AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS. - Dec. 10, 2021 - During The Game Awards 2021, KRAFTON, Inc. revealed that PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS will transition to a “free-to-play” (F2P) model starting Jan. 12, 2022 on PC and consoles, signaling the start of a new era for the popular battle royale game. For those interested in reliving the TGA announcement, please find the full reveal trailer here. For more information regarding the announcement, including what new and current players can expect, please read the official announcement here.
When PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS transitions to F2P, it will introduce BATTLEGROUNDS Plus, an optional premium account upgrade that allows players to access a variety of new and exclusive in-game features. While all players will start with Basic Account that offers access to most game features, they can upgrade to BATTLEGROUNDS Plus for a one-time fee of $12.99 USD and gain access to the following:
- Bonus 1,300 G-COIN
- Survival Masters XP + 100 percent boost
- Career - Medal tab
- Ranked Mode
- Custom Match functionality
- In-Game items, including the Captain’s Camo set, which includes hat, camo mask and camo gloves
Players who have purchased and played PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS before its transition to F2P will receive the PUBG - SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE PACK, which will include an automatic account upgrade to BATTLEGROUNDS Plus, the Battle-Hardened costume skin set, the Shackle and Shanks Legacy Pan and the Battle-Hardened Legacy nameplate.
“As PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS pioneered the battle royale genre and has grown into a globally influential game IP, this is the perfect time to transition to F2P and welcome new players to the game,” said CH Kim, CEO of KRAFTON, Inc. “The game has grown substantially since we brought it to Early Access nearly five years ago, and we believe it offers one of the best values in gaming. Whether it’s the game’s eight unique maps, consistently updated features or engaging in-game partner activations, transitioning to F2P is the next step in our journey to widen the scope of the PUBG IP through content that both new and veteran players will love.”
Throughout the next several weeks, players can visit https://pre-reg.pubg.com/ to find a variety of activities to celebrate PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS’ transition to F2P. Players will be able to pre-register to play the F2P version of the game, take a gaming personality test and participate in a “Invite A Friend” activity to earn select in-game items.
When PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS launched into Steam Early Access in 2017, it popularized the battle royale game genre. To date, the game has sold more than 75 million copies across PC and consoles, making it one of the best-selling games of all time. In the nearly five years since its launch, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS has continued to expand from its early success and evolve with consistent in-game updates, including new maps, game modes and gameplay features. The PUBG brand has also grown into a multimedia franchise, pushing into other ventures such as PUBG Esports, its expansion of lore with PUBG Universe and additional games such as the recently released mobile title, PUBG: NEW STATE.
Additional details about PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS transition to F2P will be shared in the coming weeks. For the latest information on PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, please visit www.pubg.com or follow us on social media (YouTube / Twitter / Instagram / Facebook / Twitch / TikTok). For further assets and press releases, please visit the official PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS press room.
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About KRAFTON, Inc.
KRAFTON, Inc. is a collective of independent game development studios brought together to create innovative and engaging entertainment experiences for gamers across the world. The company consists of PUBG Studios, Bluehole Studio, Striking Distance Studios, RisingWings, Dreamotion, and Unknown Worlds, each with its own unique expertise.
KRAFTON is responsible for premier entertainment properties including PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, PUBG: NEW STATE, The Callisto Protocol, TERA, and ELYON. As a technology-driven company that boasts world-class capabilities, KRAFTON seeks to expand its areas of business beyond games to multimedia entertainment and deep learning. For more information about KRAFTON, please visit https://www.krafton.com.