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PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS kicked off the battle royale trend but it has since fallen out of the limelight. Currently, PUBG draws a smaller player pool than many battle royale games that succeeded it.
Unfortunately, PUBG developers fumbled its initial stages by releasing the trigger on a buggy game leading to an extended stint in early access. PUBG finally released after blood and tears but they had already missed the bus. Now, the people behind PUBG aim to take their franchise to the next level with two new planned games. Finally, PUBG moves towards reclaiming its top spot at the peak of the Battle Royale mountain.
What started it all
Currently, APEX Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and Fortnite dominate the Battle Royale genre. It's almost impossible for PUBG to drive a wedge into the big players of the genre despite being one of the first proponents of the game mode. Krafton, the holding company overseeing PUBG Studio, looks towards building the franchise to “not stay as a one-hit-wonder.” Battle royale games flood digital storefronts but very few games expand their universe with sequels and spin-off games. This could well be the best move for an ailing brand to penetrate an inundated genre.
Kim Chang-Han, Krafton CEO, confirmed in an interview with Bloomberg that two games will be launched in 2021 and 2022. This year will see the release of a “new battle royale mobile title” set in the PUBG universe. Secondly, 2022 will see the release of “another PUBG-related PC and console game”.
It's hardly expected of BR games to build an expansive universe conducive for sequels. This is why it is an interesting move on the part of PUBG developers in an attempt to solidify its market position in the flooded market. It's hard not to be hopeful how this unorthodox move could mean more innovations for the genre down the road.
