View source for PUBG: Battlegrounds

{{Short description|2017 video game}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2018}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = PUBG: Battlegrounds
| image = Pubgbattlegrounds.png
| developer = [[PUBG Studios]]{{efn|LightSpeed Studios, a division of [[Tencent Games]], developed the [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]] versions of the game. [[Xbox One]] version development support was provided by [[The Coalition (company)|The Coalition]].}}
| publisher = {{Unbulleted list|[[Krafton]]|[[Microsoft Studios]] (Xbox One)|[[Tencent Games]] ([[PUBG Mobile|mobile]]){{efn|Published under the Level Infinite brand}}}}
| composer = [[Tom Salta]]
| engine = [[Unreal Engine 4]]
| platforms = {{Unbulleted list|[[Windows]]|[[Android (operating system)|Android]]|[[iOS]]|[[Xbox One]]|[[PlayStation 4]]|[[Google Stadia|Stadia]]|[[Xbox Series X/S]]|[[PlayStation 5]]}}
| genre = [[Battle royale game|Battle royale]]
| modes = [[Multiplayer]]
| director = {{Unbulleted list|[[Brendan Greene]]|Jang Tae-seok}}
| producer = Kim Chang-han
| designer = Brendan Greene
| artist = Jang Tae-seok
| released = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|December 20, 2017}}
|'''Windows'''|December 20, 2017{{efn|[[Early access]] launch on March 23, 2017}}
|'''Android''', '''iOS'''|March 19, 2018
|'''Xbox One'''|September 4, 2018{{efn|[[Xbox Game Preview]] launch on December 12, 2017}}
|'''PlayStation 4'''|December 7, 2018
|'''Stadia'''|April 28, 2020
|'''Xbox Series X/S'''|November 10, 2020
|'''PlayStation 5'''|November 12, 2020}}
| series = ''[[PUBG Universe]]''
| caption = Game cover (2021 edition)
}}

'''''PUBG: Battlegrounds''''' (previously titled '''''PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds''''') is a 2017 [[battle royale game|battle royale]] video game published by [[Krafton]], and developed by Krafton's [[PUBG Studios]]. The game, which was inspired by the Japanese film ''[[Battle Royale (film)|Battle Royale]]'' (2000), is based on previous [[Mod (video gaming)|mods]] created by [[Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene]] for other games, and expanded into a standalone game under Greene's creative direction. Played from either a [[Third-person (video games)|third-person]] or [[First-person (video games)|first-person]] perspective, up to one hundred players parachute onto an island where they are tasked to scavenge for weapons and equipment to kill other players while avoiding getting killed themselves. The available safe area of the game's map decreases in size over time, directing surviving players into an ever-tightening space to force encounters.

''PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds'' was first released for [[Windows]] via [[Steam (service)|Steam]]'s [[early access]] beta program in March 2017, with a full release in December 2017; the same month, [[Microsoft Studios]] studios released it for the [[Xbox One]] via the [[Xbox Game Preview]] program, with a full release coming in September 2018. Afterwards the game was [[Video game port|ported]] to the [[PlayStation 4]], [[Xbox Series X/S]] and [[PlayStation 5]] consoles, and the [[Google Stadia|Stadia]] streaming platform, and has also spawned a [[Mobile game|mobile]] version, ''[[PUBG Mobile]]'', for [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]]. The game is continuously developed under the [[Game as a service|games as a service]] model and has been [[free-to-play]] for all platforms since January 2022.

The game received positive reviews from critics, who found that while the game had some technical flaws, it presented new types of gameplay that could be easily approached by players of any skill level and was highly replayable. It was credited with popularizing the battle royale genre, with a number of unofficial Chinese [[video game clone|clones]] being produced following its success. The game received several [[List of Game of the Year awards|Game of the Year]] nominations and set seven [[Guinness World Records]], among many other accolades. PUBG Corporation has run several small tournaments and introduced in-game tools to help with broadcasting the game to spectators, as they wish for it to become a popular [[esport]] title. It has sold over {{nowrap|75 million}} copies on [[personal computers]] and [[game consoles]], is the [[List of best-selling PC games|best-selling game on PC]] and [[List of best-selling Xbox One video games|on Xbox One]], and is the [[List of best-selling video games|fifth best-selling video game of all time]]. Until Q3 2022, the game has accumulated $13 billion in worldwide revenue, including from the more successful mobile version of the game, making it one of the highest-grossing video games of all time.

== Gameplay ==
''PUBG'' is a [[player versus player]] [[shooter game]] in which up to one hundred players fight in a [[battle royale game|battle royale]], a type of large-scale [[Last man standing (video games)|last man standing deathmatch]] where players fight to remain the last alive. Players can choose to enter the match solo, duo, or with a small team of up to four people. The last person or team alive wins the match.<ref name="polygon guide" />

Each match starts with players parachuting from a plane onto one of the eight maps which have different sizes and terrain.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Forward |first1=Jordan |title=PUBG new map – all the latest details on the upcoming snow map, Vikendi |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-new-maps |website=PCGames |access-date=March 2, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331152850/https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-new-maps |archive-date=March 31, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The plane's flight path across the map varies with each round, requiring players to quickly determine the best time to eject and parachute to the ground.<ref name="polygon guide" /> Players start with no gear beyond customized clothing selections which do not affect gameplay. Once they land, players can search buildings, [[ghost town]]s and other sites to find weapons, vehicles, armor, and other equipment. These [[Item (game terminology)|items]] are procedurally distributed throughout the map at the start of a match, with certain high-risk zones typically having better equipment.<ref name="polygon guide" /> Killed players can be looted to acquire their gear as well.<ref name="polygon guide"/> Players can opt to play either from the [[first-person perspective|first-person]] or [[third-person perspective]], each having their own advantages and disadvantages in combat and situational awareness; though server-specific settings can be used to force all players into one perspective to eliminate some advantages.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-first-person-servers |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds gets first-person-only servers next month |first=Richard |last=Scott-Jones |date=July 13, 2017 |access-date=July 13, 2017 |website=[[PCGamesN]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713144349/https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-first-person-servers |archive-date=July 13, 2017}}</ref>

Every few minutes, the playable area of the map begins to shrink down towards a random location, with any player caught outside the safe area taking damage incrementally, and eventually being eliminated if the safe zone is not entered in time; in game, the players see the boundary as a shimmering blue wall that contracts over time.<ref name="gamasutra mapdesign">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/design/designing-the-giant-battle-royale-maps-of-i-playerunknown-s-battlegrounds-i- |title=Designing the giant battle royale maps of Playerunknown's Battlegrounds |first=Alan |last=Bradley |date=April 27, 2017 |access-date=April 27, 2017 |website=[[Gamasutra]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427130040/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/296881/Designing_the_giant_battle_royale_maps_of_Playerunknowns_Battlegrounds.php |archive-date=April 27, 2017}}</ref> This results in a more confined map, in turn increasing the chances of encounters.<ref name="polygon guide" /> During the course of the match, random regions of the map are highlighted in red and bombed, posing a threat to players who remain in that area.<ref name="pc gamer future" /> In both cases, players are warned a few minutes before these events, giving them time to relocate to safety.<ref name="gibiz" /> A plane will fly over various parts of the playable map occasionally at random, or wherever a player uses a [[flare gun]], and drop a loot package, containing items which are typically unobtainable during normal gameplay. These packages emit highly visible red smoke, drawing interested players near it and creating further confrontations.<ref name="polygon guide">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-guide/2017/6/9/15721366/pubg-how-to-play-blue-wall-white-red-circle-map-weapon-vehicle-inventory-air-drop |title=Understanding Playerunknown's Battlegrounds |first=Chris |last=Carter |date=June 9, 2017 |access-date=June 9, 2017 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609175706/https://www.polygon.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-guide/2017/6/9/15721366/pubg-how-to-play-blue-wall-white-red-circle-map-weapon-vehicle-inventory-air-drop |archive-date=June 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Nieva |first1=Jason |title=PUBG's Latest Update Adds Flare Gun, Two New Vehicles |url=https://www.player.one/pubg-latest-update-adds-flare-gun-two-new-vehicles-125189 |website=Player.One |access-date=April 27, 2019 |date=April 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427142722/https://www.player.one/pubg-latest-update-adds-flare-gun-two-new-vehicles-125189 |archive-date=April 27, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> On average, a full round takes no more than 30 minutes.<ref name="gibiz" />

At the completion of each round, players gain [[in-game currency]] based on their performance. The currency is used to purchase crates which contain [[Virtual goods|cosmetic items]] for character or weapon customization.<ref name="Skin economy">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/297434/Skin_economy_is_a_good_thing_says_Playerunknowns_Battlegrounds_creator.php |title='Skin economy is a good thing,' says Playerunknown's Battlegrounds creator |first=Chris |last=Kerr |date=May 7, 2017 |website=[[Gamasutra]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801040219/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/297434/Skin_economy_is_a_good_thing_says_Playerunknowns_Battlegrounds_creator.php |archive-date=August 1, 2017}}</ref> A rotating "event mode" was added to the game in March 2018. These events change up the normal game rules, such as establishing larger teams or squads, or altering the distribution of weapons and armor across the game map.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/22/17150806/pubg-special-events-new-event-mode |title=PUBG bringing in an Event Mode to answer Fortnite's |first=Austen |last=Goslin |date=March 22, 2018 |access-date=March 22, 2018 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323030702/https://www.polygon.com/2018/3/22/17150806/pubg-special-events-new-event-mode |archive-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref>

== Development ==
[[File:Brendan_greene_gdc_2018.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Game creator Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene in 2018]]
The game's concept and design was led by Brendan Greene, better known by his online handle PlayerUnknown, who had previously created the ''[[ARMA 2]]'' [[Mod (video gaming)|mod]] ''DayZ: Battle Royale'', an offshoot of popular mod ''[[DayZ (mod)|DayZ]]'', and inspired by the 2000 Japanese film ''[[Battle Royale (film)|Battle Royale]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://playbattlegrounds.com/news/24.pu |title=INVEN Game Conference Talk |first=Brendan |last=Greene |date=February 15, 2017 |access-date=June 8, 2017 |website=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170618031318/http://www.playbattlegrounds.com/news/24.pu |archive-date=June 18, 2017}}</ref><ref name="usgamer greene interview">{{cite web |url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-interview-brendan-greene |title=Meeting PlayerUnknown, and the Fiction that Inspired the Year's Biggest Surprise Hit |first=Caty |last=McCarthy |date=August 9, 2017 |access-date=August 9, 2017 |website=[[US Gamer]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810050911/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-interview-brendan-greene |archive-date=August 10, 2017}}</ref> At the time he created ''DayZ: Battle Royale'', around 2013, Irish-born Greene had been living in Brazil for a few years as a photographer, graphic designer, and web designer, and played video games such as ''[[Delta Force: Black Hawk Down]]'' and ''[[America's Army]]''.<ref name="rps interview jul17"/><ref name="glixel interview">{{cite web |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/news/meet-playerunknown-creator-of-the-battle-royale-genre-w475728 |title=Meet Brendan 'Playerunknown' Greene, Creator of the Twitch Hit 'Battlegrounds' |first=Luke |last=Winkie |date=April 7, 2017 |access-date=July 27, 2017 |website=[[Glixel]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730075114/http://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/news/meet-playerunknown-creator-of-the-battle-royale-genre-w475728 |archive-date=July 30, 2017}}</ref> The ''DayZ'' mod caught his interest, both as a realistic military simulation and its open-ended gameplay, and he started playing around with a custom server, learning programming as he went along.<ref name="rps interview jul17">{{cite news |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/07/05/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-interview-new-modes-modding-plans-and-his-meteoric-rise/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds interview: New modes, modding plans, and his meteoric rise |first=Graham |last=Smith |date=July 5, 2017 |access-date=July 5, 2017 |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705214215/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/07/05/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-interview-new-modes-modding-plans-and-his-meteoric-rise/ |archive-date=July 5, 2017}}</ref> Greene found most multiplayer first-person shooters too repetitive, considering maps small and easy to memorize. He wanted to create something with more random aspects so that players would not know what to expect, creating a high degree of replayability; this was done by creating vastly larger maps that could not be easily memorized, and using random item placement across it.<ref name="pcgn greene">{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-battlegrounds-brendan-greene |title=Getting to know PlayerUnknown |first=Jordan |last=Forward |date=May 19, 2017 |access-date=May 19, 2017 |website=[[PCGamesN]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519151012/https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-battlegrounds-brendan-greene |archive-date=May 19, 2017}}</ref> Greene was also inspired by an online competition for ''DayZ'' called ''Survivor GameZ'', which featured a number of [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] and [[YouTube]] [[Video game live streaming|streamers]] fighting until only a few were left; as he was not a streamer himself, Greene wanted to create a similar game mode that anyone could play.<ref name="pcgn greene" /> His initial efforts on this mod were more inspired by ''[[The Hunger Games]]'' novels, where players would try to vie for stockpiles of weapons at a central location, but he moved away from this partially to give players a better chance at survival by spreading weapons around, and also to avoid copyright issues with the novels.<ref name="usgamer greene interview"/> In taking inspiration from the ''Battle Royale'' film, Greene had wanted to use square safe areas, but his inexperience in coding led him to use circular safe areas instead, which persisted to ''Battlegrounds''.<ref name="usgamer greene interview"/>

When ''DayZ'' became its [[DayZ (video game)|own standalone title]], interest in his ''ARMA 2'' version of the ''Battle Royale'' mod trailed off, and Greene transitioned development of the mod to ''[[ARMA 3]]''.<ref name="rps interview jul17"/> [[Sony Online Entertainment]] (now the [[Daybreak Game Company]]) had become interested in Greene's work, and brought him on as a consultant to develop on ''H1Z1'', licensing the battle royale idea from him.<ref name="rps interview jul17"/> In February 2016, Sony Online split ''H1Z1'' into two separate games, the survival mode ''[[H1Z1: Just Survive]]'', and the battle royale-like ''[[H1Z1: King of the Kill]]'', around the same time that Greene's consultation period was over.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-could-have-a-bright-future-in-the-battle-royale-genre-he-created/ |title=Playerunknown's Battlegrounds could have a bright future in the battle royale genre he created |first=Christopher |last=Livingston |date=February 28, 2017 |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |publisher=[[Future US]] |access-date=June 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617164755/http://www.pcgamer.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-could-have-a-bright-future-in-the-battle-royale-genre-he-created/ |archive-date=June 17, 2017}}</ref>

Separately, the [[Seoul]]-based studio Ginno Games, led by Chang-han Kim and who developed [[massively multiplayer online game]]s (MMOs) for personal computers, was acquired and renamed Bluehole Ginno Games by Bluehole in January 2015, a major South Korean publisher of MMOs and [[mobile games]].<ref name="vb kim" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2017/04/134_226897.html |title=Korean survival shooter tops global game chart |first=Yoon |last=Sung-won |date=April 3, 2017 |access-date=April 3, 2017 |website=[[The Korea Times]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403125325/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2017/04/134_226897.html |archive-date=April 3, 2017}}</ref> Kim recognized that producing a successful game in South Korea generally meant it would be published globally, and wanted to use his team to create a successful title for personal computers that followed the same model as other mobile games published by Bluehole. He had already been excited about making a type of battle royale game after he had played ''DayZ'', in part that the format had not caught on in Korea. He also wanted to make this through an [[early access]] model and have a very limited development schedule to get the game out as quickly as possible, while treating the product as a "[[games as a service]]" model to be able to support it for many years.<ref name="vb kim" /> In researching what had been done, he came across Greene's mods and reached out to him.<ref name="vb kim">{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/27/inside-the-company-behind-sensation-playerunknowns-battlegrounds/ |title=Inside the company behind sensation Playerunknown's Battlegrounds |date=June 27, 2017 |access-date=June 27, 2017 |website=[[Venture Beat]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731003657/https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/27/inside-the-company-behind-sensation-playerunknowns-battlegrounds/ |archive-date=July 31, 2017}}</ref> In July 2017, Bluehole partnered with [[social media]] platform [[Facebook]] to provide exclusive streaming content to Facebook's gaming channels, as part of their push to provide more gaming content for its users.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/7/10/15946782/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-facebook-streaming-exclusive |title=Playerunknown's Battlegrounds inks exclusive content deal with Facebook |first=Charlie |last=Hall |date=July 10, 2017 |access-date=July 11, 2017 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722135032/https://www.polygon.com/2017/7/10/15946782/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-facebook-streaming-exclusive |archive-date=July 22, 2017}}</ref>

Around the same time that Greene left Sony Online, Kim contacted and offered him the opportunity to work on a new battle royale concept. Within a week, Greene flew out to Bluehole's headquarters in Korea to discuss the options, and a few weeks later, he became the creative director of Bluehole. He moved to South Korea to oversee development.<ref name="pcgn greene" /> According to Greene, this was the first time a Korean game studio had brought aboard a foreigner for a creative director role, and while it was a risk, he says that his relationship with Bluehole's management is strong, allowing Greene's team to work autonomously with minimal oversight.<ref name="gibiz" /> The game's main musical theme was composed by [[Tom Salta]], who was personally selected by Greene as he and the team were looking for an "orchestral electronic hybrid theme" that would give players a "huge build-up",  keeping them "resolutely determined" until a match starts.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Makuch |first1=Eddie |title=PUBG Theme Music Now Available To Stream, Buy |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-theme-music-now-available-to-stream-buy/1100-6456298/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=March 31, 2018 |date=January 24, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401075425/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-theme-music-now-available-to-stream-buy/1100-6456298/ |archive-date=April 1, 2018}}</ref> The music for 6th anniversary was composed by Antti Martikainen.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Antti Martikainen: composing a new theme for PUBG|url=https://www.facebook.com/anttimartikainenmusic/posts/pfbid0HgF9Ar9EAxv41AZ3QkXJruwinDxuFqYypY2hJmXqFFtxe11q5GNVoqDUXZ5xK4mKl |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=www.facebook.com |language=en}}</ref>

Development began in early 2016 and was publicly announced that June, with plans to have the game ready within a year.<ref name="eurogamer interview">{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-04-07-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-interview-battle-royale |title=Battlegrounds' PlayerUnknown and the future of Battle Royale |last=Higton |first=Ian |date=April 10, 2017 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=April 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410230016/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-04-07-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-interview-battle-royale |archive-date=April 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/276149/Bluehole_and_PLAYERUNKNOWN_Reveal_PLAYERUNKNOWNrsquoSBATTLEGROUNDS_Open_World_Strategic_Shooter.php |title=Bluehole and Playerunknown Reveal Playerunknown's Battlegrounds Open World Strategic Shooter |date=30 June 2017 |access-date=August 15, 2017 |website=[[Gamasutra]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816022004/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/276149/Bluehole_and_PLAYERUNKNOWN_Reveal_PLAYERUNKNOWNrsquoSBATTLEGROUNDS_Open_World_Strategic_Shooter.php |archive-date=August 16, 2017}}</ref> Kim served as executive producer for the game.<ref name="pcgn greene" /> Bluehole started with a team of about 35 developers supporting Greene's work, but had expanded to 70 by June 2017.<ref name="pcgamesn team" /> Greene stated that many of these developers were voluntarily putting in longer work hours into the game due to their dedication to the project, and not by any mandate from himself or Bluehole's management.<ref name="pcgn greene" /><ref name="polygon fireside">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/e3/2017/6/20/15829824/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-zombies-brendan-greene-interview-pubg-e3-2017 |title=A fireside chat with the creator of Playerunknown's Battlegrounds |first=Charlie |last=Hall |date=June 20, 2017 |access-date=June 20, 2017 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620154524/https://www.polygon.com/e3/2017/6/20/15829824/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-zombies-brendan-greene-interview-pubg-e3-2017 |archive-date=June 20, 2017}}</ref> In addition to Bluehole, Greene also credits [[Bohemia Interactive]], the developers of ''ARMA'' and ''DayZ'', for support with [[motion capture]] animations via their [[Prague]] studio.<ref name="polygon fireside" /><ref name="pcgamesn team" />

