PUBG: Battlegrounds

Officially PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG: Battlegrounds)

The battle royale that started the genre — 100 players parachute onto shrinking island; scavenge weapons + gear; last player/squad standing wins. Brendan 'PlayerUnknown' Greene created it 2017 based on Battle Royale novel/film. Spawned Fortnite, Warzone, Apex Legends. PUBG Global Championship + PUBG Mobile Global.

📐island map (digital 3D environment)⏱~25 min🌤indoor

What is PUBG: Battlegrounds?

PUBG: Battlegrounds (originally PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds) is the game that DEFINED the battle royale genre. Developed by PUBG Studios (subsidiary of Krafton, South Korea) under lead designer BRENDAN 'PLAYERUNKNOWN' GREENE (Irish designer inspired by 2000 Japanese novel/film 'Battle Royale' + prior H1Z1 mod work). Launched: PC Early Access March 2017; full release December 2017. Massive success — sold 30M+ copies within a year; peak concurrent 3.2M+ (still all-time Steam record). GAMEPLAY: 100 players spawn on transport plane; parachute onto island (map). Scavenge weapons (SMGs, ARs, snipers, LMGs, pistols), armor (helmets + vests), health items (bandages, first aid, med kits, energy drinks). PLAY ZONE (blue circle) shrinks over time — forces players together. RED ZONE: random airstrike area. AIRDROPS: rare high-tier weapons in supply crates. LAST PLAYER OR SQUAD STANDING WINS. Modes: SOLO (1 player), DUO (2), SQUAD (4). Perspectives: FIRST-PERSON (FPP) + THIRD-PERSON (TPP) — TPP allows corner-camera peeking. MAPS: Erangel (original), Miramar (desert), Sanhok (jungle), Vikendi (snow), Karakin, Paramo, Deston, Rondo (China). Realistic ballistics: bullet drop, wind, distance calculations required at long range. ESPORTS: PGC (PUBG Global Championship) since 2019; regional leagues (PGS Asia, PGC Americas, PGS Europe). Peak prize pools $2M+. PUBG MOBILE (separate title by Tencent) EVEN MORE successful — hundreds of millions of players especially in Asia, Middle East, Latin America; PMWL + PMGC + PMWI major esports. Bans in some countries (India banned PUBG Mobile 2020, replaced with BGMI). FAMOUS: Cloud9 (2019 champs), Gen.G, Danawa e-sports. NAVI (Ukraine) legendary Russian squad. Estimated 100M+ total PUBG + PUBG Mobile players; genre-defining title.

Quick facts

How it works

Objective

Be the last player or squad alive on the map. Alternatively: kill as many opponents as possible while surviving to top placement.

Match structure

Single-match battle royale: 100 players → 1 winner. Tournament: multi-match series scored by placement + kills (chicken dinner + eliminations = points).

Rules

Basic rules

Parachute from plane
All 100 players spawn on transport plane crossing map; jump + skydive to chosen location; landing timing critical.
Scavenge weapons + gear
Empty buildings; loot pistols, ARs, snipers, armor, med kits. First 30-60 sec = arm yourself.
Play zone (blue circle) shrinks
Every few minutes zone shrinks; outside = damage over time. Forces players together.
Red zone airstrike (random)
Random areas bombed; avoid or take cover in buildings.
Airdrops (supply crates)
High-tier weapons + gear dropped mid-match; contested for top-tier loot.
Kill or die
Combat via gunfire, grenades, vehicles, melee; wound + revive teammates (Duo/Squad only).
Last standing wins
SOLO: last player. DUO/SQUAD: last team with 1+ members alive.
'Chicken Dinner'
'Winner Winner Chicken Dinner' message on victory screen — iconic PUBG phrase.

Advanced rules

FPP vs TPP perspective
First-Person (FPP) hardcore competitive; Third-Person (TPP) allows corner-camera peek — different meta.
Realistic ballistics
Long-range shots require bullet drop + wind + distance calc — snipers demand skill.
Squad revive system
Downed teammate can be revived by squadmate; only truly dead when knocked + timer expires.
Vehicle combat
Cars, motorcycles, boats — drive-by shooting + car-ramming legit tactics; but vehicles announce position via engine.
Prone / crouch / lean
Positioning mechanics for concealment + tactical peeking; lean around corners without exposure.
Sound design critical
Footsteps + vehicles + gunfire audible from distance; sound design = tactical intelligence.
Zone timing + strategy
Predict next zone circle; position for late-game high ground; rotations critical.
Tournament scoring
Points for placement (winner 15, 2nd 12, 3rd 10, etc.) + kills (1 pt each). Balanced weighting rewards both survival + fragging.
PGC + regional leagues
PUBG Global Championship = annual world final; regional leagues: PGS Asia + Americas + Europe feed qualifying.
PUBG Mobile separate ecosystem
Different game, developed by Tencent Timi Studio; separate esports (PMGC, PMWI); MASSIVE in Asia + emerging markets.

