PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (aka PUBG game) is an online multiplayer battle royale game which by many accounts was the first to flush out currently popular battle royale game formula. First released in 2017 via Steam's early access beta program, the game became an instant hit. Every major YouTube or Twitch gamer was playing it which resulted in millions of consumers buying the game. PUBG game sold more than two million copies in just a couple of months and started a trend which changed the world of gaming forever.
The idea behind PUBG was fairly simple. The player alongside 99 other gamers parachutes onto an island in which only one player survives. Players loot guns and gear, try to eliminate as many targets as possible as the play area shrinks with each passing minute. It was a quality thriller movie in digital space which quickened the pulse as the player count decreased. The only difference is that the hero of this thriller was the player.
Additionally, PUBG game presented a new type of shooting gameplay that could be easily approached by players of any skill level – instead of shooting, players could hide and wait, setting up traps for unsuspected ‘hunters'. Players could form strike teams, or play PUBG as a stealth game. The choice was theirs. Add in replayability value and you'll have yourselves a formula of a game that had something for everyone and had no real end. It was truly revolutionary!
Naturally, just a couple of months after the initial PUBG game release, battle royale genre exploded in popularity. Many game development teams around the world started announcing their takes on the newly invented genre, but the main competition came from Epic Games as the company announced Fortnite: Battle Royale, who eventually took the crown of the most popular battle royale game.
While Fortnite was fairly similar to PUBG game it had some advantages. Playful graphics made the game more appealing to the younger audiences, Fortnite also included more gameplay options as players were able to build their own fortifications. Additionally, Fortnite: Battle Royale developers decided to implement the free-to-play model and that is always a plus when a player decides what game to try-out first. However, Fortnite took a page from PUBG's playbook regarding the marketing. Similar to PUBG, Epic Games started their marketing campaign mainly focusing on YouTube and Twitch gamers, who helped to raise awareness for the title.
Reacting to a new competitor, PUBG game developer, PUBG Corp., filed a lawsuit against Epic Games in 2018 claiming that Fortnite: Battle Royale infringements on PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' copyrights. However, the lawsuit had been closed as PUBG Corp gained nothing. This set a precedent that led to other video game companies using the battle royale gameplay formula for their own titles.
Nowadays every major games' company is trying to get a piece of that pie. While some started to create their own battle royale games, others developed battle royale inspired game modes. Last February EA released a free-to-play battle royale game called Apex Legends, while currently popular titles such as Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Battlefield V, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Fallout 76 added new battle royale game modes to their titles.
And this doesn't seem to be just another trend started by PUBG game that will quickly wear off. There are plenty of new battle royale games set to be released in the near future. Games like Spellbreak, Planetside Arena, Mavericks are just a few notable titles that will be coming up next, with tens of titles already available through early access.
While some gamers may not like battle royale genre, from what we gather it's here to stay. PUBG game found something that captured the imagination of millions. That is why we kindly recommend to check out the father of it all – PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.