With the rapid growth of interest in the game, Bluehole spun out the entire development for ''PUBG'' into Bluehole Ginno Games in September 2017, which was renamed PUBG Corporation with Kim as its [[chief executive officer]]. PUBG Corporation continued the development of the game and its marketing and growth, opening an office in the United States with plans for future ones in Europe and Japan.<ref name="vb pubg corp">{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/29/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-is-getting-its-own-subsidiary-from-bluehole/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is getting its own subsidiary from Bluehole |first=Mike |last=Minotti |date=September 29, 2017 |access-date=September 29, 2017 |website=[[Venture Beat]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929172743/https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/29/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-is-getting-its-own-subsidiary-from-bluehole/ |archive-date=September 29, 2017}}</ref> In August 2018, PUBG Corporation launched the "Fix PUBG" campaign, acknowledging that the game by then still had several lingering [[Software bug|bugs]] and other performance issues.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/8/17663258/fix-pubg-campaign-announced-playerunknowns-battlegrounds |first=Sam |last=Byford |date=August 8, 2018 |access-date=August 8, 2018 |work=[[The Verge]] |title=PUBG developer admits PUBG is broken with 'Fix PUBG' campaign |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180808065814/https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/8/17663258/fix-pubg-campaign-announced-playerunknowns-battlegrounds |archive-date=August 8, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The campaign finished in November, with PUBG Corporation calling it a success as everything listed had been implemented by then.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Castello |first1=Jay |title=Playerunknown's Battlegrounds declares FIX PUBG a success, talk new development directions |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/17/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-declares-fix-pubg-a-success-talk-new-development-directions/ |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |access-date=November 18, 2018 |date=November 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117235048/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/11/17/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-declares-fix-pubg-a-success-talk-new-development-directions/ |archive-date=November 17, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2019, Greene announced that he was stepping down as the game's lead designer, but would still serve as a creative consultant. Tae-seok Jang, the game's art director, would replace him, with Green relocating to PUBG's studio in Amsterdam, PUBG Special Projects.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-03-13-brendan-playerunknown-greene-moves-on-from-pubg |title=Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene moves on from PUBG |first=Wesley |last=Yin-Poole |date=March 13, 2019 |access-date=March 13, 2019 |work=[[Eurogamer]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190320224710/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-03-13-brendan-playerunknown-greene-moves-on-from-pubg |archive-date=March 20, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Greene stated that he believed the main ''PUBG'' team was at a place to continue developing the game in the direction he had set to keep the game unique among the other battle royale games it had launched, and he wanted to try something not tied to battle royale but still multiplayer-based. The move also put him closer to his family in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-04-01-brendan-greene-im-done-with-battle-royale |title=Brendan Greene: "I'm done with battle royale" |first=James |last=Batchelor |date=April 1, 2019 |access-date=April 1, 2019 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401144057/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-04-01-brendan-greene-im-done-with-battle-royale |archive-date=April 1, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

With the success of ''PUBG'', Bluehole created [[Krafton]] as a holding company for its video game assets and studios in 2018, taking over the publishing duties for ''PUBG'' and related games.<ref name="bloomberg krafton ipo">{{cite news | url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-18/coding-prodigy-behind-hit-game-pubg-eyes-ipo-worth-billions | title = Coding Prodigy Behind Hit Game PUBG Eyes IPO Worth Billions | first = Sohee | last = Kim | date = January 18, 2021 | access-date = January 19, 2021 | work = [[Bloomberg News]] | archive-date = March 1, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210301135239/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-18/coding-prodigy-behind-hit-game-pubg-eyes-ipo-worth-billions | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-krafton-ipo-idUSKBN2BV15L | title = Korean video game firm Krafton applies for IPO, seen worth billions of dollars | first = Joyce | last = Lee | date = April 8, 2021 | accessdate = April 16, 2021 | publisher = [[Reuters]] | archive-date = April 16, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210416134206/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-krafton-ipo-idUSKBN2BV15L | url-status = live }}</ref> By December 2020, Krafton merged PUBG Corporation into their internal studio system, rebranding the team as PUBG Studios.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://archive.esportsobserver.com/krafton-pubg-studio/ | title = PUBG Corp. Fully Merges into KRAFTON, Becomes PUBG Studio | first = Tobias | last = Seck | date = December 1, 2020 | accessdate = July 23, 2021 | work = [[The Esports Observer]] | archive-date = July 23, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210723174942/https://archive.esportsobserver.com/krafton-pubg-studio/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

=== Design ===
''PUBG'' represents the standalone version of what Greene believes is the "final version" of the battle royale concept, incorporating the elements he had designed in previous iterations.<ref name="gibiz">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-04-26-playerunknown-battlegrounds-dev-i-want-to-find-the-next-me |title=PlayerUnknown Battlegrounds dev: "I want to find the next me" |first=James |last=Batchelor |date=April 26, 2017 |access-date=April 26, 2017 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170426195343/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-04-26-playerunknown-battlegrounds-dev-i-want-to-find-the-next-me |archive-date=April 26, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://steamed.kotaku.com/the-modder-who-created-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-1794193444 |title=The Modder Behind PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, A Game That Just Sold A Million Copies |last=Grayson |first=Nathan |date=April 10, 2017 |website=Kotaku |access-date=April 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411005246/http://steamed.kotaku.com/the-modder-who-created-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-1794193444 |archive-date=April 11, 2017}}</ref> Faster development was possible with the game engine [[Unreal Engine]] 4, compared with ''ARMA'' and ''H1Z1'', which were built with proprietary game engines. Greene acknowledged that implementing the size of the maps in ''PUBG'' has been one of the challenges with working with Unreal, which was not designed with such maps in mind.<ref name="gibiz" /><ref name="rps interview jul17"/> The game was designed as a mix between the realistic simulation of ''ARMA 3'' and the arcade-like action focus and player accessibility of ''H1Z1''.<ref name="pc gamer future">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/battle-royale-modder-brendan-greene-on-his-official-h1z1-mode/ |title=Battle Royale modder Brendan Greene on his official H1Z1 mode |first=Tom |last=Marks |date=January 21, 2015 |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |publisher=[[Future US]] |access-date=June 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519181740/http://www.pcgamer.com/battle-royale-modder-brendan-greene-on-his-official-h1z1-mode/ |archive-date=May 19, 2017}}</ref> To prevent [[Cheating in online games|in-game cheating]], the game uses [[BattlEye]] anti-cheating software, which had permanently banned over 13 million players by October 2018.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-banning-more-than-6000-players-a-day/ |title=PUBG's anti-cheat system is banning more than 6,000 players a day |magazine=PC Gamer |date=October 15, 2017 |first1=Samuel |last1=Horti |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016011817/http://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-banning-more-than-6000-players-a-day/ |archive-date=October 16, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Castello |first1=Jay |title=Playerunknown's Battlegrounds has banned over 13 million cheaters |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/06/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-has-banned-over-13-million-cheaters/ |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |access-date=November 18, 2018 |date=October 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118122717/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/10/06/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-has-banned-over-13-million-cheaters/ |archive-date=November 18, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> BattlEye indicated that 99% of all cheating software for the game was developed in [[China]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grayson |first1=Nathan |title=Majority of Battlegrounds Cheats Are From China, PlayerUnknown Says [UPDATE] |url=https://steamed.kotaku.com/99-percent-of-battlegrounds-cheats-are-from-china-play-1821513424 |website=Kotaku |access-date=February 22, 2018 |date=December 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223050716/https://steamed.kotaku.com/99-percent-of-battlegrounds-cheats-are-from-china-play-1821513424 |archive-date=February 23, 2018}}</ref>

Based on Greene's experience with the genre, an island with many terrain features was picked as the first map, known as "Erangel".<ref name="usgamer greene interview"/> The map design scope was to offer players many possible options for strategic and unique gameplay.<ref name="gamasutra mapdesign" /> Some buildings and structures were designed to depict the style of the [[brutalist architecture]] of the [[Soviet Union]] during the 1950s. The developer team playtested architecture features and random item placement systems, looking at both how close-quarters encounters went and open terrain areas.<ref name="gamasutra mapdesign" /> The goal was to optimize the right distribution and placement of weapons and gear across the map, to encourage players to make strategic decisions about how to proceed in the game without overly penalizing players who may not find weapons within the first few minutes of a round.<ref name="gibiz" /> During early access, additional maps were planned, such as one set on a fictional island in the Adriatic Sea that included snow-covered Yugoslavian territories.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/playerunknowns_battlegrounds/b/pc/archive/2017/05/11/exclusive-new-maps-coming-to-playerunknown-s-battlegrounds.aspx |title=Exclusive Details On New Maps Coming To PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds |first=Daniel |last=Tack |date=May 11, 2017 |access-date=May 11, 2017 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512105958/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/playerunknowns_battlegrounds/b/pc/archive/2017/05/11/exclusive-new-maps-coming-to-playerunknown-s-battlegrounds.aspx |archive-date=May 12, 2017}}</ref><ref name="pcgamesn team" /> Greene stated that he thought the Erangel map felt disjointed despite meeting their goals for gameplay, and sought to create more unified ideas with future maps.<ref name="usgamer greene interview"/>

The freefall from an airplane at the start of each match was a new feature for the genre, encouraging strategy between staying with the pack of players or seeking out one's own route for a better chance at finding good loot.<ref name="gibiz" /> With the added parachute drop, Greene considered that ''PUBG'' had three distinct subgames: the airdrop during which one must quickly figure out the best time to jump and where to land in relationship to the other players, the loot game of knowing where and how to gather the best possible equipment, and the combat game with other players.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/07/13/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-is-easy-in-ways-other-games-are-hard/ |title=Playerunknown's Battlegrounds is easy in ways other games are hard |first=Graham |last=Smith |date=July 13, 2017 |access-date=July 13, 2017 |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713201722/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/07/13/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-is-easy-in-ways-other-games-are-hard/ |archive-date=July 13, 2017}}</ref> Winners of a match are greeted with the phrase "winner winner chicken dinner", an idiom that Greene had used in his prior battle royale games and kept in ''PUBG'', which itself had origins as early as the [[Great Depression]] era.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/the-origins-of-battlegrounds-winner-winner-chicken-din-1796870568 |title=The Origins Of Battlegrounds' "Winner Winner Chicken Dinner" Line |first=Luke |last=Plunkett |date=July 13, 2017 |access-date=August 15, 2017 |website=[[Kotaku]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816104653/http://kotaku.com/the-origins-of-battlegrounds-winner-winner-chicken-din-1796870568 |archive-date=August 16, 2017}}</ref>

Greene also introduced [[microtransaction]]s that allow players to use real-world funds to purchase loot crates that provide randomly-selected cosmetic items, also known as "skins", which they can trade with other players; while Greene recognizes the issue with [[skin gambling]], he believes that Valve has put safeguards in place to support a "skin economy" that will provide further revenue for them without concerns over gambling.<ref name="Skin economy" /> However, by November 2017, [[gray market]] skin gambling sites began to appear that used ''PUBG'' cosmetics as [[virtual currency]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/people-are-gambling-with-battlegrounds-skins-now-1820476940 |title=People Are Gambling With Battlegrounds Skins Now |first=Cecila |last=D'Anastasio |date=November 15, 2017 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |website=[[Kotaku]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116015236/https://kotaku.com/people-are-gambling-with-battlegrounds-skins-now-1820476940 |archive-date=November 16, 2017}}</ref> Following controversy over the use of [[loot box]]es to offer "pay-to-win" items in other games in November 2017, the PUBG Corporation affirmed that while they would continue to add new cosmetic items rewarded by in-game crate purchases, they would never add anything that affects or alters gameplay.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/12/05/pugb-might-get-new-cosmetic-items-but-only-after-launch-and-never-anything-that-affects-the-gameplay/ |title=PUBG might get new cosmetic items, but only after launch and never "anything that affects the gameplay" |first=James |last=Billcliffe |date=December 5, 2017 |access-date=December 7, 2017 |work=[[VG247]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208004442/https://www.vg247.com/2017/12/05/pugb-might-get-new-cosmetic-items-but-only-after-launch-and-never-anything-that-affects-the-gameplay/ |archive-date=December 8, 2017}}</ref> In May 2018, PUBG Corporation disabled the ability to trade skins on the [[Steam Marketplace]] as they found that players were still abusing the system by selling them for monetary value through unofficial third-party platforms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/317606/Battlegrounds_item_trading_shut_down_due_to_marketplace_abuse.php |title=Battlegrounds item trading shut down due to marketplace abuse |first=Chris |last=Kerr |date=May 4, 2018 |access-date=May 4, 2018 |work=[[Gamasutra]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504225621/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/317606/Battlegrounds_item_trading_shut_down_due_to_marketplace_abuse.php |archive-date=May 4, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> While still in early access, Bluehole offered an early preview of the system by offering time-limited crates that could be purchased during the first ''PUBG'' Invitations tournament during [[Gamescom]] in August 2017, with the sales from these contributing to the prize pool. Among loot from these crates were special outfits inspired by the original ''[[Battle Royale (film)|Battle Royale]]'' film.<ref name="rps aug17 lootcrates">{{cite news |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/07/25/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-getting-battle-royale-ier/ |title=Playerunknown's Battlegrounds getting Battle Royale-ier |first=Alice |last=O'Conner |date=July 25, 2017 |access-date=July 25, 2017 |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725220341/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/07/25/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-getting-battle-royale-ier/ |archive-date=July 25, 2017}}</ref> Greene anticipates adding a campaign mode with co-operative player support, though there would be "no serious lore" crafted for the narrative, comparing this to similar modes in ''[[Watch Dogs (video game)|Watch Dogs]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/playerunknown-plans-on-adding-campaign-and-replays-to-battlegrounds-438604.phtml |title=PlayerUnknown plans on adding replays and possibly a campaign for Battlegrounds |first=Chris |last=Carter |date=May 29, 2017 |access-date=May 29, 2017 |website=[[Destructoid]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225123911/https://www.destructoid.com/playerunknown-plans-on-adding-campaign-and-replays-to-battlegrounds-438604.phtml |archive-date=February 25, 2018}}</ref>

The game also features custom gamemodes and [[Mod (video gaming)|modding]] support.<ref name="gibiz" /><ref name="pcgn greene" /> He considered modding support an essential part of the full release as, just as he had his start with mods, he wants to enable others to create variations on his game so that he could "find the next PlayerUnknown".<ref name="cnet interview">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/pubg-playerunknown-brendan-greene-interview-july-2017/ |title=PlayerUnknown: A chat with the man behind 2017's viral PC game |first=Sean |last=Hollister |date=July 28, 2017 |access-date=July 31, 2017 |publisher=[[CNET]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730023531/https://www.cnet.com/news/pubg-playerunknown-brendan-greene-interview-july-2017/ |archive-date=July 30, 2017}}</ref> This was aided by a quiet release of custom server support to a number of influential streamers which subsequently made it into public release.<ref name="polygon fireside" /> In one case, "Zombie Mode", all but four players pretend to be [[zombie]]s, who may sometimes distinguish themselves by removing all clothing and are limited only to collecting melee weapons and consumable items, and must rush to attack the other four players, who are able to collect all gear and attempt to outrun and defeat the zombies.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/players-are-turning-battlegrounds-into-a-zombie-nightma-1795433504 |title=Players Are Turning Battlegrounds Into A Zombie Nightmare |first=Heather |last=Alexandra |date=May 22, 2017 |access-date=May 22, 2017 |website=[[Kotaku]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523012320/http://kotaku.com/players-are-turning-battlegrounds-into-a-zombie-nightma-1795433504 |archive-date=May 23, 2017}}</ref> Inspired by this mode, Greene announced plans to introduce an official zombie-based gameplay mode based on this into ''PUBG''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/14/e3-2017-battlegrounds-getting-player-controlled-zombies |title=Battlegrounds Getting Player-Controlled Zombies |first=Luke |last=Reilly |date=June 14, 2017 |access-date=June 14, 2017 |website=[[IGN]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614053744/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/14/e3-2017-battlegrounds-getting-player-controlled-zombies |archive-date=June 14, 2017}}</ref> Whereas most of the rest of the team continued to develop the core gameplay and maps, Greene is taking on the zombie mode as a near solo project, only using the assistance of the lead animator to help with the zombie animations.<ref name="pcgamesn team">{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/PUBG-making-of |title=The secret to PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' success? There isn't one |first=Jeremy |last=Peel |date=June 29, 2017 |access-date=June 29, 2017 |website=[[PCGamesN]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629180032/https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/PUBG-making-of |archive-date=June 29, 2017}}</ref> Greene sees ''PUBG'' as a platform, and would like to see more custom game types and mods developed by players for it.<ref name="rps interview jul17"/> Greene identified that some mods that he also previously worked on from ''ARMA 3'' may become part of the ''Battlegrounds'' platform.<ref name="rps interview jul17"/> Greene also wants to incorporate streaming services like [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] into the game that would enable features supporting ''Battlegrounds''' development as an [[esport]], calling this an "ultimate end goal" for his development, but he wanted to let it progress naturally with players.<ref name="gibiz" /><ref name="pcgn greene" /><ref name="glixel interview"/>

== Release ==
{{VG timeline
| subtitle = Major release(s)
| 2017a = ''PUBG'' (PC, early access)
| 2017b = ''PUBG'' (Xbox One, game preview)
| 2017c = ''PUBG'' (PC, release)
| 2018a = ''[[PUBG Mobile]]''
| 2018b = ''PUBG Mobile KR''
| 2018c = ''PUBG'' (Xbox One, release)
| 2019a = ''PUBG Mobile VN''
| 2019b = ''Game for Peace''
| 2019c = ''PUBG Mobile TW''
| 2020  = ''PUBG'' (Stadia)
| 2021a = ''[[Battlegrounds Mobile India]]''
| 2022  = Transition to [[free to play]]
|2020b=''PUBG'' (Xbox Series X/S)|2020c=''PUBG'' (PS5)|2018d=''PUBG'' (PS4)|2019d=''PUBG Mobile Lite''|2019e=''PUBG Lite'' (PC)}}

=== Personal computers ===
Bluehole used [[Closed beta|closed alpha and beta periods]] with about 80,000 players to gauge initial reaction to the gameplay and adjust balance prior to a wider release.<ref name="pcgn greene" /><ref name="vg247 kim" /> Just prior to the [[Early access#Steam Early Access|early access phase on Steam]], Bluehole opened a few servers and invited some popular [[live stream]]ers of similar games to try it out as to start gaining interest.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/4/16725104/pubg-2017-in-review-game-of-the-year |title=PUBG has dominated 2017, here's how it happened |first=Charlie |last=Hall |date=December 4, 2017 |access-date=December 4, 2017 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205093016/https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/4/16725104/pubg-2017-in-review-game-of-the-year |archive-date=December 5, 2017}}</ref> Early access for the Windows version launched on March 23, 2017.<ref name="pc gamer now">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-is-now-available-on-steam-early-access/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is now available on Steam Early Access |first=Christopher |last=Livingston |date=March 23, 2017 |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |publisher=[[Future US]] |access-date=June 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623045134/http://www.pcgamer.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-is-now-available-on-steam-early-access/ |archive-date=June 23, 2017}}</ref> This period was planned to last approximately six months, originally aiming for a September 2017 release.<ref name="pc gamer now" /><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-will-hit-early-access-on-march-23-and-heres-the-official-trailer/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds will hit Early Access on March 23, and here's the official trailer |first=Christopher |last=Livingston |date=March 9, 2017 |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |publisher=[[Future US]] |access-date=June 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802043415/http://www.pcgamer.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-will-hit-early-access-on-march-23-and-heres-the-official-trailer/ |archive-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref> In July 2017, Greene announced that they would need to extend the early access period by a few months, continuing to release updates on a regular basis, with plans to still release by the end of 2017, as committing to this original period "could hinder us from delivering a fully featured game and/or lead to disappointment within the community if the launch deadline is not met".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-07-07-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-full-launch-date-has-been-delayed |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds full launch delayed to end of 2017 |first=Vic |last=Hood |date=July 7, 2017 |access-date=July 7, 2017 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707114204/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-07-07-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-full-launch-date-has-been-delayed |archive-date=July 7, 2017}}</ref> Initially, Bluehole had expected that they would just gain enough players through early access to smooth out the gameplay, and only when the game was completed, they would have started more marketing for the title. The sudden interest in the game from early access exceeded their expectations, and put emphasis on the stability of the game and its underlying networking alongside gameplay improvements.<ref name="vg247 kim" /> Through August 2017, these updates generally included a major weekly patch alongside major monthly updates that provided key performance improvements.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/04/01/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-receives-first-patch-with-more-coming-on-a-regular-basis/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds receives first patch with more coming on a regular basis |last=Nunneley |first=Stephany |date=April 1, 2017 |website=VG247 |access-date=April 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413074229/https://www.vg247.com/2017/04/01/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-receives-first-patch-with-more-coming-on-a-regular-basis/ |archive-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref> However, from August onward, Bluehole backed off the rate of such patches, as the high frequency has led to some quality control issues, and the developers rather make sure each patch content is well-vetted by the community before providing new updates; this did not change their plans for a 2017 release, where it fully released out of early access on December 20.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-08-16-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-patches-to-be-released-less-often |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds patches to be released less often |first=Vic |last=Hood |date=August 16, 2017 |access-date=August 16, 2017 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817034831/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-08-16-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-patches-to-be-released-less-often |archive-date=August 17, 2017}}</ref><ref name="release2017">{{cite web |last1=Villas-Boas |first1=Antonio |title=The biggest game of 2017 is finally finished, and it will launch on December 20 |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/pubg-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-will-leave-early-access-on-december-20-2017-12 |website=Business Insider |access-date=December 15, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216201121/http://www.businessinsider.com/pubg-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-will-leave-early-access-on-december-20-2017-12 |archive-date=December 16, 2017|date=December 8, 2017 }}</ref>

