‘PUBG: Battlegrounds’ now free-to-play

Listen up, battle royale fans! The popular online multiplayer action game PUBG: Battlegrounds is now free-to-play.

First revealed at The Game Awards in December 2021, the game’s transition to a free-to-play model comes with several changes and rewards for seasoned players while those who are joining the game for the first time will get to enjoy most of the features that are available in the game.

For those who already own the game prior to the free-to-play transition, players will receive the PUBG – Special Commemorative Pack, which includes a free Battlegrounds Plus upgrade along with some additional in-game rewards.

The premium tier comes with a costume skin which includes a battle-hardened legacy corset, jacket, gloves, pants, and boots. Additionally, they will also receive a shackle and shanks legacy pan and a battle-hardened legacy nameplate.

Meanwhile, the Battlegrounds Plus along with other in-game rewards will be automatically distributed to the accounts of longtime players upon their first log-in after the free-to-play transition.

As for new players, the Battleground Plus DLC will be available for $12.99 should they decide to upgrade to the premium tier. The upgrade product comes with the Survival Master XP +100% boost, career-medal tab, ranked mode and also allows new players to create custom matches.

Aside from that, it also includes the captain’s camo hat, captain’s camo mask, captain’s camo gloves and a bonus 1300 G-Coin.

In an interview with GamesRadar, studio creative director Dave Curd explained that the game’s transition to a free-to-play model is a “natural next step.”

"We came to the decision to make PUBG: Battlegrounds free to play because we feel that it is truly the right time," Curd shared. "Our game is in a great place with eight maps, an engaged community and our deep gun mechanics, so this is the natural next step and a great way to introduce more players to our universe. I know there are a lot of people who are interested in PUBG: Battlegrounds but have never gotten around to playing it for various reasons—now is the perfect moment to get started.”

Meanwhile, Curd also clarified that PUBG: Battlegrounds’ transition to free-to-play is “in no way a response” to other massively popular battle royale games such as Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone.

"This is in no way a response to the other titles you've mentioned," Curd told GamesRadar. "They're all great games which specialize in their own unique strengths, just as we do. We develop our game independently of others and are excited to see what is to come."

Curl added: "We can invite more people to the party and that means we'll see developments that we may not have witnessed with the previous pay-to-play model," he explained. "In terms of developing and evolving, we will continue to do what we've always done: innovate, create new experiences, and grow the PUBG universe."

First launched in March 2017, PUBG: Battlegrounds is now available for free on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, and Stadia.