Krafton has re-named their massively popular battle royale shooter from PUBG to PUBG: Battlegrounds. The change occurred sometime in July, and is visible on the game’s listing on Steam. I know what you’re thinking: does that mean the game is now technically called PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds: Battlegrounds? Well, maybe. It’s not clear if Krafton’s intention is to ditch the original name altogether, or if it’s just a move to make PUBG the official franchise name for the sake of simplicity. But it’s also a move that will help fit the game into the planned additions to the world to PUBG.
This was first discussed in a PC Gamer article that seems to take the change of name a bit too personally. Sure, the name may sound silly if you say the full name out loud, but when was the last time anybody actually called the game ‘PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’? The franchise is known worldwide as PUBG or sometimes Battlegrounds, so it only makes sense for Krafton to combine the two to make it the official tile… especially when more titles are on the way.
In a statement to PC Gamer, a Krafton representative said, “Krafton is actively expanding the PUBG brand through a variety of new experiences set in its universe. Rebranding PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds to PUBG: Battlegrounds is the first step in us realizing this vision. Additional titles in the franchise will carry the PUBG name, as you see with our upcoming game, PUBG: New State.”
PUBG: New State is due out sometime this year and is a futuristic, mobile version of the original battlegrounds experience. More games in the PUBG universe are on the horizon for 2021 and 2022 as well.
About the Author
Edie W-K
she/her
If it isn't video games, Edie doesn't care about it. She's been playing games since the N64 era, and only spent enough time away from her 3DS to earn a Bachelor in Games Design from RMIT.