In part of the game's success in early access, [[Tencent Games]], the largest publisher of video games in China, approached Bluehole that same month with an offer to publish ''PUBG'' in China.<ref name="bloomberg set2017"/> However, the China Audio-Video and Digital Publishing Association issued a statement in October 2017 that discouraged battle royale-style games, stating that they are too violent and deviate from Chinese values of socialism, deeming it harmful to young consumers.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-30/world-s-hottest-pc-game-could-be-banned-in-china-due-to-violence |title=World's Hottest PC Game Could Get Locked Out of China |first=Lulu Yilun |last=Chen |date=October 29, 2017 |access-date=October 31, 2017 |website=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030091807/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-10-30/world-s-hottest-pc-game-could-be-banned-in-china-due-to-violence |archive-date=October 30, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknown-battlegrounds/pubg-china |title=The Chinese government is discouraging the development of battle royale games |first=Ali |last=Jones |date=October 30, 2017 |access-date=October 30, 2017 |website=[[PCGamesN]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171030185708/https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknown-battlegrounds/pubg-china |archive-date=October 30, 2017}}</ref> The following month however, PUBG had reached a formal agreement with the Chinese government to allow the release of the game in the country, with Tencent as the publishing partner.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-11-22-tencent-to-publish-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-in-china |title=Tencent to publish PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds in China |first=Matthew |last=Handrahan |date=November 22, 2017 |access-date=November 22, 2017 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201044018/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-11-22-tencent-to-publish-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-in-china |archive-date=December 1, 2017}}</ref> However, some changes were made to make sure it aligned with socialist values and traditional Chinese morals.<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/11/22/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-has-been-approved-in-china-with-a-few-changes/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has been approved in China, with a few changes |first=Marshall |last=Lemon |date=November 22, 2017 |access-date=November 22, 2017 |work=[[VG247]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122161352/https://www.vg247.com/2017/11/22/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-has-been-approved-in-china-with-a-few-changes/ |archive-date=November 22, 2017 }}</ref> In South Korea, the game is marketed and distributed by [[Kakao Games]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tebay |first1=Andy |title=Kakao signs contract with Bluehole to publish Korean version of PUBG |url=http://www.venturesquare.net/world/pubg-korea-kakao/ |website=VentureSquare.com |access-date=March 20, 2018 |date=August 14, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320165931/http://www.venturesquare.net/world/pubg-korea-kakao/ |archive-date=March 20, 2018}}</ref>

Despite the lack of a Chinese publisher prior to the Tencent deal, players in China had found ways to acquire and play the game through Steam via proxies and other networking tricks.<ref name="polygon china effect"/> To address it, PUBG Corporation planned to add maximum client [[Ping (networking utility)|ping]] limits for servers which can reduce the issues with latency problems and prevent some of the cheating that has occurred. This would not prevent cross-region matchmaking but may make it difficult for some players to play outside their region if they have a poor Internet infrastructure.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-region-lock-china-ping-limits |title=PUBG won't region lock China, but new ping limits might prevent cross-region matchmaking |first=Dustin |last=Bailey |date=January 12, 2018 |access-date=January 12, 2018 |work=[[PCGamesN]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180112211544/https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-region-lock-china-ping-limits |archive-date=January 12, 2018}}</ref> Tencent has also helped by identifying and reporting around 30 software programs to Chinese police that can be used to cheat in ''PUBG'', leading to over a hundred arrests by the beginning of 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-16/tencent-cracks-down-on-cheats-in-world-s-top-selling-video-game|title=The World's Top-Selling Video Game Has a Cheating Problem|author1=Lulu Yilun Chen|author2=Yuji Nakamura|author3=Sam Kim|date=January 15, 2018|access-date=January 16, 2018|work=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116172101/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-16/tencent-cracks-down-on-cheats-in-world-s-top-selling-video-game|archive-date=January 16, 2018}}</ref> Separately, this technical issue, in addition to the larger number of Chinese players, has created complaints in the player community. Some Western players fear that many Chinese players are able to cheat in the game by exploiting some of the network latency issues, something that PUBG Corporation continued to address as the game shifted out of early access. However, a small number of players called for server segregation by region and had used racial insults at Chinese players they encountered in game. Greene was disappointed with this "xenophobic attitude", calling it "disgraceful", and asked the player community to respect the Chinese players more as their numbers were a key part of the game's success.<ref name="polygon china effect"/> Greene also identified that players can easily get around such region locks using [[virtual private network]]s, making this approach ineffective.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2018/03/22/region-locking-just-doesnt-work-pubg-creator-says/ |title=PUBG's Brendan Greene responds to calls to region lock Chinese players: "Region locking just doesn't work" |first=Sherif |last=Saed |date=March 22, 2018 |access-date=March 22, 2018 |work=[[VG247]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322174627/https://www.vg247.com/2018/03/22/region-locking-just-doesnt-work-pubg-creator-says/ |archive-date=March 22, 2018}}</ref> PUBG Corporation eventually added region-based matchmaking by October 2018, though players still reported issues with connectivity and slow matchmaking.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-region-locking-complaints |title=After months asking for region locks, PUBG players are mad about region locks |first=Ali |last=Jones |date=October 4, 2018 |access-date=October 21, 2018 |work=[[PCGamesN]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022041921/https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-region-locking-complaints |archive-date=October 22, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>

''PUBG Lite'' was a free version of ''PUBG'' that was meant to be better playable on low-end computers by having significant reductions in graphic details and other features, but is otherwise feature complete with the full game. The version was meant to be played in regions where the game's minimum specifications may be difficult for average players to achieve, with a beta launch first releasing in Thailand in January 2019, and in Europe that October.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2019/01/24/pubg-lite-free-to-play-low-spec-pcs/ |title=PUBG Lite is a free-to-play version for low-spec PCs, limited to Thailand for now |first=Sherif |last=Saed |date=January 25, 2019 |access-date=January 25, 2019 |work=[[VG247]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126001901/https://www.vg247.com/2019/01/24/pubg-lite-free-to-play-low-spec-pcs/ |archive-date=January 26, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Brown |first1=Fraser |title=PUBG Lite's open beta expands to Europe next week |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-lites-open-beta-expands-to-europe-next-week/ |magazine=PC Gamer |access-date=October 10, 2019 |date=October 2019 |archive-date=October 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010162150/https://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-lites-open-beta-expands-to-europe-next-week/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''PUBG Lite'' was shut down on April 29, 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/lite-canceled | title = PUBG's free-to-play version is shutting down | first = Iain | last = Harris | date = March 31, 2021 | access-date = March 31, 2021 | work = [[PCGamesN]] | archive-date = May 3, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210503152324/https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/lite-canceled | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=[NOTICE] April 29 Service Termination Notice|url=https://lite.pubg.com/2021/03/30/notice-april-29-service-termination-notice/|website=PUBG Corporation|date=March 30, 2021|access-date=May 1, 2021|archive-date=April 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210430145025/https://lite.pubg.com/2021/03/30/notice-april-29-service-termination-notice/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 12, 2022, the game became [[Free-to-play|free to play]]. A new account tier, called Battleground Plus, was made available for purchase that includes additional customization items and in-game experience boosts. Owners of the game who purchased prior to January 12 were automatically upgraded to Battleground Plus for free.<ref>{{cite web |last=Makar |first=Connor |date=December 10, 2021 |title=PUBG is going Free to Play in January 2022 |url=https://www.vg247.com/pubg-free-to-play-game-awards |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213213331/https://www.vg247.com/pubg-free-to-play-game-awards |archive-date=December 13, 2021 |accessdate=December 10, 2021 |work=[[VG247]]}}</ref> Battleground Plus allows for playing in ranked mode and on custom servers and includes additional customization items and in-game experience boosts.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.vg247.com/pubg-free-to-play-game-awards | title = PUBG is going Free to Play in January 2022 | first = Connor | last = Makar | date = December 10, 2021 | accessdate = December 10, 2021 | work = [[VG247]] | archive-date = December 13, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211213213331/https://www.vg247.com/pubg-free-to-play-game-awards | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|author1=Mollie Taylor|date=2022-01-12|title=PUBG: Battlegrounds is now free-to-play|language=en|work=PC Gamer|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-battlegrounds-is-now-free-to-play/|access-date=2022-01-13|archive-date=January 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113184623/https://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-battlegrounds-is-now-free-to-play/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Consoles===
Greene was part of [[Microsoft]]'s press conference during [[E3 2017]] to announce that ''PUBG'' would be coming to [[Xbox One]] as a timed console exclusive sometime by the end of 2017, using the [[Xbox Game Preview]] early access approach to test it.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/11/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-comes-to-xbox-one-x/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds comes to Xbox One X |first=Jeff |last=Grubb |date=June 11, 2017 |access-date=June 11, 2017 |website=[[Venture Beat]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611231857/https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/11/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-comes-to-xbox-one-x/ |archive-date=June 11, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/06/11/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-console-launch-will-be-xbox-one-exclusive/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' console launch will be Xbox One exclusive |first=Marshall |last=Lemon |date=June 11, 2017 |access-date=June 12, 2017 |website=[[VG247]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170612000342/http://www.vg247.com/2017/06/11/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-console-launch-will-be-xbox-one-exclusive/ |archive-date=June 12, 2017}}</ref><ref name="vg247 kim">{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/06/27/how-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-went-from-scrappy-mod-to-one-of-the-games-of-2017/ |title=How PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds went from scrappy mod to one of the games of 2017 |first=Alex |last=Donaldson |date=June 27, 2017 |access-date=June 27, 2017 |website=[[VG247]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627200305/http://www.vg247.com/2017/06/27/how-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-went-from-scrappy-mod-to-one-of-the-games-of-2017/ |archive-date=June 27, 2017}}</ref>

Initially, Greene said that Microsoft was not directly involved in the porting but only providing assistance to make sure the port is good, and that most of the porting responsibilities are being done by Anticto, a Spanish developer.<ref name="cnet interview"/> However, at [[Gamescom]] that year, Bluehole affirmed that [[Microsoft Studios]] would be publishing the Xbox One version of the title, helping to make a planned 2017 release for this version.<ref name="verge-pubgxboxms">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/20/16176300/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-microsoft-xbox-one-publisher-exclusive |title=Microsoft will be the publisher of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds when it comes to Xbox |last=Statt |first=Nick |date=August 20, 2017 |website=[[The Verge]] |access-date=August 20, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820214825/https://www.theverge.com/2017/8/20/16176300/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-microsoft-xbox-one-publisher-exclusive |archive-date=August 20, 2017}}</ref> Greene said that Microsoft's support has helped in several ways, not only for the Xbox One version but improving the performance and security of the Windows version. Further, by being part of the group of studios under the Microsoft banner, they have been able to talk and incorporate technology from other developers, such as improved water rendering techniques they obtained from [[Rare (company)|Rare]] that they had developed for ''[[Sea of Thieves]]''.<ref name="gibiz sept2017 interview"/> Microsoft considered ''PUBG'' to be an important project to demonstrate their company's ability to be more than just a publisher, according to Microsoft's Nico Bihary who lead the project. Bihary said they have given ''PUBG'' a "white glove" treatment, and for the Xbox One port, they have provided services from their advanced technology group and time and support from [[The Coalition (company)|The Coalition]], another of Microsoft Studios' subsidiaries.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/7/16747750/pubg-gears-of-war-the-coalition-xbox-port |title=PUBG team got help from Gears of War developers The Coalition for Xbox port |first=Charlie |last=Hall |date=December 7, 2017 |access-date=December 7, 2017 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208104953/https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/7/16747750/pubg-gears-of-war-the-coalition-xbox-port |archive-date=December 8, 2017}}</ref> Kim also stated that the team was interested in [[cross-platform play]] between the Windows and console versions, but did not anticipate this as a release feature, as they need to determine how to mitigate the advantage keyboard and mouse-using players would have over those using controllers.<ref name="vg247 kim" />

Titled "Game Preview Edition", the early access version for the Xbox One was released on December 12, 2017, in both digital and physical formats.<ref>{{cite web |last=Knezevic |first=Kevin |date=October 31, 2017 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-xbox-one-release-date-confirmed/1100-6454517/ |title=PUBG Xbox One Release Date Confirmed |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=October 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031222917/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-xbox-one-release-date-confirmed/1100-6454517/ |archive-date=October 31, 2017}}</ref> To promote it, Microsoft performed real-life supply crate drops in Australia in the week prior, with the crates containing Xbox hardware, ''Battlegrounds'' merchandise, and other goods, using passcodes published alongside the drop locations on social media.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/12/07/microsoft-is-dropping-supply-crates-in-australia-to-celebrate-pubg-launch-on-xbox-one/ |title=Microsoft is dropping supply crates in Australia to celebrate PUBG launch on Xbox One |first=Sharif |last=Saed |date=December 7, 2017 |access-date=December 7, 2017 |work=[[VG247]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207174505/https://www.vg247.com/2017/12/07/microsoft-is-dropping-supply-crates-in-australia-to-celebrate-pubg-launch-on-xbox-one/ |archive-date=December 7, 2017}}</ref> The Xbox version also includes Xbox-specific in-game cosmetic items, some of which could be purchased directly rather than through in-game crates.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/12/07/you-can-buy-xbox-exclusive-pubg-cosmetics-before-the-games-even-out/ |title=You can buy Xbox exclusive PUBG cosmetics before the game's even out |first=James |last=Billcliffe |date=December 7, 2017 |access-date=December 7, 2017 |work=[[VG247]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171207140921/https://www.vg247.com/2017/12/07/you-can-buy-xbox-exclusive-pubg-cosmetics-before-the-games-even-out/ |archive-date=December 7, 2017}}</ref> The official release out of the Game Preview program occurred on September 4, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Grubb |first1=Jeff |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds leaves Xbox Game Preview on September 4 |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/08/21/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-leaves-xbox-game-preview-on-september-4/ |website=VentureBeat |access-date=August 21, 2018 |date=August 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821150635/https://venturebeat.com/2018/08/21/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-leaves-xbox-game-preview-on-september-4/ |archive-date=August 21, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-launches-on-xbox-one-adds-sanhok-map-and-more/1100-6461545/ |title=PUBG Launches On Xbox One, Adds Sanhok Map And More In 1.0 Update |first=Kevin |last=Kzenevic |date=September 4, 2018 |access-date=September 4, 2018 |work=[[GameSpot]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180904230042/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-launches-on-xbox-one-adds-sanhok-map-and-more/1100-6461545/ |archive-date=September 4, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Xbox Series X/S]] version and [[PlayStation 5]] version releases were announced via a post on the office website. The game launched on November 10, 2020, in Xbox Series X/S. PUBG Corporation confirmed the Xbox Series X version will feature a consistent 60 FPS gameplay while the Xbox Series S version features a 30 FPS gameplay, however they've also claimed the framerate cap will be raised in the near future. The game also features account transition and cross-platform play.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Volvoikar |first=Palash |date=2020-10-28 |title=PUBG confirmed to be available on Sony PS5 and Xbox Series X/S at launch, will run at 60 FPS |url=https://www.mysmartprice.com/gear/pubg-ps5-xbox-series-x-s/ |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=MySmartPrice |language=en-US |archive-date=October 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004102551/https://www.mysmartprice.com/gear/pubg-ps5-xbox-series-x-s/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

With the announcement of the Xbox release, PUBG Corporation stated that there were plans to port to additional platforms, such as the [[PlayStation 4]].<ref name="kotaku">{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/battlegrounds-producer-chang-han-kim-reportedly-told-in-1793809960 |title=''Battlegrounds'' producer Chang-han Kim reportedly told ''Inven'' |first=Brian |last=Ashcroft |date=March 30, 2017 |access-date=June 18, 2017 |website=[[Kotaku]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523015433/http://kotaku.com/battlegrounds-producer-chang-han-kim-reportedly-told-in-1793809960 |archive-date=May 23, 2017}}</ref><ref name="vg cho">{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/07/06/bluehole-built-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-for-livestream-viewers/ |title=Bluehole built PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' for livestream viewers |first=Jeff |last=Grubb |date=July 6, 2017 |access-date=July 7, 2017 |website=[[Venture Beat]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707003403/https://venturebeat.com/2017/07/06/bluehole-built-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-for-livestream-viewers/ |archive-date=July 7, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-08-25-the-thorny-issue-of-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-exclusivity |title=Microsoft and PlayerUnknown dance around the thorny issue of Battlegrounds console exclusivity |first=Vic |last=Hood |date=August 25, 2017 |access-date=August 25, 2017 |website=[[Eurogamer]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825183445/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-08-25-the-thorny-issue-of-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-exclusivity |archive-date=August 25, 2017}}</ref> In an interview shortly after Gamescom, Greene said that their deal with Microsoft did not exclude a PlayStation 4 port, but that their focus at the time was only on the Windows and Xbox One version, given the small size of their team.<ref name="gibiz sept2017 interview">{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-09-06-pubg-if-we-play-our-cards-right-maybe-we-can-get-to-league-of-legends-level-of-users |title=PUBG: "When you ask about growth on PC, I just look at League of Legends" |first=Matthew |last=Handrahan |date=September 6, 2017 |access-date=September 6, 2017 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170906180433/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-09-06-pubg-if-we-play-our-cards-right-maybe-we-can-get-to-league-of-legends-level-of-users |archive-date=September 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name="bloomberg set2017"/> When asked about it in January 2018, Kim stated that the team released the game first on the Steam and Xbox Game Preview early access programs as they both easily allowed in-development games to be released and updated over time, which contrasted with Sony's lack of their own early access program, as well as their strict quality control for even completed games.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2018/01/02/pubg-ceo-wants-the-game-on-every-platform-says-sony-is-very-strict-about-quality/ |title=PUBG CEO wants the game on every platform, says Sony is "very strict" about quality |first=Sharif |last=Saed |date=January 2, 2018 |access-date=January 2, 2018 |work=[[VG247]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102222124/https://www.vg247.com/2018/01/02/pubg-ceo-wants-the-game-on-every-platform-says-sony-is-very-strict-about-quality/ |archive-date=January 2, 2018}}</ref> The PlayStation port was officially announced in November, and was released on December 7, 2018. PUBG Corporation studio head Brian Corrigan said that while they had a small team working on the PlayStation 4 port for some time, it was only until the Xbox One port was mostly completed that they began fully working on the PlayStation port.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/11/13/18089158/pubg-ps4-release-date-port |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds coming to PS4 in December |first=Austin |last=Goslin |date=November 13, 2018 |access-date=November 13, 2018 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113195150/https://www.polygon.com/2018/11/13/18089158/pubg-ps4-release-date-port |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The PlayStation 4 version of the game includes platform-exclusive customization items, specifically the outfit of [[Nathan Drake (character)|Nathan Drake]] from the ''[[Uncharted]]'' series, and [[Ellie (The Last of Us)|Ellie]]'s backpack from ''[[The Last of Us (video game)|The Last of Us]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-11-13-pubg-hits-ps4-with-nathan-drake-and-ellie-items |title=PUBG hits PS4 with Nathan Drake and Ellie items |first=Wesley |last=Yin-Poole |date=November 13, 2018 |access-date=November 14, 2018 |work=[[Eurogamer]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113231211/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-11-13-pubg-hits-ps4-with-nathan-drake-and-ellie-items |archive-date=November 13, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> A short live-action film to promote the PlayStation 4 release was directed by [[Jordan Vogt-Roberts]] and starred [[Jason Mitchell (actor)|Jason Mitchell]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/12/06/heres-a-brand-new-pubg-short-film-by-metal-gear-solid-movie-director-jordan-vogt-roberts |title=Here's A Brand New Pubg Short Film By Metal Gear Solid Movie Director Jordan Vogt-roberts |first=Adam |last=Bankhurst |date=November 6, 2018 |access-date=November 6, 2018 |work=[[IGN]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206222603/https://www.ign.com/articles/2018/12/06/heres-a-brand-new-pubg-short-film-by-metal-gear-solid-movie-director-jordan-vogt-roberts |archive-date=December 6, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[PlayStation 5]] version of the game was released along with the PlayStation 5 console on November 12, 2020. The publisher claimed those who purchased the game on PlayStation 4 will be able to freely upgrade and download the game, and players could experience a consistent 60 FPS gameplay, account transition and support for cross-platform play.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-04-21 |title=➤ PUBG: PlayStation 5 version announced, will support cross-play 🎮 |url=https://www.resources4gaming.com/en/pubg-playstation-5-version-announced-will-support-cross-play |access-date=2022-04-21 |website=➤The Best News and Guides for your Video Games, Comics and Movies {{!}} Resources4Gaming ® |language=en |archive-date=April 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230402100858/https://www.resources4gaming.com/en/pubg-playstation-5-version-announced-will-support-cross-play |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[Cross-platform play]] support between the Xbox and PlayStation versions of ''PUBG'' was added in October 2019 following a testing period during the prior month.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-adding-cross-play-on-ps4-and-xbox-one/1100-6469202/ |title=PUBG Adding Cross-Play On PS4 And Xbox One |first=Kevin |last=Knezevik |date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=August 19, 2019 |work=[[GameSpot]] |archive-date=August 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819163611/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-adding-cross-play-on-ps4-and-xbox-one/1100-6469202/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/351527/PUBG_crossplay_between_Xbox_One_and_PS4_has_launched.php | title = PUBG cross-play between Xbox One and PS4 has launched | first = Chris | last = Kerr | date = October 2, 2019 | access-date = October 2, 2019 | work = [[Gamasutra]] | archive-date = October 4, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191004023909/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/351527/PUBG_crossplay_between_Xbox_One_and_PS4_has_launched.php | url-status = dead }}</ref>

''PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds – Pioneer Edition'' was released on the streaming service [[Google Stadia|Stadia]] on April 28, 2020. The game was free for Stadia's paid subscribers on launch.<ref name="pubg stadia">{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/2020/4/28/21239644/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-pubg-out-now-google-stadia-release | title = PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is out now on Google Stadia | first = Austen | last = Goslin | date = April 28, 2020 | access-date = April 28, 2020 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] | archive-date = May 3, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200503234306/https://www.polygon.com/2020/4/28/21239644/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-pubg-out-now-google-stadia-release | url-status = live }}</ref>

=== Mobile versions ===
{{Main|PUBG Mobile}}
{{Further|New State Mobile|Battlegrounds Mobile India}}

Following the Chinese publication deal for the Windows version, Tencent Games and PUBG Corporation additionally announced that they were planning on releasing two mobile versions based on the game in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/310471/Tencent_working_to_bring_Battlegrounds_to_mobile_in_China.php |title=Tencent working to bring Battlegrounds to mobile in China |first=Alissa |last=McAloon |date=November 27, 2017 |access-date=November 27, 2017 |website=[[Gamasutra]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043101/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/310471/Tencent_working_to_bring_Battlegrounds_to_mobile_in_China.php |archive-date=December 1, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-11-27-pubg-going-mobile-with-tencents-help |title=PUBG going mobile with Tencent's help |first=James |last=Brightman |date=November 27, 2017 |access-date=November 28, 2017 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201030351/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-11-27-pubg-going-mobile-with-tencents-help |archive-date=December 1, 2017}}</ref> The first, ''PUBG: Exhilarating Battlefield'', is an abridged version of the original game, and was developed by LightSpeed & Quantum Studio, an internal division of [[Tencent Games]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Higton |first1=Ian |title=Here's how PUBG on mobile phones compares to the original game |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-02-16-heres-how-pubg-on-mobile-phones-compares-to-the-original-game |website=Eurogamer |access-date=February 18, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218060007/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-02-16-heres-how-pubg-on-mobile-phones-compares-to-the-original-game |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |date=February 17, 2018}}</ref> The second, ''PUBG: Army Attack'', includes more arcade-style elements, including action taking place on warships, and was developed by Tencent's TiMi Studio.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.siliconera.com/2017/12/01/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-gets-two-mobile-versions-china/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Gets Two Mobile Versions In China |first=Alistair |last=Wong |date=December 1, 2017 |access-date=December 1, 2017 |website=[[Siliconera]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202053306/http://www.siliconera.com/2017/12/01/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-gets-two-mobile-versions-china/ |archive-date=December 2, 2017}}</ref> Both versions are [[free-to-play]], and were released for [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[iOS]] devices on February 9, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Arif |first1=Shabana |title=PUBG's Chinese Mobile Games Are Now in Early Access |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/02/09/pubgs-chinese-mobile-games-are-now-in-early-access |website=IGN |access-date=February 22, 2018 |date=February 9, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223051957/http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/02/09/pubgs-chinese-mobile-games-are-now-in-early-access |archive-date=February 23, 2018}}</ref><ref name="PUBG mobile numbers">{{cite web |last1=Madnani |first1=Mikhail |title=Both of Tencent's 'PUBG' Mobile Games Are Now Available on the App Store in China for Free |url=http://toucharcade.com/2018/02/09/pubg-mobile-china-free-released/ |website=TouchArcade |access-date=February 23, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222002519/http://toucharcade.com/2018/02/09/pubg-mobile-china-free-released/ |archive-date=February 22, 2018 |date=February 9, 2018}}</ref> The games had a combined total of 75 million pre-registrations, and ranked first and second on the Chinese iOS download charts at launch.<ref name="PUBG mobile numbers"/> Following a [[soft launch]] in Canada, an English version of ''Exhilarating Battlefield'', localized simply as ''PUBG Mobile'', was released worldwide on March 19, 2018.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Saed |first1=Sherif |title=PUBG Mobile gets surprise release in the West |url=https://www.vg247.com/2018/03/15/pubg-mobile-gets-surprise-release-in-the-west/ |website=VG247 |access-date=March 16, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315193842/https://www.vg247.com/2018/03/15/pubg-mobile-gets-surprise-release-in-the-west/ |archive-date=March 15, 2018 |date=March 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Chalk |first1=Andy |title=PUBG Mobile comes to the West with a 'soft launch' in Canada |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-mobile-comes-to-the-west-with-a-soft-launch-in-canada/ |magazine=PC Gamer |access-date=March 16, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316000942/https://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-mobile-comes-to-the-west-with-a-soft-launch-in-canada/ |archive-date=March 16, 2018 |date=March 15, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Knezevic |first1=Kevin |title=PUBG Mobile Out Now For Free In The US And Other Regions |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-mobile-out-now-for-free-in-the-us-and-other-r/1100-6457509/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=March 19, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180320000326/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-mobile-out-now-for-free-in-the-us-and-other-r/1100-6457509/ |archive-date=March 20, 2018}}</ref> Following its release, a Korean and Japanese oriented version of the game released in June 2018, under the title name ''PUBG Mobile KR''. A Vietnamese version, ''PUBG Mobile VN'' released in January 2019.

In China, ''PUBG Mobile'' had been awaiting approval by the government for an authorized release, during which the game could only be offered as a public test. However, Tencent's planned release was suspended due to the [[Video gaming in China#2018 approvals freeze|government approval freeze across most of 2018]]. By May 2019, Tencent announced it would no longer seek to publish ''PUBG Mobile'' in China, but instead would re-release the game under the title ''Game for Peace'' that readily meets China's content restrictions, such as eliminating blood and gore.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-mobile-china |title=PUBG Mobile re-released as bloodless 'Game of Peace' so Tencent can monetise it in China |first=Ali |last=Jones |date=May 8, 2019 |access-date=May 8, 2019 |work=[[PCGamesN]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508161450/https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-mobile-china |archive-date=May 8, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Taiwanese version of the game was released following the Chinese version, as ''PUBG Mobile TW''. A version meant for lower-end mobile devices which features a smaller map made for 60 players, ''PUBG Mobile Lite'', was released on July 25, 2019.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/9/20798933/pubg-mobile-lite-android-midrange-phones-battle-royale-tencent-fortnite-regions | title = PUBG Mobile Lite is a smaller game with big changes | first = Jay | last = Peters | date = August 9, 2019 | access-date = November 29, 2019 | work = [[The Verge]] | archive-date = November 28, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191128170309/https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/9/20798933/pubg-mobile-lite-android-midrange-phones-battle-royale-tencent-fortnite-regions | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=PUBG Mobile Lite OFficial Site|url=https://www.pubgmlite.com/en-US/m/|access-date=May 27, 2021|website=www.pubgmlite.com|archive-date=May 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210507100325/https://www.pubgmlite.com/en-US/m/|url-status=live}}</ref> This had support for high FPS gameplay on multiple Android devices.<ref name="90fps">{{cite web |last1=Siddiqui |first1=Aamir |title=PUBG Mobile now supports 90fps gameplay on the OnePlus 8 Pro, 8, 7T Pro, 7T, and 7 Pro as a timed exclusive |url=https://www.xda-developers.com/pubg-mobile-supports-90fps-gameplay-oneplus-8-pro-8-7t-pro-7t-7-pro-timed-exclusive/ |website=xda-developers |access-date=August 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200806130718/https://www.xda-developers.com/pubg-mobile-supports-90fps-gameplay-oneplus-8-pro-8-7t-pro-7t-7-pro-timed-exclusive/ |archive-date=August 6, 2020 |date=August 6, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Chinese version of the app was again renamed to ''Peacekeeper Elite'' in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chinese PUBG Mobile called out for privacy issues |url=https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3101437/pubg-mobiles-chinese-version-gets-called-out-failing-protect-user |access-date=January 24, 2021 |work=[[South China Morning Post]] |date=September 15, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213082432/https://www.scmp.com/abacus/games/article/3101437/pubg-mobiles-chinese-version-gets-called-out-failing-protect-user |url-status=live }}</ref>

Support for 90 FPS gameplay was added for selected OnePlus devices in August 2020.{{r|"90fps"}}<ref>{{cite web |author1=Matthew Sholtz |title=You can now play PUBG Mobile at 90 FPS on OnePlus phones |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/08/06/you-can-now-play-pubg-mobile-at-90-fps-on-oneplus-phones/ |website=Android Police |access-date=August 8, 2020 |date=August 6, 2020 |url-status=live |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807130907/https://www.androidpolice.com/2020/08/06/you-can-now-play-pubg-mobile-at-90-fps-on-oneplus-phones/ }}</ref>

On May 6, 2021, [[Krafton]] announced the relaunch of the game in [[India]], following the ban imposed by the [[Government of India]]. Krafton directly published the game instead of [[Tencent]] as a newly named title which could only be accessed by users in India as ''[[Battlegrounds Mobile India]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BATTLEGROUNDS MOBILE INDIA|url=https://www.battlegroundsmobileindia.com/news_view/146|access-date=May 6, 2021|website=www.battlegroundsmobileindia.com|language=ko|archive-date=June 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210601205044/https://www.battlegroundsmobileindia.com/news_view/146|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=May 6, 2021|title=PUBG Mobile India is Now Battlegrounds Mobile India: New Logo, Underage Usage Terms Updated|url=https://www.news18.com/news/tech/pubg-mobile-india-is-now-battlegrounds-mobile-india-new-logo-underage-usage-terms-updated-3711863.html|access-date=May 6, 2021|website=www.news18.com|language=en|archive-date=November 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103015707/https://www.news18.com/news/tech/pubg-mobile-india-is-now-battlegrounds-mobile-india-new-logo-underage-usage-terms-updated-3711863.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Esports ==
[[File:G-loot_Grandslam_2019.jpg|thumb|''PUBG: Battlegrounds'' esports studio at the 2019 G-loot Grandslam]]
To celebrate the game surpassing two million copies sold, Bluehole announced a 2017 Charity Invitational event, inviting 128 players to compete over their official [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] channel to raise money for the [[Gamers Outreach Foundation]], with Bluehole matching all donations up to {{US$|100,000|link=yes}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-2-million-sold |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Celebrates 2 Million Sold With Charity Tournament |first=Mike |last=Williams |date=May 2, 2017 |access-date=May 2, 2017 |website=[[USGamer]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819021530/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-2-million-sold |archive-date=August 19, 2017}}</ref> The competition ran in early May 2017, and raised at least {{US$|120,000}} from viewers along with Bluehole's {{US$|100,000}} match, and served as a prototype for future [[esports]] events for the game.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esports-pro.com/articles/tournaments/playerunknowns-2017-charity-invitation-raises-over-220000-for-gamers-outrea |title=Playerunknown's Battlegrounds' 2017 Charity Invitation raises over $220,000 for Gamers Outreach |date=May 5, 2017 |website=Esports-Pro.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508051633/http://www.esports-pro.com/articles/tournaments/playerunknowns-2017-charity-invitation-raises-over-220000-for-gamers-outrea |archive-date=May 8, 2017 |access-date=May 5, 2017}}</ref> During the August 2017 [[Gamescom]] event, Bluehole and [[ESL (company)|ESL]] organized the first ''PUBG'' invitational tournament, with a $350,000 prize pool. Separate events were held for solo players, two-player teams, two-player teams fixed to first-person perspective, and four-player squads. Each event featured three matches, with the player or team scoring the highest across all three named winners.<ref name="rps aug17 lootcrates" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/08/23/gamescom-pubg-invitational-winners-get-a-golden-frying-pan-trophy/ |title=Gamescom PUBG Invitational winners get a golden frying pan trophy |first=Jeff |last=Grubb |date=August 23, 2017 |access-date=August 23, 2017 |website=[[Venture Beat]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824011354/https://venturebeat.com/2017/08/23/gamescom-pubg-invitational-winners-get-a-golden-frying-pan-trophy/ |archive-date=August 24, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/07/25/first-pubg-invitational-will-take-place-at-gamescom-in-august/ |title=First PUBG Invitational will take place at gamescom in August, sales from vanity crates will go toward prizes |first=Stephany |last=Nunneley |date=July 25, 2017 |access-date=August 23, 2017 |website=[[VG247]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170824015245/https://www.vg247.com/2017/07/25/first-pubg-invitational-will-take-place-at-gamescom-in-august/ |archive-date=August 24, 2017}}</ref>

Greene said that while he had envisioned the battle royale format to be a spectator sport since his ''ARMA II'' mod, their approach to making ''PUBG'' an esport would be a matter of taking "baby steps". Greene said that they would not actively pursue esports until after the game was fully released and that all major [[Software bug|bugs]] were eliminated. The Gamescom 2017 event demonstrated the issues surrounding the logistics of running a large ''PUBG'' tournament with a large number of players involved, and they had worked alongside ESL to explore how to do this effectively in the future. Further, Greene stated there was also the need to establish a format for presenting a ''PUBG'' match to make it interesting to spectators, which he thought would take some time to develop given the nature of the emergent gameplay, comparing it to established first-person shooters and multiplayer online battle arena esport games.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-08-30-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-is-taking-baby-steps-into-esports |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is taking "baby steps" into esports |first=Matthew |last=Handranah |date=August 31, 2017 |access-date=August 31, 2017 |website=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831223133/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-08-30-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-is-taking-baby-steps-into-esports |archive-date=August 31, 2017}}</ref> A 20-team, 80-player tournament with a {{USD}}200,000 prize pool was organized by [[Intel]] in Oakland in November 2017.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://en.intelextrememasters.com/season-12/oakland/pubg/ |title=PUBG |website=en.intelextrememasters.com |language=en-US |access-date=November 16, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171122084424/https://en.intelextrememasters.com/season-12/oakland/pubg/ |archive-date=November 22, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://pubg.iemoakland.com/ |title=Home {{!}} IEM Oakland 2017 PUBG Invitational qualifiers |website=pubg.iemoakland.com |language=en |access-date=November 16, 2017 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180225123911/https://pubg.iemoakland.com/ |archive-date=February 25, 2018}}</ref>

==Other games and media==
Krafton had looked to expand ''PUBG'' beyond the core game as to expand the narrative universe. As part of this, ''PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds'' was quietly rebranded as ''PUBG: Battlegrounds'' around July 2021.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamer.com/hold-up-pubg-is-called-pubg-battlegrounds-now/ | title = Hold up, PUBG is called PUBG: Battlegrounds now? | first = Wes | last = Fenlon | date = August 5, 2021 | accessdate = August 6, 2021 | work = [[PC Gamer]] | archive-date = December 29, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211229140113/https://www.pcgamer.com/hold-up-pubg-is-called-pubg-battlegrounds-now/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

Starting in 2020, Krafton released a series of live-action documentaries starring [[Jonathan Frakes]] that explored the origins of the game's Battlegrounds. Ahead of the game's Taego expansion in July 2021, Krafton released another live-action short called "Ground Zero", featuring [[Ma Dong-seok]] (aka Don Lee).<ref>{{cite web | url = https://dotesports.com/pubg/news/krafton-launches-new-mysteries-unknown-pubg-lore-deep-dive-with-jonathan-frakes-announces-ground-zero-short-film-starring-don-lee | title = Krafton launches new Mysteries Unknown PUBG lore deep dive with Jonathan Frakes, announces Ground Zero short-film starring Don Lee | first = Cale | last = Michael | date = June 22, 2021 | accessdate = July 20, 2021 | work = [[Dot Esports]] | archive-date = July 20, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210720163607/https://dotesports.com/pubg/news/krafton-launches-new-mysteries-unknown-pubg-lore-deep-dive-with-jonathan-frakes-announces-ground-zero-short-film-starring-don-lee | url-status = live }}</ref>

Krafton announced a partnership with [[Adi Shankar]] in July 2021 to develop an animated series based on the ''PUBG'' universe.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/pubg-animated-show-castlevania-tv-producer-battlegrounds | title = Castlevania TV Producer Making a PUBG Animated Show | first = Adele | last = Akers | date = July 20, 2021 | accessdate = July 20, 2021 | work = [[IGN]] | archive-date = July 20, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210720162350/https://www.ign.com/articles/pubg-animated-show-castlevania-tv-producer-battlegrounds | url-status = live }}</ref>

In 2019, Krafton created a new studio Striking Distance, helmed by [[Glen Schofield]], who previously led development on the ''[[Dead Space (video game)|Dead Space]]'' series. In 2020, Schofield revealed that the studio was working on ''[[The Callisto Protocol]]'', a game set in the ''PUBG'' universe but in the far future, taking place on a prison colony established on Jupiter's moon [[Callisto (moon)|Callisto]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.ign.com/articles/the-callisto-protocol-wants-to-be-the-scariest-next-gen-horror-game-ever | title = The Callisto Protocol Wants to be The Scariest Next-Gen Horror Game Ever | first = Matt T.K. | last = Kim | date = December 11, 2020 | accessdate = December 11, 2020 | work = [[IGN]] | archive-date = December 12, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201212005447/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-callisto-protocol-wants-to-be-the-scariest-next-gen-horror-game-ever | url-status = live }}</ref>

Krafton announced a new game in development named ''[[PUBG: New State]]''. This particular game is separated from ''PUBG: Battlegrounds'' but taking place in the [[PUBG Universe]]. Pre-registrations were opened for the game on February 25, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vijayasarathy |first=Sanket |date=February 24, 2021 |title=PUBG: New State game announced, but will it be available in India?91mobiles.com |url=https://www.91mobiles.com/hub/pubg-new-state-game-announced-pre-registration/ |access-date=May 27, 2021 |language=en-US |archive-date=April 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414084647/https://www.91mobiles.com/hub/pubg-new-state-game-announced-pre-registration/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was released on 11 November that year for [[iOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 11, 2021 |title=PUBG New State : New State launched in India on Android, iOS - |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets-news/pubg-new-state-launched-in-india-on-android-ios/articleshow/87642170.cms |access-date=2021-12-05 |website=The Times of India |language=en |archive-date=November 18, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118103617/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/gadgets-news/pubg-new-state-launched-in-india-on-android-ios/articleshow/87642170.cms |url-status=live }}</ref> The game takes place in the year 2051 and is based on future warfare.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PUBG: New State |url=https://newstate.pubg.com/index.html |access-date=May 27, 2021 |website=newstate.pubg.com |language=ko |archive-date=May 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524203217/https://newstate.pubg.com/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> On January 27, 2022, the title name changed from "''PUBG: New State''" to "''New State Mobile''".<ref>{{Cite tweet|number=1486549651692011528|user=Newstatemobile|title=Hello Survivors. New State has always been a mobile-focused experience, and through the transformation to New State Mobile, we are bringing this to the core. We always appreciate your support, and please look out for upcoming content updates later this year.|date=2022-01-27|language=en}}</ref>

== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = PC: 86/100<ref name="MetacriticPC">{{cite Metacritic |id=playerunknowns-battlegrounds |type=game |vgtype=pc |title=PlayerUnknown{{'}}s Battlegrounds (PC) |access-date=February 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019030251/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/playerunknowns-battlegrounds |archive-date=October 19, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><br>XONE: 85/100<ref name="MetacriticXONE">{{cite Metacritic |id=playerunknowns-battlegrounds |type=game |vgtype=xbox-one |title=PlayerUnknown{{'}}s Battlegrounds (Xbox One) |access-date=February 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121055736/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-one/playerunknowns-battlegrounds |archive-date=January 21, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><br>iOS: 82/100<ref name="MetacriticIOS">{{cite Metacritic |id=playerunknowns-battlegrounds |type=game |vgtype=ios |title=PlayerUnknown{{'}}s Battlegrounds (IOS) |access-date=February 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627214536/http://www.metacritic.com/game/ios/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-mobile |archive-date=June 27, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><br>PS4: 72/100<ref name="MetacriticPS4">{{cite Metacritic |id=playerunknowns-battlegrounds |type=game |vgtype=playstation-4 |title=PlayerUnknown{{'}}s Battlegrounds (PlayStation 4) |access-date=February 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128104226/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/playerunknowns-battlegrounds |archive-date=January 28, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
| GI = 9.5/10<ref name="GIReview">{{cite magazine |last=Tack |first=Daniel |date=December 20, 2017 |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/playerunknowns_battlegrounds/b/pc/archive/2017/12/20/looting-shooting-and-staying-alive.aspx |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |access-date=December 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222111624/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/playerunknowns_battlegrounds/b/pc/archive/2017/12/20/looting-shooting-and-staying-alive.aspx |archive-date=December 22, 2017}}</ref>
| GSpot = 8/10<ref name="GSpotReview">{{cite web |last=Higham |first=Michael |date=December 22, 2017 |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Review |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-review/1900-6416830/ |website=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=December 23, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223082537/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-review/1900-6416830/ |archive-date=December 23, 2017}}</ref>
| IGN = 9.5/10<ref name="IGNReview">{{cite web |last=Rad |first=Chloi |date=January 5, 2017 |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/01/05/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-review |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=January 6, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107003511/http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/01/05/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-review |archive-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref>
| PCGN = 9/10<ref>{{cite web |last1=Forward |first1=Jordan |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds PC review |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-pc-review |website=PCGamesN |access-date=January 6, 2018 |date=December 22, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107174949/https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-pc-review |archive-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref>
| Poly = 10/10<ref name="PolygonReview">{{cite web |last=Plante |first=Chris |date=December 20, 2017 |title=PUBG review: Playerunknown's Battlegrounds is imperfectly perfect |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/20/16795524/pubg-review-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-pc-xbox-one |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=December 21, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171220224935/https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/20/16795524/pubg-review-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-pc-xbox-one |archive-date=December 20, 2017}}</ref>
| USG = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web |last1=Williams |first1=Mike |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) Review: First Man Standing |url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-pubg-review |website=US Gamer |access-date=January 6, 2018 |date=December 22, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107003117/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-pubg-review |archive-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref>
}}