Scoring

Placement + kills. Winner = 'Chicken Dinner'. Tournament scoring balances survival + eliminations.

Action	Points
Match win (1st place)	'Chicken Dinner' + tournament placement points (typically 15)
2nd-10th place	Decreasing scale (12, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1)
Kill / elimination	1 point per kill (tournament scoring)
Tournament series	Cumulative across 5-10 matches per day
Assist	0.5 points partial (some tournaments)

Win condition · Match: last player/squad standing. Tournament: highest cumulative points from placement + kills across match series.

Playing area

Called

island map (digital 3D environment)

Dimensions

Standard map ~8×8 km (Erangel, Miramar); smaller maps 4×4 km (Sanhok) + 2×2 km (Karakin, Paramo). Terrain: forests, hills, urban centers, coastal areas.

8 official maps: Erangel (Russian island, original), Miramar (Mexican desert), Sanhok (Southeast Asian jungle), Vikendi (Adriatic snow), Karakin (Middle Eastern), Paramo (South American), Deston (US city), Rondo (China).

Equipment

Gaming PC / PS5 / Xbox Series X / Mobile
Cross-progression across platforms. PC standard for esports. Mobile via Tencent's separate PUBG Mobile.
Mouse + Keyboard (PC pro)
800-3200 DPI mouse; keyboard for movement + weapons; QUICK RESPONSE critical.
Headset with 7.1 surround
Positional audio ESSENTIAL — footsteps, gunfire direction, vehicle noises determine tactical decisions.
Monitor 240Hz + low input lag
Fast reaction time; competitive advantage for engagement + peeking.
In-game weapons + gear
50+ weapons (M416 AR, AKM, Kar98k sniper, AWM airdrop-only, UMP-45 SMG, M249 LMG); helmets, vests, backpacks, med kits, grenades, meds.

Officiating

PGC (PUBG Global Championship) managed by PUBG Studios. Anti-cheat: BattlEye (server + client). LAN events have on-site tournament staff.

Tournament admins
PUBG Studios esports team
BattlEye anti-cheat
LAN referees at world finals

Strategies

Hot drop vs safe drop (landing choice)
Hot drops (Pochinki, School, Georgopol, Novo) = fast loot + high kill risk. Safe drops = slow loot but survive longer. Beginners: safe. Pros: hot for kills.
Loot priorities: helmet > vest > weapons > meds
Level 2+ helmet + vest crucial; then AR + sniper combo; then meds (bandages + first aid); then ammo.
Zone rotation timing
Move to next zone BEFORE circle closes; late rotation = damage + exposure to enemies.
Squad communication
Call out enemy locations by compass direction ('220 west', 'north hill'), building names, colors. Positional audio + comms = tactical intelligence.
Sound discipline
Sprint + vehicles + gunfire reveal your position; move + peek quietly for ambushes.
High ground + cover positioning
Elevated positions grant sightlines + terrain advantage; take hills + tall buildings.
Vehicle use strategy
Vehicles fast rotation but VERY LOUD; announce your position; use for medium-range travel + escape.
Airdrop hunting
High-tier weapons + gear but CONTESTED — usually contains AWM + M249 + level 3 vest. Wait for enemies to fight over it, take out with sniper.
Final circle strategy
Last 10 players = cautious positioning; prone in cover; watch angles; ambush players moving to close zone.
Tournament mode: balance kills + placement
Chicken Dinner alone insufficient; also need kills. But dying early = 0 pts either way. Balance aggression + survival.

