Photo: PUBG
Genre Battle royale seduced by its great accessibility. Even though the competition is fierce, several heavyweights manage to coexist by playing with their own characteristics and strengths. Among them, PUBG continues to have a very active community which is expected to grow even further in 2022. The game will become free for everyone and we can expect to see a new wave of players. Please note, some features such as ranked mode will only be available to players who pay the Battleground More, a paid Pass that contains many exclusives.
To better understand this model of Free-to-Play corn Pay-to-Ranked and its consequences, we had the chance to ask a few questions to Dave curd, the Creative Director of the game. He did not dodge a single subject and is particularly optimistic about the future of PUBG.
Why switch to the free-to-play model today in particular? Why not before or later?
Dave curd: We are very happy with the current state of our game. We have amazing maps and a thriving community, and we think this is the perfect time for new players to take the plunge and come and see what we have. built.
We want to share PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS with as many fans as possible. We will add features to facilitate their arrival and make their transition to our world pleasant and easy with our tutorials. There are a lot of people who are really curious about our universe and now they can come and be a part of it. It is a very exciting time.
The Battle Royale universe is very competitive (Fortnite, Apex, Warzone …). How do you see the future of PUBG and more generally of the genre?
Looking at the genre as a whole, it’s really interesting how other games have taken our basic formula and found their own twist on it. We don’t feel a sense of rivalry with the other games because they all give us a different experience, some are more “arcade” and faster – and they’re all awesome.
I think the different titles will continue to focus on their niche and what makes them different. What we offer is a tactical, strategic, intense, and high-stakes game that you won’t find anywhere else. In the future, we are thinking of bigger maps, more interesting gameplay and new experiences, all respecting the core of the game. It will be an evolution, not a revolution.
Paid content (Battleground Plus) was announced for a fixed price of $ 13. Compensation was promised for players who previously purchased the game ($ 30), such as in-game items. Can you tell us more about the content to expect and its value?
Naturally, we want to reward the loyalty of the players who have accompanied us over the years, so anyone who has already purchased PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS will receive the special PUBG Memorial Pack which includes a free upgrade to BATTLEGROUNDS Plus and additional in-game rewards. , like unique costume skin sets.
With BATTLEGROUNDS Plus, fans can enjoy Ranked Mode, create custom matches, receive in-game skins, and claim G-Coin – plus a host of other perks. After launching in free-to-play mode, BATTLEGROUNDS Plus will retail for $ 12.99.
Why did you choose to place ranked mode in paid content?
There are a few differences between the base game and BATTLEGROUNDS Plus when it comes to accessible game modes. Part of this is to give additional benefits to those who upgrade to BATTLEGROUNDS Plus, but the ultimate reason for restricting the use of some major content is to prevent cheaters. In the case of Ranked mode, fair play is a must as it is a fierce competition between players competing for Ranking Points (RP). While anyone can participate in a ranking match without any restrictions, there is concern that there may be an increase in the number of potential cheaters as well as the possibility of banned players easily returning to the game.
With this free-to-play model but the choice of pay-to-ranked. What are the expected and expected effects for the competitive (esport) scene?
I think it could have a really positive effect on the esports scene. Starting in January, we will no longer charge players to play PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, which removes a barrier for those aspiring to be professionals. The process for new esports players is pretty straightforward: play PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, fall in love with the best Battle Royale around, and switch to esports.
Will the next content (alternate game modes, new maps) be free or will it have to be integrated into Battlegroud Plus (for a fee)?
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS has always posted content for free. Eight maps, weapon packs, game modes, it’s really the game that keeps on giving.
We have no plans to change that, yes we have a Battlegrounds Plus service, but we will still have plenty of updates for our free-to-play audience.
With the move to free-to-play, can we expect to see cross-platform PC / console games?
This is a subject that we are constantly studying, but I have no news at the moment. Competitive balance is a cornerstone of the game and we enjoy both experiences individually. Controllers, mice and keyboards on consoles are very different. If we were to allow cross-platform, we would have to make sure that we don’t negatively impact either platform.
Very few people had seen this announcement happen … And yes! There will be a collaboration between PUBG mobile and the world of Riot Games games, namely Runettera with the characters of Jayce, Vi, Jinx and Caitlyn who land on the map of Erangel!