''Battlegrounds'' received "generally favorable reviews" on all platforms, with the exception of the PlayStation 4 version which received "mixed or average reviews", according to [[review aggregator]] website [[Metacritic]].<ref name="MetacriticPC" /> During both its early access phase and after, the game also surpassed numerous player-count records. Bluehole released statistics for the first four months of release that showed that over ten million rounds of ''Battlegrounds'' had been played, effectively equal to more than 25,000 man-years of time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/08/12/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-total-player-killcount-and-other-crazy-stats |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds: Total Player Killcount and Other Crazy Stats |first=Chloi |last=Rad |date=August 14, 2017 |access-date=August 14, 2017 |website=[[IGN]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814203431/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/08/12/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-total-player-killcount-and-other-crazy-stats |archive-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref> Data by [[SteamSpy]] showed that ''Battlegrounds'' had surpassed long-standing popular titles in [[concurrent player count]] on Steam, such as ''[[Fallout 4]]'' and ''[[Grand Theft Auto V]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last=McAloon |first=Alissa |date=July 31, 2017 |title=Playerunknown's Battlegrounds claims record for most peak players in a non-Valve game |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/302813/Playerunknowns_Battlegrounds_claims_record_for_most_peak_players_in_a_nonValve_game.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801000701/http://gamasutra.com/view/news/302813/Playerunknowns_Battlegrounds_claims_record_for_most_peak_players_in_a_nonValve_game.php |archive-date=August 1, 2017 |access-date=July 31, 2017 |website=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref> eventually overtaking ''[[Dota 2]]'', the most played game on the platform for years, in August 2017.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pereira |first1=Chris |title=PUBG Becomes The Biggest Game On Steam, Briefly Surpassing Dota 2 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-becomes-the-biggest-game-on-steam-briefly-sur/1100-6452900/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 27, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828015637/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-becomes-the-biggest-game-on-steam-briefly-sur/1100-6452900/ |archive-date=August 28, 2017 |date=August 27, 2017}}</ref> The following month, the game had its peak concurrent player count reach over 1.3 million, surpassing ''Dota 2''{{'s}} all-time record of 1.29 set in March 2016.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-has-passed-1-million-concurrent-players/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has passed 1 million concurrent players |first=Joe |last=Donnelley |date=September 8, 2017 |access-date=September 8, 2017 |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909004327/http://www.pcgamer.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-has-passed-1-million-concurrent-players/ |archive-date=September 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Hester |first1=Blake |title=More Than a Million People Are Playing 'PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' Right Now |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/news/more-than-1m-playing-pubg-right-now-w501892 |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=September 8, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909010050/https://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/news/more-than-1m-playing-pubg-right-now-w501892 |archive-date=September 9, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Brown |first1=Fraser |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds beats Dota 2's highest concurrent player record |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-beats-dota-2s-highest-concurrent-player-record/ |magazine=PC Gamer |access-date=September 16, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917032307/http://www.pcgamer.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-beats-dota-2s-highest-concurrent-player-record/ |archive-date=September 17, 2017 |date=September 16, 2017}}</ref> The game then reached a concurrent player count of two million in October 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-passes-another-major-milestone-on-steam/1100-6453971/ |title=PUBG Passes Another Major Milestone On Steam |first=Chris |last=Pereira |date=October 11, 2017 |access-date=October 11, 2017 |website=[[GameSpot]] |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213082433/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-has-passed-another-big-milestone-on-steam/1100-6453971/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and three million by the end of the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-hits-3-million-concurrent-players-and-15-million-cheater-bans/ |title=PUBG hits 3 million concurrent players (and 1.5 million cheater bans) |first=Samuel |last=Horti |date=December 29, 2017 |access-date=December 29, 2017 |work=[[PC Gamer]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229232220/http://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-hits-3-million-concurrent-players-and-15-million-cheater-bans/ |archive-date=December 29, 2017}}</ref> The game has also been shown popular in South Korean [[PC bangs]]; analysis firm Gametrics reported that ''Battlegrounds'' had surpassed ''[[Overwatch (video game)|Overwatch]]'' and became the second-most played game in the country by August 2017, only behind ''[[League of Legends]]'',<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/battlegrounds-overwatch-korea-pc-bangs |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds surpasses Overwatch in South Korea's PC bangs |first=Sam |last=Foxall |date=August 31, 2017 |access-date=August 31, 2017 |website=[[PCGamesN]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901071456/https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/battlegrounds-overwatch-korea-pc-bangs |archive-date=September 1, 2017}}</ref> it subsequently surpassed ''League of Legends'' by October 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/10/19/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-overtakes-league-of-legends-as-the-most-played-game-at-korean-pc-bangs/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds overtakes League of Legends as the most played game at Korean PC bangs |first=Sharif |last=Saed |date=October 19, 2017 |access-date=October 19, 2017 |website=[[VG247]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019223024/https://www.vg247.com/2017/10/19/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-overtakes-league-of-legends-as-the-most-played-game-at-korean-pc-bangs/ |archive-date=October 19, 2017}}</ref> ''Battlegrounds''{{'}} popularity in China led to a large increase in users of Steam from there, with more than half of Steam clients having Chinese as their default language in late 2017.<ref name="polygon china effect">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2017/12/22/16810348/pubg-1-0-release-playerunknown-interview-china |title=PUBG creator on the rise of China and the future of Battlegrounds |first=Charlie |last=Hall |date=December 22, 2017 |access-date=December 26, 2017 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226235123/https://www.polygon.com/interviews/2017/12/22/16810348/pubg-1-0-release-playerunknown-interview-china |archive-date=December 26, 2017}}</ref>

Several journalists commented on the game's rapid growth towards a large player base for a game that was still in early access. Greene had confidence that the game could reach over a million players within a month, but some of his development team were only anticipating around 200,000 to 300,000 within the first year, and were surprised by its performance in its first month.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/11/16272752/brendan-playerunknown-greenes-whirlwind-year |title=Brendan "Playerunknown" Greene's whirlwind year |first=Blake |last=Hestor |date=September 11, 2017 |access-date=September 11, 2017 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170911175014/https://www.polygon.com/2017/9/11/16272752/brendan-playerunknown-greenes-whirlwind-year |archive-date=September 11, 2017}}</ref> Greene himself believed that the strong growth was buoyed by non-traditional promotional channels like Twitch streamers and other content creators, which they have since worked to introduce new gameplay elements ahead of public release.<ref name="gibiz sept2017 interview"/> ''[[IGN]]''{{'s}} Rad believed that the popularity of the game was due to its fast-paced nature compared to similar type games available at the time, such as ''[[H1Z1: King of the Kill|H1Z1]]'' and ''[[DayZ (video game)|DayZ]]''. She thought that the design balanced the solitary periods when the player is scavenging or sneaking around with those of being in combat with others, and the approach is readily accessible to new players with very little waiting time to get into a new match.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/04/18/why-over-1-million-people-are-playing-playerunknowns-battlegrounds |title=Why 1 Million People Play PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds |first=Chloi |last=Rad |date=April 18, 2017 |access-date=April 18, 2017 |website=[[IGN]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419104907/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/04/18/why-over-1-million-people-are-playing-playerunknowns-battlegrounds |archive-date=April 19, 2017}}</ref> Andy Moore for ''[[Glixel]]'' considered that ''Battlegrounds''{{'}} popularity comes from how the game encouraged players to engage due to the situation they are placed in rather than from the player's own disposition, comparing it to the [[Stanford prison experiment]], and thus the game is able to capture the interest of players who may normally eschew these types of games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.glixel.com/news/learning-to-embrace-death-in-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-w478231 |title=Learning to Love the Masochism of 'Playerunknown's Battlegrounds' |first=Andy |last=Moore |date=April 21, 2017 |access-date=April 21, 2017 |website=[[Glixel]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422123311/http://www.glixel.com/news/learning-to-embrace-death-in-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-w478231 |archive-date=April 22, 2017}}</ref>
[[File:Mayu_Ronne_as_PUBG_female_player_20190216d.jpg|thumb|A ''PUBG: Battlegrounds'' female cosplayer at the 33rd Development Anime Festival]]
''[[Rock Paper Shotgun]]''{{'s}} Michael Johnson described ''Battlegrounds'' as "a tactical shooting sandbox, a story generator, and a horror game all in one", providing some of the "highest highs" in multiplayer gaming as reason for its popularity.<ref name="rps tension">{{cite news |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/05/02/the-tension-elation-of-playerunknowns-battlegrounds/ |title=The tension & elation of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds |first=Michael |last=Johnson |date=May 2, 2017 |access-date=May 2, 2017 |website=[[Rock Paper Shotgun]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503015837/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/05/02/the-tension-elation-of-playerunknowns-battlegrounds/ |archive-date=May 3, 2017}}</ref> Rob Zacny for ''[[Waypoint (website)|Waypoint]]'' found that ''Battlegrounds'' offered the same type of entertainment experience for viewers that many other player-vs-player [[survival game]]s have, but because of the lack of persistence, players were more likely to experiment with resources rather than hoard them, leading to humorous or unexpected situations that are often absent in survival games and making the title more enjoyable to watch and play, leading to its popularity.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/a-murder-car-in-battlegrounds-captures-why-its-mayhem-works/ |title=A Murder-Car in 'BATTLEGROUNDS' Captures Why Its Mayhem Works |first=Rob |last=Zacny |date=April 24, 2017 |access-date=April 24, 2017 |website=[[Waypoint (website)|Waypoint]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425114533/https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/a-murder-car-in-battlegrounds-captures-why-its-mayhem-works |archive-date=April 25, 2017}}</ref> Jeff Grubb of ''[[Venture Beat]]'' considered ''Battlegrounds'' a paradigm shift in the first-person shooter market similar to how ''[[Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare]]'' also changed the landscape of shooters when it was released in 2007, and believed it did this by being an anti-''Call of Duty'' in terms of pacing and strategy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/07/03/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-is-the-most-important-shooter-since-call-of-duty-4-modern-warfare/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is the most important shooter since Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare |first=Jeff |last=Grubb |date=July 3, 2017 |access-date=July 4, 2017 |website=[[Venture Beat]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704030245/https://venturebeat.com/2017/07/03/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-is-the-most-important-shooter-since-call-of-duty-4-modern-warfare/ |archive-date=July 4, 2017}}</ref> ''IGN's'' Chloi Rad has praised the game's gunplay, saying the game "has taken the military-sim gameplay... [and] boiled it down to its most exciting parts."

=== Sales ===
''Battlegrounds'' made {{US$|11&nbsp;million}} in the first three days of its Windows early access release in March 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/294563/Playerunknowns_Battlegrounds_pulls_in_over_11_million_in_three_days.php |title=Playerunknown's Battlegrounds pulls in over $11 million in three days |last=Kerr |first=Chris |date=March 27, 2017 |website=Gamasutra |access-date=April 12, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413071238/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/294563/Playerunknowns_Battlegrounds_pulls_in_over_11_million_in_three_days.php |archive-date=April 13, 2017}}</ref> By the second week of April, the game had sold over one million copies, with a peak player count of 89,000,<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-has-sold-1-million-copies/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has sold 1 million copies |first=Christopher |last=Livingston |date=April 10, 2017 |magazine=[[PC Gamer]] |publisher=[[Future US]] |access-date=June 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725101707/http://www.pcgamer.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-has-sold-1-million-copies/ |archive-date=July 25, 2017}}</ref> [[SuperData Research]] estimated that the game's April sales exceeded {{US$|34&nbsp;million}}, putting it as one of the top 10 highest grossing revenue games for the month and exceeding revenue from ''[[Overwatch (video game)|Overwatch]]'' and ''[[Counter-Strike: Global Offensive]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/battlegrounds-sales-numbers |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds made $34 million in April, more than Overwatch or CS:GO |first=Ben |last=Burns |date=May 25, 2017 |access-date=May 25, 2017 |website=[[PCGamesN]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525182822/https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/battlegrounds-sales-numbers |archive-date=May 25, 2017}}</ref> By May 2017, the game had sold over two million copies, with total gross revenues estimated at {{US$|60&nbsp;million}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/05/02/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-hits-2-million-copies-sold |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Hits 2 Million Copies Sold |first=Matt |last=Porter |date=May 2, 2017 |access-date=May 2, 2017 |website=[[IGN]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502213725/http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/05/02/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-hits-2-million-copies-sold |archive-date=May 2, 2017}}</ref><ref name="bi may2017">{{cite web |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-coming-to-ps4-and-xbox-2017-5 |title=The crazy new game that pits 100 people against each other on a deserted island will come to consoles |first=Ben |last=Gilbert |date=May 4, 2017 |access-date=May 5, 2017 |website=[[Business Insider]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506052620/http://www.businessinsider.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-coming-to-ps4-and-xbox-2017-5 |archive-date=May 6, 2017}}</ref> Within three months of its early access release, it had surpassed over five million copies sold,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nunneley |first1=Stephany |title=PUBG has over 5 million players on Xbox One, players gifted with celebratory jacket |url=https://www.vg247.com/2018/03/15/pubg-5-million-players-xbox-one-free-jacket/ |website=VG247 |access-date=March 16, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316001408/https://www.vg247.com/2018/03/15/pubg-5-million-players-xbox-one-free-jacket/ |archive-date=March 16, 2018 |date=March 15, 2018}}</ref> and Bluehole announced it had exceeded {{US$|100&nbsp;million}} in sale revenue.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/23/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-surpasses-100-million-in-revenue/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds surpasses $100 million in revenue |first=Jeff |last=Grubb |date=June 23, 2017 |access-date=June 23, 2017 |website=[[Venture Beat]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623201116/https://venturebeat.com/2017/06/23/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-surpasses-100-million-in-revenue/ |archive-date=June 23, 2017}}</ref> ''Battlegrounds'' reached this four million mark faster than ''[[Minecraft]]'', which took over a year to reach similar sales figures while it was in its paid-beta development period.<ref name="atlantic">{{cite web |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/07/the-apocalyptic-appeal-of-playerunknowns-battlegrounds/533289/ |title=The Apocalyptic Appeal of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds |first=David |last=Sims |date=July 11, 2017 |access-date=July 17, 2017 |website=[[The Atlantic]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170715015941/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/07/the-apocalyptic-appeal-of-playerunknowns-battlegrounds/533289/ |archive-date=July 15, 2017}}</ref>

By September 2017, Bluehole's value, as tracked by a firm that tracks private Korean corporations, increased five-fold from June of that year to {{US$|4.6&nbsp;billion}}, primarily due to ''Battlegrounds''.<ref name="bloomberg set2017">{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-27/one-man-s-journey-from-welfare-to-world-s-hottest-video-game |title=One Man's Journey From Welfare to World's Hottest Video Game |first1=Yuji |last1=Nakamura |first2=Sam |last2=Kim |website=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]] |date=September 27, 2017 |access-date=September 27, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928145900/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-09-27/one-man-s-journey-from-welfare-to-world-s-hottest-video-game |archive-date=September 28, 2017}}</ref> By December 2017, PUBG Corporation reported that there were more than 30 million players worldwide between the Windows and Xbox versions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/312200/Now_out_of_Early_Access_Battlegrounds_crosses_30M_players.php |title=Now out of Early Access, Battlegrounds crosses 30M players |first=Alissa |last=McAloon |date=December 21, 2017 |access-date=December 26, 2017 |work=[[Gamasutra]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226235440/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/312200/Now_out_of_Early_Access_Battlegrounds_crosses_30M_players.php |archive-date=December 26, 2017}}</ref> The research firm SuperData estimated that ''Battlegrounds'' drew in more than {{USD|712 million}} in revenue within 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcgamesinsider.biz/news/66624/superdata-global-games-market-brought-in-1084bn-in-2017-pubg-generated-712m/ |title=SuperData: Global games market brought in $108.4bn in 2017, PUBG generated $712m |first=Alex |last=Calvin |date=January 30, 2018 |access-date=January 30, 2018 |work=PC Games Insider |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131023321/http://www.pcgamesinsider.biz/news/66624/superdata-global-games-market-brought-in-1084bn-in-2017-pubg-generated-712m/ |archive-date=January 31, 2018}}</ref> By February 2018, the game had sold over thirty million on Steam according to [[Steam Spy]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Charlie |title=PUBG hits 30M sold on PC, but player counts are down |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/2/15/17016332/pubg-sales-xbox-pc-active-players |website=Polygon |access-date=February 18, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218090816/https://www.polygon.com/2018/2/15/17016332/pubg-sales-xbox-pc-active-players |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |date=February 15, 2018}}</ref> The following month, Steam's President [[Gabe Newell]] stated that the game was the third highest-grossing game of all time on the platform.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-is-the-third-highest-earning-game-ever-on-steam-according-to-gabe-newell/ |title=Gabe Newell: 'Hooray! Valve's going to start shipping games again' |date=March 8, 2018 |access-date=March 8, 2018 |work=[[PC Gamer]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309120402/https://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-is-the-third-highest-earning-game-ever-on-steam-according-to-gabe-newell/ |archive-date=March 9, 2018}}</ref> ''PUBG: Battlegrounds'' is the [[List of best-selling PC games|best-selling video game on PC]] and [[List of best-selling Xbox One video games|on Xbox One]]. Before the release of the [[PlayStation 4]] version, 42 million copies were sold on PC and 9 million copies on Xbox One.<ref>{{cite news |title=PUBG Has Sold 8 Million Copies on Xbox One |url=https://screenrant.com/pubg-8-million-copies-xbox-one/ |access-date=11 May 2022 |work=[[Screen Rant]] |date=4 July 2018 |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923084851/https://screenrant.com/pubg-8-million-copies-xbox-one/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Full Product Release Now Available on Xbox One |url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/09/04/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-full-product-release-now-available-on-xbox-one/ |access-date=11 May 2022 |work=[[Xbox Wire]] |date=4 July 2018 |archive-date=January 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220120011119/https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/09/04/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-full-product-release-now-available-on-xbox-one/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Within three days of going live on the Xbox Live Preview Program in mid-December 2017, Microsoft announced that ''Battlegrounds'' had sold more than a million copies on the platform. Alongside this, Microsoft announced that ''Battlegrounds'' would be offered as a free add-on for those buying the [[Xbox One X]] console through the end of 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/12/15/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-sells-1-million-xbox-one-copies-in-3-days/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds sells 1 million Xbox One copies in 3 days |first=Mike |last=Minotii |date=December 15, 2017 |access-date=December 15, 2017 |work=[[Venture Beat]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215220709/https://venturebeat.com/2017/12/15/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-sells-1-million-xbox-one-copies-in-3-days/ |archive-date=December 15, 2017}}</ref> A month after release, the Xbox version had sold more than four million copies and was the fourth bestselling game in the United States, according to [[The NPD Group]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hall |first1=Charlie |title=PUBG celebrates 4M players on Xbox One with free loot crates |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/1/25/16932186/pubg-xbox-loot-crates-free-battle-points-4-million-players |website=Polygon |access-date=January 25, 2018 |date=January 25, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126042456/https://www.polygon.com/2018/1/25/16932186/pubg-xbox-loot-crates-free-battle-points-4-million-players |archive-date=January 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Grubb |first1=Jeff |title=January 2018 NPD: PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds hits top 5 on Xbox alone |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/02/21/january-2018-npd-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-hits-top-5-on-xbox-alone/ |website=Venture Beat |date=February 21, 2018 |access-date=February 22, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222012826/https://venturebeat.com/2018/02/21/january-2018-npd-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-hits-top-5-on-xbox-alone/ |archive-date=February 22, 2018}}</ref> By March 2018, the game had sold forty million copies across all platforms, which had risen to over fifty million by June, averaging over 87 million players daily with over 400 million players in total.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Takahashi |first1=Dean |title=PlayerUnknown Brendan Greene points to PUBG's future after its smashing first year |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/03/23/playerunknown-brendan-greene-points-to-pubgs-future-after-its-smashing-first-year/ |website=Venture Beat |access-date=May 2, 2018 |date=March 23, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323222149/https://venturebeat.com/2018/03/23/playerunknown-brendan-greene-points-to-pubgs-future-after-its-smashing-first-year/ |archive-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref><ref name="polygon">{{cite web |last1=McWhertor |first1=Michael |title=PUBG reaches 50M copies sold, 400M total players |url=https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/19/17478476/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-sales-pubg-number-of-players |website=Polygon |access-date=June 19, 2018 |date=June 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180619193456/https://www.polygon.com/2018/6/19/17478476/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-sales-pubg-number-of-players |archive-date=June 19, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> The mobile version had over 100 million downloads by August 2018,<ref>{{cite web |last1=LeFebvre |first1=Rob |title='PUBG' mobile app surpasses 100 million downloads |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/16/pubg-mobile-100-million-downloads/ |website=Engadget |date=August 16, 2018 |access-date=August 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816214342/https://www.engadget.com/2018/08/16/pubg-mobile-100-million-downloads/ |archive-date=August 16, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> and exceeded 225{{nbsp}}million by October 2018,<ref name="venturebeat">{{cite news |title=PUBG Mobile hits $100 million slower than Fortnite because of China |url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/10/24/pubg-mobile-hits-100-million-slower-than-fortnite-because-of-china/ |work=[[VentureBeat]] |date=October 24, 2018 |access-date=January 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105094329/https://venturebeat.com/2018/10/24/pubg-mobile-hits-100-million-slower-than-fortnite-because-of-china/ |archive-date=January 5, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> a figure higher than the combined player base for ''[[Fortnite]]'' at nearly the same point in time. In 2018, the bulk of these players were in Asian countries such as China and India, where ''PUBG Mobile'' was released before ''Fortnite'' and could run on lower-powered mobile hardware.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/18/18146774/pubg-mobile-players-fortnite |title=PUBG mobile has as many players as Fortnite |first=Shannon |last=Lao |date=December 18, 2018 |access-date=December 19, 2018 |work=[[The Verge]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181218230636/https://www.theverge.com/2018/12/18/18146774/pubg-mobile-players-fortnite |archive-date=December 18, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/pubg-mobile-player-count |title=PUBG Mobile has as many players as Fortnite |first=Ali |last=Jones |date=December 19, 2018 |access-date=December 19, 2018 |work=[[PCGamesN]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181219142517/https://www.pcgamesn.com/pubg-mobile-player-count |archive-date=December 19, 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> China was the game's largest player base.<ref name="venturebeat"/> ''PUBG'' was the most popular online game in India in 2018 (but it was banned by the government of India in 2020; see [[#National bans|below]]).<ref>{{cite news |title=Charted: India's obsession with Chinese online game PUBG |url=https://qz.com/india/1489469/tencents-pubg-is-driving-indian-gamers-crazy/ |work=[[Quartz (publication)|Quartz]] |date=December 10, 2018 |access-date=January 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105094317/https://qz.com/india/1489469/tencents-pubg-is-driving-indian-gamers-crazy/ |archive-date=January 5, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

