PUBG will be free-to-play on PC and consoles from January 12th

Battleroyale game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds will be free to play on PC and consoles starting January 12th. Developer Krafton also introduces Battlegrounds Plus, a $13 upgrade that includes Ranked Mode and Custom Matches.

Players who purchase the game before January 12 will get Battlegrounds Plus for free. In addition to Ranked Mode and Custom Match, Plus accounts will receive additional coins, items and an XP boost, among other things. Those who purchase the game before it becomes free-to-play will receive additional in-game clothing.

In the message, Krafton does not specify why the game is now becoming free-to-play. Until January 12, the game costs thirty euros. There have been rumors for some time that the game would be free. For this, the developer would first like to organize free-to-play weeks in which the game can be played for free, in order to gauge the reactions. Such a week was not well received by the players in 2019, as a result of which the decision was postponed, according to leaker PlayerIGN. Last August there was another free week. Presumably this one was better.

Previously, there was also a free version of the game: PUBG Lite. This game also had lower system requirements. However, this version was discontinued in May. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds appeared in Early Access in 2017 and is seen as the beginning of the popularity of the battleroyal genre. Later, Epic released its own battle royale game with Fortnite. Other developers followed suit as well.