Terminology

PUBG: PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds — original PC title.
PUBG Mobile: Separate mobile title by Tencent; distinct game + esports.
BGMI: Battlegrounds Mobile India — Indian version after PUBG Mobile 2020 ban.
Chicken Dinner: Win message: 'Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!' — iconic phrase.
Play zone / Circle: Shrinking safe area; outside = damage over time.
Red zone: Random airstrike area; take cover or flee.
Airdrop: Supply crate with high-tier weapons; contested.
AWM: Airdrop-only sniper; 1-shot headshot at any range.
Kar98k / M24: Common bolt-action snipers; 1-shot headshot with level 1 helmet.
M416 / AKM: Most common AR (assault rifles); balanced fire rate + damage.
Level 1 / 2 / 3 armor: Helmet + vest tiers; higher = more damage absorbed.
Hot drop / Cold drop: Popular high-loot locations (hot) vs quiet areas (cold).
Squad revive: Downed teammate can be revived by squadmate; med kits + time required.
Bluezone damage: Damage inflicted for being outside safe circle.
FPP / TPP: First-Person Perspective (hardcore) / Third-Person Perspective (casual + peek advantage).
Prone / crouch / peek: Stance positioning + concealment tactics.
Nade / Frag: Frag grenade; explosive damage + area denial.
Molotov / Smoke / Flash: Utility grenades — fire, concealment, blind.
PGC: PUBG Global Championship — annual PC world final.
PMGC: PUBG Mobile Global Championship.

Major competitions

PGC (PUBG Global Championship)
annual · worldwide (Seoul, Bangkok, Riyadh hosts) · since 2019
PGS (PUBG Global Series) — Asia, Americas, Europe
3 seasons per year · regional invitationals · since 2022
PCS (PUBG Continental Series) — Asia + Americas + Europe
3 seasons per year · regional · since 2020
PMGC (PUBG Mobile Global Championship)
annual · worldwide (mobile) · since 2020
PMWI (PUBG Mobile World Invitational)
annual · worldwide (mobile) · since 2022
Esports World Cup — PUBG + PUBG Mobile
annual · Saudi Arabia · since 2024
PGI.S (PUBG Global Invitational Season) — historic
2018 + 2021 · Berlin/Incheon · since 2018

Governing bodies

Krafton (parent company)
Founded 2007 · Seongnam, South Korea (formerly Bluehole)
PUBG Studios (dev subsidiary)
Founded 2017 · Seoul, South Korea
Official site ↗
PGC (PUBG Global Championship)
Founded 2019 · worldwide
Tencent (PUBG Mobile publisher)
Founded 1998 · Shenzhen, China

Famous names & records

Famous athletes

PUBG PC — Cloud9 (Ryu 'DGKGoblin' etc.) — 2019 PGC World Champions
Gen.G (Korea) — Multi-time regional champion
Danawa e-sports (Korea) — 2020s consistent top
NAVI (Ukraine) — Legendary Eastern European squad; Ceh9 IGL
Team Falcons (Saudi Arabia) — 2024 world class
Twisted Minds (MENA) — Middle East power
PUBG Mobile — Nova Esports (China) — Multi-time PMGC champion
Bigetron RA (Indonesia) — PMWI winner
S8UL Esports (India) — BGMI + PUBG Mobile star
Godlike Esports (India) — BGMI top squad
Loud (Brazil) — Latin America PUBG Mobile power
Brendan 'PlayerUnknown' Greene — creator + designer

Records

Highest all-time Steam concurrent players
PUBG PC — 3.24M peak (January 2018) (2018)
Best-selling PC game ever (Steam)
PUBG PC — 75M+ copies sold across platforms (2023)
Largest PUBG PC prize pool
PGI.S 2021 Berlin — $3.5M+ pool (2021)
Largest PUBG Mobile prize pool
PMGC 2020 + 2024 — $3M+ pool (2024)
PUBG Mobile monthly active
Tencent — 500M+ downloads; 100M+ MAU (2023)
First battle royale to popularize genre
PUBG PC — March 2017 Early Access (2017)

Learn this sport

beginner

1
Training mode + tutorial
Learn controls + weapons in offline training. 30 min minimum.
2
Play Sanhok (smaller map)
Faster matches + concentrated action; better for learning combat than Erangel.
3
Solo mode first
No squad dependencies; learn own game before team play.

intermediate

1
Ranked matchmaking
Unlock at level 10; earn tier based on placement + kills.
2
Squad up with reliable teammates
Add 2-3 consistent squadmates; develop team chemistry + comms.
3
Study zone timing + rotations
YouTube: WackyJacky101, Levinho, ChocoTaco channels for tactical PUBG.

advanced

1
Ace / Diamond rank consistency
Top 5-10% ranked players; requires 500+ hours + consistent squad.
2
PCS / PGS Open Qualifiers
Open qualifier path to PGC pro league; free entry per region.
3
PGC pro team contract
Sign with team like Cloud9 / Gen.G / NAVI; $2k-30k/month depending on tier.

