PUBG 2 could release for mobile as soon as this year, report claims

PUBG Corporation is planning to release a sequel to its hit battle royale game, Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds, as early as this year, a new report claims.

According to Bloomberg, the South Korean developer has plans to release a new battle royale mobile title this year “based on PUBG”. Another “PUBG-related” PC and console game will release by 2022, it said, though it’s not clear if they’re the same title.

The news follows a South Korean news report from November, which claimed that PUBG parent Krafton was working on a new game set in the PUBG universe called ‘Project XTRM’.

According to the publication’s sources, the project had been in development since early 2019 for mobile, console and PC and was “highly likely” to be PUBG 2.

The original PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds released in 2017 and is one of the most successful games of all time, with the PC and console versions selling more than 70 million copies and the mobile version being downloaded about 600 million times, according to Krafton.

The company’s CEO, Kim Chang-han, told Bloomberg that it also has plans for an animated show based on the game, and it also intends to target television and movies.

Krafton is planning an IPO in mid-to-late 2021, which could reportedly be valued at as much as 30 trillion won ($27.2 billion), according to Eugene Investment & Securities Co, which would make it South Korea’s biggest ever.

In a recent interview with Polygon, recently appointed PUBG creative director Dave Curd said 2021 was likely to see the introduction of more large-scale maps to the game, which highlight the survival element he feels sets it apart from other titles.

Curd took over the role of creative director from PUBG creator Brendan Greene, who’s currently working on an original IP which will be the debut title from PlayerUnknown Productions.

Announced in December 2019, ‘Prologue‘ is described as “an exploration of new technologies and gameplay” with the aim of giving players “unique and memorable experiences” each time they play.

Dead Space creator Glen Schofield revealed a new horror game, The Callisto Protocol, last month, which is set inside the PUBG universe hundreds of years in the future.

further reading

PUBG Season 10 adds a new urban map with a focus on verticality and AI combatants

Game’s new creative director also says bigger maps are coming in 2021