''PUBG'' was the top-selling PC paid game of 2017,<ref name="SuperData">{{cite web |title=2017 YEAR IN REVIEW: DIGITAL GAMES AND INTERACTIVE MEDIA |url=http://strivesponsorship.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SuperData-2017-year-in-review-digital-games-and-interactive-media.pdf |publisher=SuperData Research |date=January 25, 2018 |access-date=May 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211004114/http://strivesponsorship.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/SuperData-2017-year-in-review-digital-games-and-interactive-media.pdf |archive-date=February 11, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> having sold 30{{nbsp}}million copies worldwide and grossed about {{US$|900 million|long=no}}.<ref name=":2">{{cite news |last1=Makuch |first1=Eddie |title=PUBG Passes 3 Million Concurrent Users On PC |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-passes-3-million-concurrent-users-on-pc/1100-6455835/ |access-date=January 11, 2019 |work=[[GameSpot]] |date=January 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415151201/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pubg-passes-3-million-concurrent-users-on-pc/1100-6455835/ |archive-date=April 15, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> By June 2018, it had sold more than 50{{nbsp}}million copies worldwide.<ref name="polygon"/> ''PUBG'' was again the top-selling PC paid game of 2018, increasing its annual sales revenue to {{US$|1.028 billion|long=no}}.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |title=Market Brief {{ndash}} 2018 Digital Games & Interactive Entertainment Industry Year In Review |url=https://www.superdataresearch.com/market-data/market-brief-year-in-review/ |website=SuperData Research |access-date=January 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121010757/https://www.superdataresearch.com/market-data/market-brief-year-in-review/ |archive-date=January 21, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition, the free-to-play ''PUBG Mobile'' became the first mobile battle royale game to gross over {{US$|1 billion|long=no}},<ref>{{cite news |title=PUBG becomes first mobile battle royale to surpass $1bn revenue |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-09-23-pubg-becomes-first-mobile-battle-royale-to-surpass-usd1bn-revenue |access-date=January 12, 2020 |work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]] |date=September 23, 2019 |archive-date=September 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190930134243/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-09-23-pubg-becomes-first-mobile-battle-royale-to-surpass-usd1bn-revenue |url-status=live }}</ref> reaching over {{US$|1.5 billion|long=no}} {{as of|2019|lc=y}}.<ref name="Pocket" />

''PUBG Mobile'' was the second most-downloaded mobile game of 2018, with nearly 300{{nbsp}}million downloads worldwide. The game's largest market was China, which accounted for 29% of the game's downloads, followed by India and the United States each with about 10% (30{{nbsp}}million) of its downloads. It was the most-installed battle royale game of 2018, with about 200{{nbsp}}million more installs than ''Fortnite'', which received 82{{nbsp}}million installs on mobile devices.<ref>{{cite web |title=Q4 and Full Year 2018: Store Intelligence Data Digest |url=https://s3.amazonaws.com/sensortower-itunes/Quarterly+Reports/Sensor-Tower-Q4-2018-Data-Digest.pdf |website=Sensor Tower |date=January 16, 2019 |access-date=January 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190210221540/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sensortower-itunes/Quarterly+Reports/Sensor-Tower-Q4-2018-Data-Digest.pdf |archive-date=February 10, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, ''PUBG Mobile'' reached 555{{nbsp}}million downloads worldwide, with India accounting for 116 million (21%) of the downloads, China 108 million (19%), and the United States 42 million (8%).<ref name="Pocket">{{cite news |last1=Partleton |first1=Kayleigh |title=PUBG Mobile shoots through $1.5 billion in lifetime revenue |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/asia/news/72145/pubg-mobile-1500000000-lifetime-revenue/ |access-date=January 12, 2020 |work=[[Pocket Gamer]] |date=December 12, 2019 |archive-date=January 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200102040241/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/asia/news/72145/pubg-mobile-1500000000-lifetime-revenue/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In Japan, ''PUBG'' was the most popular [[PC game]] during 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=PUBG is World's 6th Most Popular PC Game, and #1 in Japan |url=https://esportsobserver.com/pubg-pc-game-stats-newzoo/ |access-date=May 22, 2019 |work=The Esports Observer |date=August 17, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181021183139/https://esportsobserver.com/pubg-pc-game-stats-newzoo/ |archive-date=October 21, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''PUBG Mobile'' grossed {{JPY|3.58 billion}} ({{US$|{{To USD|3580|JPN|year=2018}} million|long=no}}) in Japan during 2018.<ref name="japan">{{cite web |title=2018年アプリ収益予測@Game-i |url=http://game-i.daa.jp/?2018%E5%B9%B4%E3%82%A2%E3%83%97%E3%83%AA%E5%8F%8E%E7%9B%8A%E4%BA%88%E6%B8%AC |website=#セルラン分析/ゲーム株『Game-i』 |access-date=January 10, 2019 |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111152750/http://game-i.daa.jp/?2018%E5%B9%B4%E3%82%A2%E3%83%97%E3%83%AA%E5%8F%8E%E7%9B%8A%E4%BA%88%E6%B8%AC |archive-date=January 11, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2019, the PlayStation 4 version of ''Battlegrounds'' sold 7,447 copies within its first week in Japan, which placed it at number 14 on the all-format sales chart.<ref>{{cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=January 23, 2019 |url=https://gematsu.com/2019/01/media-create-sales-1-14-19-1-20-19 |title=Media Create Sales: 1/14/19 – 1/20/19 |publisher=Gematsu |access-date=February 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405075732/https://gematsu.com/2019/01/media-create-sales-1-14-19-1-20-19 |archive-date=April 5, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> By December 2019, the PC and console versions of the game had sold over {{nowrap|60 million}} copies, in addition to ''PUBG Mobile'' having exceeded 600{{nbsp}}million downloads.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bailey |first1=Dustin |title=PUBG has sold ten million units in the past 18 months |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-sales |access-date=March 20, 2020 |work=[[PCGamesN]] |date=December 16, 2019 |archive-date=June 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609133629/https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-sales |url-status=live }}</ref> By July 2020, computer and console software sales had exceeded 70{{nbsp}}million units sold,<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/366318/PUBG_has_sold_over_70_million_copies_worldwide.php | title = PUBG has sold over 70 million copies worldwide | first = Chris | last = Kerr | date = July 14, 2020 | access-date = July 14, 2020 | work = [[Gamasutra]] | archive-date = July 14, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200714152822/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/366318/PUBG_has_sold_over_70_million_copies_worldwide.php | url-status = dead }}</ref> in addition to ''PUBG Mobile'' accumulating {{nowrap|734 million}} downloads.<ref>{{cite web | last=Chapple | first=Craig | title=PUBG Mobile Doubles Lifetime Revenue to $3 Billion in Just Seven Months | website=Sensor Tower | date=July 2, 2020 | url=https://sensortower.com/blog/pubg-mobile-revenue-three-billion | access-date=August 25, 2020 | archive-date=October 22, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022173411/https://sensortower.com/blog/pubg-mobile-revenue-three-billion | url-status=live }}</ref> ''PUBG Mobile'' had grossed over {{US$|3.5 billion|long=no}} in revenue by August 2020.<ref name="sensortower-2020-08-13">{{Cite web|last=Chapple|first=Craig|title=PUBG Mobile Generates $500 Million in Just Over Two Months as it Races Past $3.5 Billion Lifetime Revenue|url=https://sensortower.com/blog/pubg-mobile-three-point-five-billion-revenue|date=September 9, 2020|access-date=September 11, 2020|website=Sensor Tower|archive-date=October 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201018100142/https://sensortower.com/blog/pubg-mobile-three-point-five-billion-revenue|url-status=live}}</ref> ''PUBG Mobile'' grossed over {{US$|2.6 billion|long=no}} in 2020, making it the [[2020 in video games|highest-grossing game of the year]] and bringing its total revenue to over {{US$|4.3 billion|long=no}} by December 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chan |first1=Stephanie |title=2020 Year In Review: 10 Mobile Milestones |url=https://sensortower.com/blog/mobile-app-milestones-2020 |access-date=January 6, 2021 |work=Sensor Tower |date=December 22, 2020 |archive-date=December 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225193632/https://sensortower.com/blog/mobile-app-milestones-2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2021, it was reported that ''PUBG Mobile'' had accumulated 1 billion downloads outside of China since launch.<ref>{{cite web|title=PUBG Mobile reports 1 billion accumulated downloads since 2018 launch|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tencent-videogames/pubg-mobile-reports-1-billion-accumulated-downloads-since-2018-launch-idUSKBN2BH0D1|website=Reuters|author=Pei Li|date=March 25, 2021|access-date=March 25, 2021|archive-date=March 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325135051/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tencent-videogames/pubg-mobile-reports-1-billion-accumulated-downloads-since-2018-launch-idUSKBN2BH0D1|url-status=live}}</ref> By December 2022, ''PUBG Mobile'' has grossed {{US$|9 billion|long=no}} worldwide,<ref name=":4">{{cite news |last1=Fragan |first1=Jordan |title=PUBG Mobile hits $9B in lifetime consumer spending |url=https://venturebeat.com/games/pubg-mobile-9-billion-lifetime-spending-pubgm-sensor-tower/ |access-date=7 December 2022 |work=Game Beat |date=6 December 2022 |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210212924/https://venturebeat.com/games/pubg-mobile-9-billion-lifetime-spending-pubgm-sensor-tower/ |url-status=live }}</ref> while ''[[Battlegrounds Mobile India]]'' surpassed 100 million downloads from the [[Google Play]] store.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-01 |title=Battlegrounds Mobile India clocks 100 million users, completes one year in India |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/gaming/battlegrounds-mobile-india-clocks-100-million-users-completes-one-year-in-india-8003566/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=December 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207093831/https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/gaming/battlegrounds-mobile-india-clocks-100-million-users-completes-one-year-in-india-8003566/ |url-status=live }}</ref> By the end of 2021, ''PUBG: Battlegrounds'' had an average of 70 million daily users.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-05-08 |title=Tencent pulls blockbuster game PUBG in China, launches patriotic alternative |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tencent-games-idUSKCN1SE0CT |access-date=2022-04-22 |archive-date=October 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014203225/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tencent-games-idUSKCN1SE0CT |url-status=live }}</ref> After selling more than 75 million copies, the original PC and console game converted to free-to-play,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=2021-12-09 |title=The original PUBG is going free-to-play |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/9/22821220/pubg-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-free-to-play-release-date |access-date=2022-02-01 |website=The Verge |language=en |archive-date=February 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201120543/https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/9/22821220/pubg-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-free-to-play-release-date |url-status=live }}</ref> and according to Krafton's revenue report for the first quarter of 2022, the free-to-play transition was the reason for the increase in the game's profits. PC sales had increased by 61 percent for a revenue of $82.3 million. In gaming consoles, sales revenue increased by 274 percent over the last year, and monthly active users also increased by almost 300 percent. The PC and console versions of the game have a total revenue of $4 billion since the game's release in 2017.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-04-09 |title=2019 Year In Review — SuperData, a Nielsen Company |url=https://www.superdataresearch.com/2019-year-in-review/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409122229/https://www.superdataresearch.com/2019-year-in-review/ |archive-date=April 9, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-02 |title=The success of Fortnite is big enough to share — SuperData, a Nielsen Company |url=https://www.superdataresearch.com/blog/the-success-of-fortnite-battle-royale-is-big-enough-to-share |access-date=2022-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210202060730/https://www.superdataresearch.com/blog/the-success-of-fortnite-battle-royale-is-big-enough-to-share |archive-date=February 2, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title="KRAFTON, INC. REPORTS $1.57 BILLION USD IN REVENUE FOR 2021, THE HIGHEST IN THE COMPANY'S HISTORY" - KRAFTON Press Room |url=https://press.krafton.com/KRAFTON-INC-REPORTS-157-BILLION-USD-IN-REVENUE-FOR-2021-THE-HIGHE |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=press.krafton.com |archive-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131073125/https://press.krafton.com/KRAFTON-INC-REPORTS-157-BILLION-USD-IN-REVENUE-FOR-2021-THE-HIGHE |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":3" /> Combined with the mobile version, which generated $9 billion in revenue until Q3 2022,<ref name=":4" /> ''PUBG:'' ''Battlegrounds'' has a total revenue of $13 billion.

==== Records ====
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Record by !! Record title !! {{Refh}}
|-
|[[Guinness World Records]]
|Fastest time for a [[Steam (service)|Steam]] [[Early access video game|Early Access video game]] to sell one million units.
| rowspan="7" style="text-align:center" | <ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2017-11-17 |title=Videogame sensation PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS collects 7 records including most played game on Steam |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2017/11/videogame-sensation-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-collects-7-records-including-most-502910 |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Guinness World Records |language=en-gb |archive-date=March 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331040323/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2017/11/videogame-sensation-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-collects-7-records-including-most-502910 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Guinness World Records]]
|Fastest time for a [[Steam (service)|Steam]] [[Early access video game|Early Access video game]] to gross $100 million in revenue.
|-
|[[Guinness World Records]]
|First non-[[Valve Corporation|Valve]] video game to be the most played game on [[Steam (service)|Steam]].
|-
|[[Guinness World Records]]
|Most concurrent players for a [[Steam (service)|Steam]] [[Early access video game|Early Access video game]].
|-
|[[Guinness World Records]]
|Most concurrent players on [[Steam (service)|Steam]] for a non-[[Valve Corporation|Valve]] video game.
|-
|[[Guinness World Records]]
|Most actively played video game on [[Steam (service)|Steam]].
|-
|[[Guinness World Records]]
|First video game with 2 million concurrent players on [[Steam (service)|Steam]].
|}
Before the official release of ''PUBG: Battlegrounds,'' as an [[early access video game]], it had collected seven [[Guinness World Records]] on [[Steam (service)|Steam]]. Starting with the first record, title "Fastest time for a Steam Early Access video game to sell one million units" was provided for being able to sell 1 million units in just 16 days of its early access release. Title "Fastest time for a Steam Early Access video game to gross $100 million in revenue" was provided for being able to gross $100 million in just 79 days of its early access release. Title "First non-Valve video game to be the most played game on Steam" was provided for being able to temporarily top the Steam charts for people playing the game at the same time – more than 800,000. It was the first time that a game not published by [[Valve Corporation|Valve]], the makers of Steam, had achieved this since Steam's initial release in 2003. As of 6 September 2017, it had the second highest ever peak players on the Steam distribution platform. Titles "Most concurrent players for a Steam Early Access video game", "Most concurrent players on Steam for a non-Valve video game" and "Most actively played video game on Steam" were provided for being able to achieve 1,984,278 [[concurrent players]] on Steam. Title "First video game with 2 million concurrent players on Steam" was provided for being able to achieve a peak of 2,279,084 gamers playing at the same time.<ref name=":5" />

=== Awards ===
While still in early access, ''Battlegrounds'' won the "Best Multiplayer Game" and was also nominated for the categories "Game of the Year" and "Best Ongoing Game" at [[The Game Awards 2017]].<ref name="GameAwards2017">{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/8/16752674/game-awards-pubg-best-multiplayer-game |title=The Game Awards forgot to give PUBG its only award last night |first=Julia |last=Alexander |date=December 8, 2017 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208234320/https://www.polygon.com/2017/12/8/16752674/game-awards-pubg-best-multiplayer-game |archive-date=December 8, 2017}}</ref> The game's nomination for "Game of the Year" created some debate, being the first early access title to be named for one of the top industry awards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usgamer.net/articles/opinion-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-shouldnt-be-in-game-of-the-year-contention |title=Opinion: Nominating PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds for Game of the Year is a Terrible Idea |first=Kat |last=Bailey |date=November 14, 2017 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |website=[[US Gamer]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115174017/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/opinion-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-shouldnt-be-in-game-of-the-year-contention |archive-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2017/11/14/pubg-is-a-goty-contender/ |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and GOTY: It's about art vs. product |first=Jeff |last=Grubb |date=November 14, 2017 |access-date=November 15, 2017 |website=[[VentureBeat]] |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115040203/https://venturebeat.com/2017/11/14/pubg-is-a-goty-contender/ |archive-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref> Also, about a month before it was released, the game won "Best Multiplayer Game" and "PC Game of the Year" at the 35th [[Golden Joystick Awards]],<ref name="Golden-Joysticks-2017">{{cite web |last=Weber |first=Rachel |date=November 17, 2017 |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-scores-big-at-the-35th-golden-joystick-awards-presented-with-omen-by-hp/ |title=The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild scores big at the 35th Golden Joystick Awards presented with OMEN by HP |publisher=GamesRadar+ |access-date=December 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117181142/http://www.gamesradar.com/the-legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-scores-big-at-the-35th-golden-joystick-awards-presented-with-omen-by-hp/ |archive-date=November 17, 2017}}</ref> whereas its other nominations were for "Studio of the Year" (PUBG Corporation) and "Ultimate Game of the Year".<ref name="GoldenJoystickAwards2017-nominations">{{cite web |last=Gaito |first=Eri |date=November 13, 2017 |url=https://www.bestinslot.co/golden-joystick-awards-2017-nominees/ |title=Golden Joystick Awards 2017 Nominees |publisher=Best in Slot |access-date=December 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110003232/https://www.bestinslot.co/golden-joystick-awards-2017-nominees/ |archive-date=January 10, 2018}}</ref> It also won the "Breakout Game of the Year" award at ''[[PC Gamer]]''{{'s}} end of the year awards,<ref name="PCGamerGOTYAwards2017BreakoutGame">{{cite web |author=PC Gamer staff |date=December 18, 2017 |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/breakout-game-2017-playerunknowns-battlegrounds/ |title=Breakout Game 2017: PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds |publisher=PC Gamer |access-date=December 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223060808/http://www.pcgamer.com/breakout-game-2017-playerunknowns-battlegrounds/ |archive-date=December 23, 2017}}</ref> whereas its other nomination was for "Game of the Year".<ref name="PCGamerGOTYAwards2017Nominees">{{cite web |author=PC Gamer staff |date=December 8, 2017 |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/nominees-pc-gamer-goty-2017/ |title=Games of the Year 2017: The nominees |publisher=PC Gamer |access-date=December 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106065910/http://www.pcgamer.com/nominees-pc-gamer-goty-2017/ |archive-date=January 6, 2018}}</ref> ''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' ranked the game second on their list of the 50 best games of 2017,<ref>{{cite web |author=Polygon staff |date=December 18, 2017 |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017-best-games/2017/12/18/16781674/best-video-games-2017-top-50-mario-pubg-zelda |title=the 50 best games of 2017 |publisher=Polygon |access-date=February 13, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180121021918/https://www.polygon.com/2017-best-games/2017/12/18/16781674/best-video-games-2017-top-50-mario-pubg-zelda |archive-date=January 21, 2018}}</ref> and ''[[The Verge]]'' named it one of their 15 Best Games of 2017,<ref>{{cite web |author=Verge staff |date=December 15, 2017 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/15/16776632/best-games-2017-zelda-mario-pubg-destiny |title=The 15 best games of 2017 |publisher=[[The Verge]] |access-date=June 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215151914/https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/15/16776632/best-games-2017-zelda-mario-pubg-destiny |archive-date=December 15, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> while ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' ranked it seventh on their "Best Games of 2017" list.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Morales |first1=Aaron |last2=Abrams |first2=Natalie |url=http://ew.com/gaming/best-video-games-2017/7-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-xbox-one-pc |title=The Year's Best Games |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |issue=1496–97 |date=December 29, 2017 |pages=92–94 |access-date=December 27, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227235511/http://ew.com/gaming/best-video-games-2017/7-playerunknowns-battlegrounds-xbox-one-pc/ |archive-date=December 27, 2017}}</ref>

Following release, ''Battlegrounds'' has been nominated and won several industry awards, including winning Best Multiplayer Game at the 35th [[Golden Joystick Awards]] and [[The Game Awards 2017]], as well as [[D.I.C.E. Award for Action Game of the Year|Action Game of the Year]] during the [[21st Annual D.I.C.E. Awards]].

