
Free-to-play battle royale for up to 100 players fighting to survive as the battleground shrinks.
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS established the battle royale format for a mass audience when it launched in 2017, and that first-mover position still anchors the franchise's recognition. Its player base spans PC, console, and mobile, giving the game a reach few shooters match across platforms and regions.
A long-running live-operations cadence, including map refreshes, seasonal events, and anti-cheat programs, sustains engagement between major releases. The competitive circuit and the backing of KRAFTON's publishing and distribution network extend that reach further.
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS entered Steam Early Access on March 23, 2017, under its original title. A March 2017 launch announcement and Steam's dated product-release record document the first PC release; KRAFTON later described the game as having launched into Early Access in 2017.
KRAFTON announced in December 2021 that PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS would move to free-to-play on PC and consoles on January 12, 2022. The game continues as a separate PC and console title from PUBG MOBILE, with official product information and dated updates published through its own site and storefront channels.
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS is a live-service game, so its value rests on the cadence of updates and the size of the active player base rather than on unit sales. Revenue arrives through cosmetic purchases, progressive skins, and seasonal passes.
The game operates across PC, console, and mobile with a shared brand and separate storefronts, and its competitive ecosystem runs through PUBG Esports. KRAFTON's studio structure places development and live operations with PUBG Studios.
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS is a free-to-play battle royale shooter in which up to 100 players parachute onto a large map, scavenge weapons and equipment, and fight to be the last player or squad standing as a shrinking play zone forces them together. Matches run across a rotating set of maps and modes on PC, console, and mobile.
The game sells cosmetic items, progressive weapon skins, and a seasonal battle pass rather than charging for entry, and it runs a ranked competitive tier system alongside regular content updates. It is developed and operated by PUBG Studios, a studio inside KRAFTON.