 2022, it's one of the best-selling and highest-grossing games ever.[edit]

Each match drops up to 100 players onto a large island, where they must scavenge for weapons, armor, vehicles, and supplies. A shrinking blue zone forces survivors into smaller areas, with the last player or team alive winning the round. Players can choose between first-person and third-person perspectives, and matches support solo, duo, and squad configurations. The game features realistic bullet physics, vehicle traversal, and a loot system that rewards risk-reward decisions. No two matches play the same, as the circle, loot spawns, and player movements create emergent scenarios.[edit]