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year !! Award !! Category !! Result !! {{Abbr|Ref(s).|References}}
|-
| rowspan="6" style="text-align:center" | 2017
| rowspan="3" | 35th [[Golden Joystick Awards]]
| Best Multiplayer Game
| {{won}}
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center" | <ref name="Golden-Joysticks-2017"/><ref name="GoldenJoystickAwards2017-nominations"/>
|-
| PC Game of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| Ultimate Game of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[The Game Awards 2017]]
| Best Multiplayer Game
| {{won}}
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center" | <ref name="GameAwards2017"/>
|-
| Best Ongoing Game
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[The Game Award for Game of the Year|Game of the Year]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="32" style="text-align:center" | 2018
| rowspan="1" | New York Game Awards 2018
| Big Apple Award for Best Game of the Year
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref name="NYGameAwards2018">{{cite web |last=Whitney |first=Kayla |date=January 25, 2018 |url=https://www.axs.com/complete-list-of-winners-of-the-new-york-game-awards-2018-127527 |title=Complete list of winners of the New York Game Awards 2018 |publisher=[[AXS (company)|AXS]] |access-date=January 26, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127084050/https://www.axs.com/complete-list-of-winners-of-the-new-york-game-awards-2018-127527 |archive-date=January 27, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="4" | [[21st Annual D.I.C.E. Awards]]
| [[D.I.C.E. Award for Game of the Year|Game of the Year]]
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="4" style="text-align:center" | <ref name="DICE2017Nominees">{{cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=January 14, 2018 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-of-the-year-nominees-announced-for-dice-award/1100-6456107/ |title=Game Of The Year Nominees Announced for DICE Awards |publisher=[[GameSpot]] |access-date=January 17, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180117131244/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-of-the-year-nominees-announced-for-dice-award/1100-6456107/ |archive-date=January 17, 2018}}</ref><ref name="DICE2017Winners">{{cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=February 22, 2018 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-wins-game-of-th/1100-6456956/ |title=Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Wins Game Of The Year At DICE Awards |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=February 23, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223102729/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-wins-game-of-th/1100-6456956/ |archive-date=February 23, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| | [[D.I.C.E. Award for Action Game of the Year|Action Game of the Year]]
| {{won}}
|-
| [[D.I.C.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement in Game Design|Outstanding Achievement in Game Design]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[D.I.C.E. Award for Online Game of the Year|Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay]]
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="1" | 2018 [[Italian Video Game Awards]]
| Innovation Award
| {{won}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://italianvideogameawards.com/awards |title=Italian Video Game Nominees and Winners 2018 |publisher=Italian Video Game Awards |date=March 14, 2018 |access-date=May 31, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321193010/https://italianvideogameawards.com/awards |archive-date=March 21, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="6" | 2018 [[SXSW Gaming Awards]]
| Esports Game of the Year
| {{won}}
| rowspan="6" style="text-align:center" | <ref name="SXSWGamingAwards2018Finalists">{{cite web |last=McNeill |first=Andrew |date=January 31, 2018 |url=https://gaming.sxsw.com/news/2018/2018-sxsw-gaming-awards-finalists/ |title=Here Are Your 2018 SXSW Gaming Awards Finalists! |publisher=[[South by Southwest|SXSW]] |access-date=February 1, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201080759/https://gaming.sxsw.com/news/2018/2018-sxsw-gaming-awards-finalists/ |archive-date=February 1, 2018}}</ref><ref name="SXSWGamingAwards2018Winners">{{cite web |author=IGN Studios |date=March 17, 2018 |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/03/18/sxsw-gaming-awards-2018-winners-revealed |title=2018 SXSW Gaming Awards Winners Revealed |publisher=IGN |access-date=March 18, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318113052/http://www.ign.com/articles/2018/03/18/sxsw-gaming-awards-2018-winners-revealed |archive-date=March 18, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Excellence in Design
| {{nom}}
|-
| Excellence in Multiplayer
| {{won}}
|-
| Most Promising New Intellectual Property
| {{nom}}
|-
| Trending Game of the Year
| {{won}}
|-
| Video Game of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | 18th [[Game Developers Choice Awards]]
| Best Design
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center" | <ref name="GDCA2018Nominees">{{cite web |author=Gamasutra staff |date=January 5, 2018 |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/312569/Breath_of_the_Wild__Horizon_Zero_Dawn_lead_GDC_2018_Choice_Awards_nominees.php |title=Breath of the Wild & Horizon Zero Dawn lead GDC 2018 Choice Awards nominees! |publisher=[[Gamasutra]] |access-date=January 8, 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180108234223/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/312569/Breath_of_the_Wild__Horizon_Zero_Dawn_lead_GDC_2018_Choice_Awards_nominees.php |archive-date=January 8, 2018}}</ref><ref name="GDCA2018Winners">{{cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=March 21, 2018 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-wins-another-ga/1100-6457600/ |title=Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Wins Another Game Of The Year Award |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=March 22, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322224911/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/legend-of-zelda-breath-of-the-wild-wins-another-ga/1100-6457600/ |archive-date=March 22, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| Innovation Award
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Game Developers Choice Award for Game of the Year|Game of the Year]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[14th British Academy Games Awards]]
| Evolving Game
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center" | <ref name="BAFTA2018Nominees">{{Cite journal |last=deAlessandri |first=Marie |date=March 15, 2018 |url=https://www.mcvuk.com/business/hellblade-senuas-sacrifice-at-forefront-of-bafta-games-awards-nominations |title=Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice at forefront of BAFTA Games Awards nominations |journal=MCV |access-date=March 16, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180316161255/https://www.mcvuk.com/business/hellblade-senuas-sacrifice-at-forefront-of-bafta-games-awards-nominations |archive-date=March 16, 2018}}</ref><ref name="BAFTA2018Winners">{{cite web |title=British Academy Games Awards Winners in 2018 |url=http://www.bafta.org/games/awards/games-awards-2018 |publisher=[[British Academy of Film and Television Arts]] |access-date=April 13, 2018 |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413043318/http://www.bafta.org/games/awards/games-awards-2018 |archive-date=April 13, 2018 |date=March 13, 2018}}</ref>
|-
| [[British Academy Games Award for Multiplayer|Multiplayer]]
| {{nom}}
|-
| Original Property
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" | [[Famitsū scores|Famitsu Awards]]
| Excellence Prize
| {{won}}
| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite web |author=Brian |date=April 27, 2018 |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/famitsu-award-2017-winners-announced/ |title=Famitsu Award 2017 winners announced |publisher=Nintendo Everything |access-date=June 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618175249/https://nintendoeverything.com/famitsu-award-2017-winners-announced/ |archive-date=June 18, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Rookie Award
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="1" | [[Game Critics Awards]] 2018
| Best Ongoing Game
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite web |last=Faller |first=Patrick |date=June 28, 2018 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2018-game-critics-awards-nominations-revealed-a/1100-6460089/ |title=E3 2018: Game Critics Awards Nominations Revealed: Anthem, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Top The List |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629074229/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-2018-game-critics-awards-nominations-revealed-a/1100-6460089/ |archive-date=June 29, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Watts |first=Steve |date=July 2, 2018 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/resident-evil-2-wins-e3-game-critics-awards-top-ho/1100-6460135/ |title=Resident Evil 2 Wins E3 Game Critics Awards' Top Honor |publisher=GameSpot |access-date=July 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703013725/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/resident-evil-2-wins-e3-game-critics-awards-top-ho/1100-6460135/ |archive-date=July 3, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="1" | [[2018 Teen Choice Awards]]
| Choice Videogame
| {{nom}}
| style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite web |last=Cohen |first=Jess |date=June 22, 2018 |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/943773/teen-choice-awards-2018-avengers-infinity-war-black-panther-and-riverdale-among-top-nominees |title=Teen Choice Awards 2018: Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther and Riverdale Among Top Nominees |publisher=[[E!]] |access-date=June 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613220922/https://www.eonline.com/news/943773/teen-choice-awards-2018-avengers-infinity-war-black-panther-and-riverdale-among-top-nominees |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Ramos |first=Dino-Ray |date=August 12, 2018 |url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/teen-choice-awards-winners-list-riverdale-avengers-infinity-war-black-panther-marvel-disney-cw-pixar-fox-1202444357/ |title=Teen Choice Awards: 'Riverdale', 'Infinity War', 'Black Panther' Among Top Honorees – Full Winners List |publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=August 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813061149/https://deadline.com/2018/08/teen-choice-awards-winners-list-riverdale-avengers-infinity-war-black-panther-marvel-disney-cw-pixar-fox-1202444357/ |archive-date=August 13, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="1" | [[BBC Radio 1|BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards]]
| Best Game
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/radio-1s-teen-awards |title=Little Mix, 5 Seconds Of Summer, Sigrid and Jonas Blue lead the performances for BBC Radio 1's Teen Awards 2018 |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=September 10, 2018 |access-date=August 7, 2019 |archive-date=February 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213082433/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2018/radio-1s-teen-awards |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3" | 36th Golden Joystick Awards
| Still Playing Award
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite news |last=Hoggins |first=Tom |date=September 24, 2018 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gaming/news/golden-joysticks-2018-nominees-announced-voting-open-now/ |title=Golden Joysticks 2018 nominees announced, voting open now |newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=October 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20181008021037/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gaming/news/golden-joysticks-2018-nominees-announced-voting-open-now/ |archive-date=October 8, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Sheridan |first=Connor |date=November 16, 2018 |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/golden-joystick-awards-2018-winners/ |title=Golden Joystick Awards 2018 winners: God of War wins big but Fortnite gets Victory Royale |publisher=GamesRadar+ |access-date=November 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181116215904/https://www.gamesradar.com/golden-joystick-awards-2018-winners/ |archive-date=November 16, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Mobile Game of the Year (''PUBG Mobile'')
| {{won}}
|-
| Xbox Game of the Year
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="1" | [[The Game Awards 2018]]
| Best Mobile Game (''PUBG Mobile'')
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite web |last=Grant |first=Christopher |date=December 6, 2018 |url=https://www.polygon.com/game-awards-tga/2018/12/6/18130000/the-game-awards-winners-2018 |title=The Game Awards 2018: Here are all the winners |publisher=Polygon |access-date=December 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207114102/https://www.polygon.com/game-awards-tga/2018/12/6/18130000/the-game-awards-winners-2018 |archive-date=December 7, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="3" | [[Gamers' Choice Awards]]
| Fan Favorite Multiplayer Game
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite web |last=Glyer |first=Mike |date=November 19, 2018 |url=http://file770.com/2018-gamers-choice-awards-nominees/ |title=2018 Gamers' Choice Awards Nominees |publisher=File 770 |access-date=January 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112043428/http://file770.com/2018-gamers-choice-awards-nominees/ |archive-date=January 12, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| Fan Favorite Battle Royale Game
| {{nom}}
|-
| Fan Favorite Mobile Game (''PUBG Mobile'')
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="1" | [[The Steam Awards]]
| Game of the Year
| {{won}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/steam-awards-2019-winners-announced/1100-6472457/|title=Steam Awards 2018 Winners Announced, and Most Aren't From 2018|last=Watts|first=Steve|website=[[GameSpot]]|date=February 15, 2019|access-date=February 15, 2019}}</ref> 
|-
| rowspan="1" | Australian Games Awards
| Shooter of the Year
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.australiangamesawards.com/news/your-2018-winners/ |title=Your 2018 Winners |publisher=Australian Games Awards |date=December 19, 2018 |access-date=January 4, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center" | 2019
| rowspan="1" | 2019 [[Italian Video Game Awards]]
| Best Mobile Game (''PUBG Mobile'')
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite web |url=https://italianvideogameawards.com/awards |title=Italian Video Game Awards Nominees and Winners |publisher=Italian Video Game Awards |date=April 11, 2019 |access-date=May 25, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321193010/https://italianvideogameawards.com/awards |archive-date=March 21, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="1" | 37th Golden Joystick Awards
| eSports Game of the Year (''PUBG Mobile'')
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{cite web |last=Tailby |first=Stephen |date=September 20, 2019 |url=http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2019/09/days_gone_rides_off_with_three_nominations_in_this_years_golden_joystick_awards |title=Days Gone Rides Off with Three Nominations in This Year's Golden Joystick Awards |publisher=Push Square |access-date=September 21, 2019 |archive-date=September 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920222955/http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2019/09/days_gone_rides_off_with_three_nominations_in_this_years_golden_joystick_awards |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Google Play Awards|Google Play Users’ Choice Awards]]
|Best Competitive Game (''PUBG Mobile'')
| {{won}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{Cite web |last=Venkatesh |first=Aarthi |title=PUBG Mobile wins Best Competitive Game award for the second consecutive year |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/pubg-mobile-wins-best-competitive-game-award-for-the-second-consecutive-year |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |date=December 12, 2019 |language=en-us |archive-date=December 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212075634/https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/pubg-mobile-wins-best-competitive-game-award-for-the-second-consecutive-year |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|[[Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards India]]
|Favourite Mobile Game (''PUBG Mobile'')
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{Cite web |title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (Video Game 2017) |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7204362/awards/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=IMDb |language=en |archive-date=December 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212075640/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7204362/awards/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|Esports Awards
|Esports Breakthrough Game of The Year (''PUBG Mobile'')
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-26 |title=PUBG Mobile Is Nominated As The Esports Breakthrough Game of the Year |url=https://gurugamer.com/mobile-games/pubg-mobile-is-nominated-as-the-esports-breakthrough-game-of-the-year-7350 |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=GuruGamer.com |language=en-IN |archive-date=December 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212075636/https://gurugamer.com/mobile-games/pubg-mobile-is-nominated-as-the-esports-breakthrough-game-of-the-year-7350 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2" |2020
|Indonesia Gaming Awards
|Game of the Year (''PUBG Mobile'')
| {{won}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossel |first=John Dave |title=PUBG Mobile and BTR Zuxxy Won Awards at the Indonesia Gaming Award 2020 |url=https://afkgaming.com/mobileesports/news/5926-pubg-mobile-and-btr-zuxxy-won-awards-at-the-indonesia-gaming-award-2020 |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=AFK Gaming |date=December 20, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=December 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212075636/https://afkgaming.com/mobileesports/news/5926-pubg-mobile-and-btr-zuxxy-won-awards-at-the-indonesia-gaming-award-2020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|Esports Awards
|Esports Mobile Game of the Year (''PUBG Mobile'')
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-24 |title=Free Fire & PUBG Mobile Are Nominated For Esports Mobile GOTY Award |url=https://gurugamer.com/mobile-games/free-fire-pubg-mobile-mobile-goty-award-11627 |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=GuruGamer.com |language=en-IN |archive-date=December 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212075641/https://gurugamer.com/mobile-games/free-fire-pubg-mobile-mobile-goty-award-11627 |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|2021
|Esports Awards
|Esports Mobile Game of the Year (''PUBG Mobile'')
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{Cite web |last=Gametube |title=PUBG Mobile finishes second in Mobile Game of the Year category at Esports Awards 2021 as Free Fire claims first spot |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/news-pubg-mobile-finishes-second-mobile-game-year-category-esports-awards-2021-free-fire-claims-first-spot |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |date=November 26, 2021 |language=en-us |archive-date=December 12, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212075633/https://www.sportskeeda.com/esports/news-pubg-mobile-finishes-second-mobile-game-year-category-esports-awards-2021-free-fire-claims-first-spot |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|2022
|Esports Awards
|Esports Mobile Game of the Year (''PUBG Mobile'')
| {{won}}
| rowspan="1" style="text-align:center" | <ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Esports Awards 2022: PUBG Mobile Wins Esports Mobile Game of the Year Award |url=https://afkgaming.com/mobileesports/news/esports-awards-2022-pubg-mobile-wins-esports-mobile-game-of-the-year-award |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=AFKGAMING |date=December 14, 2022 |language=en-us |archive-date=December 15, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221215042955/https://afkgaming.com/mobileesports/news/esports-awards-2022-pubg-mobile-wins-esports-mobile-game-of-the-year-award |url-status=live }}</ref>
|}

