The original battle royale game that kick-started one of the world’s most popular gaming genres has decided to go free-2-play starting 2022.
Krafton, the developers behind the ever-so-popular game, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has announced that the original PUBG will go free-2-play.
The developer dropped the announcement trailer at the Game Awards 2021 and said that starting from January 12, the game will feature two tiers: Free Basic Account and Battlegrounds Plus Account.
The Basic Account will be completely free and will offer access to “most” of the game features. While the Battleground Plus upgrade will be a one-time $12.99 fee and offer the following benefits:
- Bonus 1,300 G-COIN
- Survival Masters XP + 100 percent boost
- Career – Medal tab
- Ranked Mode
- Custom Match functionality
- In-Game items, including the Captain’s Camo set, which includes hat, camo mask, and camo gloves
Those who have paid for the game previously will automatically be upgraded to the Battlegrounds Plus and will also receive a Special Commemorative Pack which will include the Battle-Hardened costume skin set, the “Shackle and Shanks” Legacy Pan, and the Battle-Hardened Legacy nameplate.
It is understandable why Krafton decided to keep Ranked Mode as part of the Battleground Plus package as giving a free entry to ranked modes will allow cheaters to make unlimited accounts and wreak the balance of the game. A flat fee of 13$ per account will make it expensive for cheaters as they banned and create new accounts.
Krafton is also opening a pre-registration website to try out the new version of the game in the weeks leading up to the free-2-play release. The developers are also adding some new activities that will let you earn free in-game items that will be carried over when the game goes free-2-play.
