Krafton recently announced that PUBG is going to become a free to play title. The switch will happen next year. Players who already bought and played the game will be given in-game items as compensation.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds dropped into Steam's Early Access in 2017 and pretty much changed the face of gaming. Until recently, PUBG was available for purchase on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Stadia. Then, an announcement made during The Game Awards 2021 revealed that PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS is making the switch over to the "free-to-play" model, starting on January 12, 2022, on both PC and consoles.
The Game Awards - PUBG free-to-play announcement
What will happen when PUBG goes F2P? BATTLEGROUNDS Plus.
PUBG's Basic Account will be free and offer access to most of the game's features. All new players will start off with this version of the game. However, the powers that be will still offer up premium content even after PUBG goes free to play, by introducing BATTLEGROUNDS Plus. The optional paid account upgrade will grant players access to a selection of new and exclusive in-game features.
Access to BATTLEGROUNDS Plus will be sold for a one-time fee of $12.99 USD. The account upgrade will unlock the following:
- Bonus 1,300 G-COIN
- Survival Masters XP + 100 per cent 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've already surrendered their hard-earned cash for a chance at the poultry meal, and dropped into PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS before its transition to F2P will become the proud owners of the PUBG - Special Commemorative Pack that includes an account upgrade to BATTLEGROUNDS Plus, the Battle-Hardened costume skin set, the Shackle and Shanks Legacy Pan and the Battle-Hardened Legacy nameplate.