The game has also gained multiple awards from individual press. ''Battlegrounds'' won the award for "Best PC Game", "Best Multiplayer", and "Best Spectator Game" at the [[IGN]] Best of 2017 Awards,<ref name="IGNBestOf2017A">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_PC_Game |title=Best of 2017 Awards: Best PC Game |publisher=[[IGN]] |date=December 20, 2017 |access-date=December 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225072532/http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_PC_Game |archive-date=December 25, 2017}}</ref><ref name="IGNBestOf2017B">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_Multiplayer |title=Best of 2017 Awards: Best Multiplayer |publisher=IGN |date=December 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222115854/http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_Multiplayer |archive-date=December 22, 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=December 25, 2017}}</ref><ref name="IGNBestOf2017C">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_Spectator_Game |title=Best of 2017 Awards: Best Spectator Game |publisher=IGN |date=December 20, 2017 |access-date=December 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171226091058/http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_Spectator_Game |archive-date=December 26, 2017}}</ref> whereas its other nominations were for "Game of the Year"<ref name="IGNBestOf2017GOTY">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Game_of_the_Year |title=Best of 2017 Awards: Game of the Year |publisher=IGN |date=December 20, 2017 |access-date=December 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204232133/http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Game_of_the_Year |archive-date=December 4, 2017}}</ref> and "Best Shooter".<ref name="IGNBestOf2017Shooter">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_Shooter |title=Best of 2017 Awards: Best Shooter |publisher=IGN |date=December 20, 2017 |access-date=December 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225184518/http://www.ign.com/wikis/best-of-2017-awards/Best_Shooter |archive-date=December 25, 2017}}</ref> It also won the award for "Best PC Game" at ''[[Destructoid]]''{{'}}s Game of the Year Awards 2017.<ref name="DestructoidPCGOTY2017">{{cite web |last=Makedonski |first=Brett |date=December 20, 2017 |url=https://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-s-award-for-best-pc-game-of-2017-goes-to--478473.phtml |title=Destructoid's award for Best PC Game of 2017 goes to... |publisher=[[Destructoid]] |access-date=January 3, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180102180802/https://www.destructoid.com/destructoid-s-award-for-best-pc-game-of-2017-goes-to--478473.phtml |archive-date=January 2, 2018}}</ref> The game also won [[Giant Bomb]]'s "Best Multiplayer", "Best Surprise", "Best Debut", and "Game of the Year" awards, and was classified as a runner-up for the "Best Moment or Sequence" award for the "chicken-eating game".<ref name="GiantBombGOTY2017Day2">{{cite web |author=Giant Bomb staff |date=December 26, 2017 |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-two-music-surprise-multi/1100-5705/ |title=Game of the Year 2017 Day Two: Music, Surprise, Multiplayer, and Mess |publisher=[[Giant Bomb]] |access-date=December 27, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227123216/https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-two-music-surprise-multi/1100-5705/ |archive-date=December 27, 2017}}</ref><ref name="GiantBombGOTY2017Day3">{{cite news |author=Giant Bomb staff |date=December 27, 2017 |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-three-world-wolfenstein-/1100-5706/ |title=Game of the Year 2017 Day Three: World, Wolfenstein, Moments, and PLEASE STOP |newspaper=Giant Bomb |access-date=December 27, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228054336/https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-three-world-wolfenstein-/1100-5706/ |archive-date=December 28, 2017}}</ref><ref name="GiantBombGOTY2017Day4">{{cite web |author=Giant Bomb staff |date=December 28, 2017 |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-four-debut-new-character/1100-5707/ |title=Game of the Year 2017 Day Four: Debut, New Characters, Story, and Styyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyle |publisher=Giant Bomb |access-date=December 28, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171229161407/https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-four-debut-new-character/1100-5707/ |archive-date=December 29, 2017}}</ref><ref name="GiantBombGOTY2017Day5">{{cite web |author=Giant Bomb staff |date=December 29, 2017 |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-five-best-worst-cast-and/1100-5708/ |title=Game of the Year 2017 Day Five: Best, Worst, Cast, and Capture |publisher=Giant Bomb |access-date=December 29, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230114718/https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-five-best-worst-cast-and/1100-5708/ |archive-date=December 30, 2017}}</ref> ''[[Eurogamer]]'' ranked ''PUBG'' fourth on their list of the "Top 50 Games of 2017",<ref>{{cite web |author=Eurogamer staff |date=December 30, 2017 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-12-30-eurogamers-top-50-games-of-2017-10-1 |title=Eurogamer's Top 50 Games of 2017: 10–1 |publisher=[[Eurogamer]] |access-date=December 30, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051755/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-12-30-eurogamers-top-50-games-of-2017-10-1 |archive-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref> while ''[[GamesRadar+]]'' ranked it 12th on their list of the 25 Best Games of 2017.<ref>{{cite web |author=GamesRadar staff |date=December 22, 2017 |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/best-games-2017/2/ |title=The best games of 2017: Page 2 |publisher=GamesRadar+ |access-date=March 25, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180326130308/https://www.gamesradar.com/best-games-2017/2/ |archive-date=March 26, 2018}}</ref> ''[[Game Informer]]'' gave it the award each for "Best Competitive Multiplayer" and "Best Shooter" in their Best of 2017 Awards,<ref name="GameInformerBestOf2017Page2">{{cite web |author=Game Informer staff |date=January 4, 2018 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/04/game-informers-best-of-2017-awards.aspx?PostPageIndex=2 |title=Game Informer's Best Of 2017 Awards (Page 2) |publisher=Game Informer |access-date=January 6, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107093437/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/04/game-informers-best-of-2017-awards.aspx?PostPageIndex=2 |archive-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name="GameInformerBestOf2017Page4">{{cite web |author=Game Informer staff |date=January 4, 2018 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/04/game-informers-best-of-2017-awards.aspx?PostPageIndex=4 |title=Game Informer's Best Of 2017 Awards (Page 4) |publisher=Game Informer |access-date=January 6, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180105180302/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/04/game-informers-best-of-2017-awards.aspx?PostPageIndex=4 |archive-date=January 5, 2018}}</ref> and also for "Best Competitive Multiplayer", "Best Multiplayer Map" (Erangel), "Best Innovation", and "Shooter of the Year" in their 2017 Shooter of the Year Awards.<ref name="GameInformer2017ShooterOfTheYear">{{cite web |last=Bertz |first=Matt |date=January 6, 2018 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/06/2017-shooter-of-the-year-awards.aspx |title=The 2017 Shooter of the Year Awards |publisher=Game Informer |access-date=January 6, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107063938/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/06/2017-shooter-of-the-year-awards.aspx |archive-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref> In their Reader's Choice Best of 2017 Awards, the game won the "Best Competitive Multiplayer" award, and was runner-up in the "Best Microsoft Exclusive" and "Best Shooter" categories.<ref name="GameInformerReadersChoice2017">{{cite web |last=Cork |first=Jeff |date=January 4, 2018 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/04/reader-s-choice-best-of-2017-awards.aspx |title=Reader's Choice Best Of 2017 Awards |publisher=Game Informer |access-date=January 6, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107093438/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/04/reader-s-choice-best-of-2017-awards.aspx |archive-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name="GameInformerReadersChoice2017Page2">{{cite web |last=Cork |first=Jeff |date=January 4, 2018 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/04/reader-s-choice-best-of-2017-awards.aspx?PostPageIndex=2 |title=Reader's Choice Best Of 2017 Awards (Page 2) |publisher=Game Informer |access-date=January 6, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180107231600/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/04/reader-s-choice-best-of-2017-awards.aspx?PostPageIndex=2 |archive-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref><ref name="GameInformerReadersChoice2017Page3">{{cite web |last=Cork |first=Jeff |date=January 4, 2018 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/04/reader-s-choice-best-of-2017-awards.aspx?PostPageIndex=3 |title=Reader's Choice Best Of 2017 Awards (Page 3) |publisher=Game Informer |access-date=January 6, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107120146/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/04/reader-s-choice-best-of-2017-awards.aspx?PostPageIndex=3 |archive-date=January 7, 2018}}</ref>

== Litigation ==
{{Clear}}

=== Epic Games lawsuit ===
''Battlegrounds'' is considered as one of the games that have boosted the popularity of the [[battle royale game]] genre, even though other games, including Greene's previous mods, were already on the market.<ref name="bbc greene">{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Steffan|date=December 12, 2017|title=PubG creator says games need 'better protection' from copycat titles|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/42320076/pubg-creator-says-games-need-better-protection-from-copycat-titles|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171213061310/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/42320076/pubg-creator-says-games-need-better-protection-from-copycat-titles|archive-date=December 13, 2017|access-date=December 12, 2017|publisher=[[BBC]]}}</ref> After its large early access sales numbers, other games followed with battle royale mechanics, with either existing games that added a battle royale mode or fully new games. Notably, [[Epic Games]] updated their in-development title ''[[Fortnite]]'', a [[Sandbox game|sandbox]]-based survival game that included the ability to construct fortifications, to include a battle royale mode that retained the fortification aspects. Known as ''[[Fortnite Battle Royale]]'', Epic later released it as a standalone free-to-play game in September 2017. Shortly after its release, [[Krafton|Bluehole]] expressed concerns about the game, acknowledging that while they cannot claim ownership of the battle royale genre, they feared that since they had been working with Epic for technical support of the Unreal engine, they may have had a heads-up on planned features they wanted to bring to ''Battlegrounds'' and could release it first.<ref>{{cite web|last=Livingston|first=Christopher|date=September 23, 2017|title=PUBG exec clarifies objection to Fortnite Battle Royale: 'it's not about the idea itself, it's about Epic Games'|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-exec-clarifies-objection-to-fortnite-battle-royale-its-not-about-the-idea-itself-its-about-epic-games/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923075730/http://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-exec-clarifies-objection-to-fortnite-battle-royale-its-not-about-the-idea-itself-its-about-epic-games/|archive-date=September 23, 2017|access-date=September 23, 2017|work=[[PC Gamer]]}}</ref> PUBG Corporation later filed a lawsuit against Epic Games Korea in January 2018, alleging that ''Fortnite Battle Royale'' was infringing the copyright of ''Battlegrounds''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nakamura|first1=Yuji|last2=Kim|first2=Sam|date=May 29, 2018|title=Most Popular Game on the Planet Accused of Copyright Violation|work=[[Bloomberg L.P.]]|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-29/fortnite-versus-pubg-two-game-giants-are-set-to-battle-in-court|url-status=live|access-date=May 29, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530034851/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-05-29/fortnite-versus-pubg-two-game-giants-are-set-to-battle-in-court|archive-date=May 30, 2018}}</ref> However, the lawsuit was closed by PUBG in June 2018 for undisclosed reasons.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kim|first=Sam|date=June 26, 2018|title=Copyright Lawsuit Dropped Against Fortnite Creators, Ending Legal Battle|work=[[Bloomberg L.P.]]|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-06-27/pubg-drops-lawsuit-against-creators-of-gaming-phenom-fortnite|url-status=live|access-date=June 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627173422/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-06-27/pubg-drops-lawsuit-against-creators-of-gaming-phenom-fortnite|archive-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref>

Greene had expressed concern on the large number of games that have simply [[video game clone|cloned]] the ''Battlegrounds'' mechanics, particularly in China where clones of ''Battlegrounds'' are considered a new genre of "chicken-eating game" (based on the "winner winner chicken dinner" line that is presented to a match winner in ''Battlegrounds'').<ref>{{cite web|last=Wawro|first=Alex|date=November 28, 2017|title=Inside the PUBG-fueled rise of 'chicken eating games' in China|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/310581/Inside_the_PUBGfueled_rise_of_chicken_eating_games_in_China.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227122651/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/310581/Inside_the_PUBGfueled_rise_of_chicken_eating_games_in_China.php|archive-date=December 27, 2017|access-date=December 18, 2017|work=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Plunkett|first1=Luke|title=The Origins Of Battlegrounds' "Winner Winner Chicken Dinner" Line|url=https://kotaku.com/the-origins-of-battlegrounds-winner-winner-chicken-din-1796870568|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816104653/http://kotaku.com/the-origins-of-battlegrounds-winner-winner-chicken-din-1796870568|archive-date=August 16, 2017|access-date=December 27, 2017|website=Kotaku|date=July 13, 2017 }}</ref> Greene said "I want this genre of games to grow. For that to happen you need new and interesting spins on the game mode. If it's just copycats down the line, then the genre doesn't grow and people get bored."<ref name="bbc greene" /> Greene claimed no ownership of the battle royale or last man standing genres, but believed that the clones were taking some specific mechanics he had developed in ''Battlegrounds'' and prior mods, such as the initial parachuting segment or the red-zone bombing runs, and would like to see legislation to give developers like himself protection against these types of concepts as well as improve creativity as developers invent new approaches to mimic such innovations.<ref>{{cite web|last=Benson|first=Julian|date=December 21, 2017|title=PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' creator says legal protection "will encourage creativity"|url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-clones|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228053917/https://www.pcgamesn.com/playerunknowns-battlegrounds/pubg-clones|archive-date=December 28, 2017|access-date=December 27, 2017|work=[[PCGamesN]]}}</ref> ''Battlegrounds''{{'}} explosive growth and how it popularized the battle royale genre was considered one of the top stories in the [[video game industry]] during 2017.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sapieha|first=Chad|date=December 14, 2017|title=The year in games: Five news stories and trends that dominated the industry in 2017|work=[[National Post]]|url=http://business.financialpost.com/technology/gaming/the-year-in-games-5-news-stories-and-trends-that-dominated-the-industry-in-2017|url-status=live|access-date=December 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215155814/http://business.financialpost.com/technology/gaming/the-year-in-games-5-news-stories-and-trends-that-dominated-the-industry-in-2017|archive-date=December 15, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Graft|first=Kris|date=December 18, 2017|title=5 trends that defined the game industry in 2017|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/5-trends-that-defined-the-game-industry-in-2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222052025/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/311869/5_trends_that_defined_the_game_industry_in_2017.php|archive-date=December 22, 2017|access-date=December 18, 2017|work=[[Gamasutra]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Campbell|first=Colin|date=December 28, 2017|title=These were the biggest stories in video games in 2017|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017-best-games/2017/12/28/16793070/2017-gaming-news-review-nintendo-switch-pubg-pewdiepie|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228182639/https://www.polygon.com/2017-best-games/2017/12/28/16793070/2017-gaming-news-review-nintendo-switch-pubg-pewdiepie|archive-date=December 28, 2017|access-date=December 28, 2017|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]}}</ref>

=== NetEase lawsuit ===
Prior to release of their mobile versions, PUBG Corporation initiated legal action in the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of California|Northern District Court of California]] against Chinese game publisher [[NetEase]] in January 2018, claiming that their mobile games ''[[Rules of Survival]]'' and ''Knives Out'' infringe on ''Battlegrounds''{{'}} copyrights. PUBG's lawsuit asserts that ''Rules of Survival'' is "a copyrightable audio-visual work, individually and/or in combination with other elements of Battlegrounds", and identified several elements that appear similar in both games. While some of these elements are common features of a battle royale game, PUBG asserted that other elements referencing specific facets of ''Battlegrounds'', such as references to chicken for winning a game or using cookware as weapons or armor, imply a connection to ''Battlegrounds''. PUBG seeks both monetary damages and an injunction to prevent NetEase from further distribution of the games. NetEase, in responding to PUBG's request to [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] to remove the games, denied that their games violated ''Battlegrounds''{{'}} copyrights.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mackovech|first=Sam|date=April 5, 2018|title=PUBG creators finally decide a copycat game has gone too far, file suit|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/04/pubg-creators-finally-decide-a-copycat-game-has-gone-too-far-file-suit/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405180104/https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/04/pubg-creators-finally-decide-a-copycat-game-has-gone-too-far-file-suit/|archive-date=April 5, 2018|access-date=April 5, 2018|work=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Hester|first=Blake|date=April 5, 2018|title=PUBG Corp. Sues Mobile Dev For Copyright Infringement|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/news/pubg-corp-sues-mobile-dev-for-copywrite-infringement-w518795|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406040906/https://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/news/pubg-corp-sues-mobile-dev-for-copywrite-infringement-w518795|archive-date=April 6, 2018|access-date=April 5, 2018|work=[[Glixel]]}}</ref> By March 2019, the two companies had reached an undisclosed agreement and were working to get the cases dismissed.<ref>{{cite web|last=Valentine|first=Rebekah|date=March 25, 2019|title=PUBG Corp, NetEase settle copyright lawsuit|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-03-25-pubg-corp-netease-settle-copyright-lawsuit|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325200757/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-03-25-pubg-corp-netease-settle-copyright-lawsuit|archive-date=March 25, 2019|access-date=March 25, 2019|work=[[GamesIndustry.biz]]}}</ref>

=== National bans ===
In March 2019, ''Battlegrounds'' was banned in the Indian state of [[Gujarat]] after the local government decided the game was too addictive and an unnecessary distraction during exam season.<ref name="BanLifted">{{cite web |last1=Mukherjee |first1=Amritanshu |title=PUBG ban lifted from Ahmedabad, police still worried about side effects of the game |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/pubg-ban-lifted-from-ahmedabad-police-still-worried-about-side-effects-of-the-game-1491451-2019-04-01 |website=India Today |date=April 2019 |access-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412164129/https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/pubg-ban-lifted-from-ahmedabad-police-still-worried-about-side-effects-of-the-game-1491451-2019-04-01 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> A number of students caught playing the game were arrested as a result.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.news18.com/news/tech/pubg-mobile-ban-you-will-get-arrested-for-playing-the-battle-royal-game-in-these-cities-in-india-2066153.html |title=PUBG Mobile Ban: You Will Get Arrested For Playing The Battle Royal Game in These Cities in India |website=News18 |date=March 14, 2019 |access-date=March 15, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314091133/https://www.news18.com/news/tech/pubg-mobile-ban-you-will-get-arrested-for-playing-the-battle-royal-game-in-these-cities-in-india-2066153.html |archive-date=March 14, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Liao |first1=Shannon |title=Police in India arrested ten students for playing PUBG |url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/14/18265945/college-students-arrested-pubg-india-ban-police |website=The Verge |access-date=March 15, 2019 |date=March 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314201205/https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/14/18265945/college-students-arrested-pubg-india-ban-police |archive-date=March 14, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> The ban was not renewed in some cities in the state after March as exam season had ended.<ref name="BanLifted" /> A similar ban was enacted in [[Nepal]] and [[Iraq]] in April 2019, with the cited reasons being that the game was harmful to children and teenagers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nepal-pubg/nepal-bans-online-game-pubg-citing-negative-impact-on-children-idUSKCN1RN2FQ |title=Nepal bans online game PUBG citing negative impact on children |first=Gopal |last=Sharma |date=April 11, 2019 |access-date=April 11, 2019 |publisher=[[Reuters]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411215632/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nepal-pubg/nepal-bans-online-game-pubg-citing-negative-impact-on-children-idUSKCN1RN2FQ |archive-date=April 11, 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Chalk |first1=Andy |title=Fortnite and PUBG are now banned in Iraq |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/fortnite-and-pubg-are-now-banned-in-iraq/ |magazine=PC Gamer |access-date=April 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190419074915/https://www.pcgamer.com/fortnite-and-pubg-are-now-banned-in-iraq/ |archive-date=April 19, 2019 |url-status=live|date=April 18, 2019 }}</ref> The ban in Nepal was shortly lifted by the country's Supreme Court, stating that the government could not enforce such a ban that interfered with personal freedoms without demonstrating why the ban was necessary.<ref name=":1">{{cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/23/pubg-nepal-ban-lifted-supreme-court/ |title=Nepal's Supreme Court reverses national ban on 'PUBG' |first=Kris |last=Holt |date=April 23, 2019 |access-date=April 23, 2019 |work=[[Engadget]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190423200306/https://www.engadget.com/2019/04/23/pubg-nepal-ban-lifted-supreme-court/ |archive-date=April 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In mid-2019, [[Jordan]] and the Indonesian province of [[Aceh]] issued similar bans.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/jordan-bans-online-game-pubg-over-negative-effects-11697914 |title=Jordan bans online game PUBG over 'negative effects' |website=CNA |date=July 7, 2019 |access-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707073315/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/jordan-bans-online-game-pubg-over-negative-effects-11697914 |archive-date=July 7, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/06/23/aceh-ulemas-demand-indonesia-ban-online-battle-game-pubg.html |title=Aceh ulemas demand Indonesia ban online battle game PUBG |website=The Jakarta Post |date=June 23, 2019 |access-date=July 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707073318/https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/06/23/aceh-ulemas-demand-indonesia-ban-online-battle-game-pubg.html |archive-date=July 7, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 1, 2020, ''Battlegrounds'' was banned in Pakistan by [[Pakistan Telecommunication Authority]], citing the reasons that the game is addictive, a wastage of time and poses a serious negative impact on the physical and psychological health of children, after receiving various complaints from different segments of society and [[Lahore High Court]]'s directions to look in the matter. However, the ban was temporary till further orders from the court.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 1, 2020|title=Pakistan temporarily bans popular online game PUBG|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2252815/pakistan-temporarily-bans-popular-online-game-pubg|access-date=July 2, 2020|website=The Express Tribune|language=en|archive-date=July 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200703021121/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2252815/pakistan-temporarily-bans-popular-online-game-pubg|url-status=live}}</ref> The game continued to remain banned in Pakistan for a month. A meeting was held on July 30, 2020, between PTA and legal representatives of Proxima Beta, who addressed the queries raised by the authority and emphasized on continued engagement and a comprehensive control mechanism. After this, the ban on ''Battlegrounds'' was lifted.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 30, 2020|title=PTA lifts ban on PUBG, Bigo after meeting with companies' officials|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/2257427/pta-lifts-ban-on-pubg-bigo-after-meeting-with-companies-officials|access-date=August 19, 2020|website=The Express Tribune|language=en|archive-date=August 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805075250/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2257427/pta-lifts-ban-on-pubg-bigo-after-meeting-with-companies-officials|url-status=live}}</ref>

Amidst the ongoing [[2020 China–India skirmishes]], the Indian government banned ''PUBG Mobile'' along with more than 100 other Chinese apps, most made by Tencent and NetEase, on September 2, 2020, asserting the apps were "stealing and surreptitiously transmitting user data in an unauthorized manner to servers which have locations outside India".<ref>{{Cite web|title=India-China dispute live updates: PUBG among 118 mobile applications banned by government|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-china-lac-dispute-live-updates/liveblog/77882560.cms|access-date=September 2, 2020|website=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=September 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903030408/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-china-lac-dispute-live-updates/liveblog/77882560.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-02/tencent-s-pubg-banned-by-india-as-tensions-with-china-escalate | title = India Bans 118 China Apps Including PUBG, Alipay and Baidu Search | first = Saritha | last = Bai | date = September 2, 2020 | access-date = September 2, 2020 | work = [[Bloomberg News]] | archive-date = September 3, 2020 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200903135200/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-09-02/tencent-s-pubg-banned-by-india-as-tensions-with-china-escalate | url-status = live }}</ref> India was ''PUBG Mobile''{{'}}s largest market with the country accounting for 175 million downloads and 24% of global users.<ref>{{cite news |title=From PUBG to Camcard: Among the 118 Chinese apps banned, here are the ones you'll miss |url=https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/chinese-app-ban-in-india-from-pubg-to-camcard-among-the-118-chinese-apps-banned-here-are-the-ones-youll-miss-8778571.html |access-date=September 2, 2020 |work=First Post |date=September 2, 2020 |archive-date=September 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200902160638/https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/chinese-app-ban-in-india-from-pubg-to-camcard-among-the-118-chinese-apps-banned-here-are-the-ones-youll-miss-8778571.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{MobyGames|/playerunknowns-battlegrounds}}

{{PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds}}

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