.jpg)
PUBG, or PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, burst onto the gaming scene in 2017, pioneering the battle royale genre and establishing a new standard for online multiplayer survival games. Developed by the South Korean company Krafton, this game drew its core inspiration from the intense, last-man-standing concept of the 2000 Japanese film, Battle Royale. The game's premise is both simple and thrilling: 100 players parachute onto a remote island, with only one goal—to be the last one standing. This high-stakes survival challenge requires players to quickly scavenge for weapons, armor, and medical supplies while a constantly shrinking safe zone forces them into increasingly close-quarters combat.
The game's initial release was met with massive success, captivating a global audience and becoming a cultural touchstone for gamers of all ages. Its raw, unforgiving gameplay and realistic graphics set it apart from its contemporaries. At the time, PUBG had very little competition, allowing it to dominate the market. Its popularity led to the creation of several different versions, including the highly successful PUBG Mobile, which brought the battle royale experience to a massive mobile audience. The game was also launched on PC, PS4, and Xbox One, later expanding to the next-generation consoles, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
Over the years, PUBG has undergone significant transformation. The developers have continuously refined the game, introducing new maps, game modes, and features while working to fix bugs and improve performance. Despite these optimizations, the game remains graphically demanding, a factor that is now influencing its future.
Recently, Krafton made a significant announcement regarding the game's long-term strategy. The company revealed that it will be ending support for PUBG on the PS4 and Xbox One consoles by the end of 2025. The primary reason for this decision is Krafton's plan to overhaul the game's graphical engine to deliver a more advanced and visually stunning experience for players on the latest consoles. They explained that the older hardware of the PS4 and Xbox One simply cannot handle these planned updates. As a result, support for PUBG on these consoles will officially cease in mid-November.
This news marks the end of an era for two iconic consoles. The PS4, released in 2014, has been one of Sony's most popular consoles, with a massive user base that continues to play and buy games for it even 11 years after its launch. Similarly, the Xbox One, which has been available for nearly 12 years, has served millions of gamers. However, the continuous evolution of game development means that new titles are becoming increasingly resource-intensive. Major franchises are now focusing exclusively on next-gen platforms. For example, the highly anticipated GTA 6 has already been confirmed to not be released on PS4 and Xbox One. This trend reflects a natural shift in the industry as players and developers transition to the more powerful hardware of the new generation of consoles.