Frequently asked

What is PUBG?+

PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS is the game that DEFINED the battle royale genre. Developed by PUBG Studios (Krafton, South Korea) under designer Brendan 'PlayerUnknown' Greene (Irish). Launched March 2017. GAMEPLAY: 100 players parachute onto island; scavenge weapons + armor; last player or squad standing wins ('WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER'). Play zone (blue circle) shrinks over time forcing engagements. Realistic ballistics + tactical play differentiate from arcade-y competitors. Modes: SOLO / DUO / SQUAD (4 players). MAPS: Erangel (original Russian island), Miramar (desert), Sanhok (jungle), Vikendi (snow), Deston, Rondo (China), Karakin, Paramo. Perspectives: FPP (First-Person) hardcore + TPP (Third-Person) casual. FREE-TO-PLAY since January 2022. Sold 75M+ copies; peak 3.24M concurrent Steam players (all-time record). PUBG MOBILE is separate title by Tencent — even bigger with 500M+ downloads.

Difference between PUBG PC and PUBG Mobile?+

DIFFERENT GAMES entirely: (1) PUBG PC — original by Krafton/PUBG Studios; hardcore realistic; ~1-3M monthly active PC + console. Free-to-play since Jan 2022. (2) PUBG MOBILE — Tencent Timi Studio (China); optimized for touch controls; casual + accessible; 500M+ downloads + 100M+ MAU; MASSIVE in Asia, Middle East, Latin America. Different maps (some shared), different graphics quality, different meta (mobile has auto-aim assists, different weapon balance). Cross-play NOT supported. SEPARATE ESPORTS: PGC (PC) vs PMGC (Mobile). BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) is Indian version after Sept 2020 PUBG Mobile ban (returned May 2022). NEW STATE MOBILE (Krafton, 2021) is futuristic mobile spinoff. Both games credited with popularizing battle royale globally, though PUBG PC is 'original' + more sim-focused.

How did PUBG start the battle royale trend?+

PUBG DIDN'T INVENT battle royale but MADE IT MAINSTREAM: (1) 2000 JAPANESE NOVEL/FILM 'Battle Royale' by Koushun Takami — high schoolers forced to kill each other on island; ORIGIN of concept. (2) 2012 'HUNGER GAMES' hollywood adaptation popularized concept in West. (3) MODS + INDIE GAMES 2012-2016: DayZ (2013), H1Z1 (2015), Arma 3 mods by Brendan Greene ('PlayerUnknown mod' 2014-15). (4) MARCH 2017 PUBG EARLY ACCESS — first proper battle royale AAA game; sold 30M copies year one; peak 3.24M concurrent Steam; SHATTERED all Steam records. (5) SEPTEMBER 2017 FORTNITE BATTLE ROYALE launched as 'PUBG killer' free version; grew even bigger with cartoon style + free-to-play. (6) 2019 APEX LEGENDS + WARZONE + others followed. Whole genre + billions in revenue traces back to PUBG's 2017 breakthrough. Brendan Greene is 'father of modern battle royale'.

What are the best PUBG maps?+

8 OFFICIAL MAPS (rotating in competitive pool): (1) ERANGEL — ORIGINAL 8×8 km Russian island; iconic + still most played; balanced terrain. (2) MIRAMAR — 8×8 km Mexican desert; long sightlines, sniper meta, open terrain. (3) SANHOK — 4×4 km Southeast Asian jungle; faster matches, tighter combat. (4) VIKENDI — 6×6 km Adriatic snow; snowmobiles + tracking footprints in snow. (5) KARAKIN — 2×2 km Middle Eastern; small + intense; breachable walls. (6) PARAMO — 3×3 km South American; volcanic dynamic terrain. (7) DESTON — 8×8 km US city; new tactical map with cranes + wingsuits. (8) RONDO — 8×8 km China-inspired; modern maps. PLAYER PREFERENCES: Erangel = most popular (nostalgia + balance); Sanhok = casual fast; Miramar = sniper lovers; Vikendi = unique winter meta. Pro esports usually rotates 4-map pool per season.

Is PUBG still worth playing?+

YES if enjoy tactical/realistic battle royale. PROS: (1) MOST REALISTIC BR — proper ballistics, sound, gunfeel; feels like sim rather than arcade shooter. (2) DEEP TACTICAL LAYER — sound + positioning + rotation matter more than raw aim. (3) SATISFYING CHICKEN DINNERS — 100 → 1 progression rewarding. (4) FREE-TO-PLAY since 2022 — no barrier to entry. (5) STILL 1-2M monthly PC players + higher on console. (6) CROSS-PROGRESSION across platforms. CONS: (1) FORTNITE + WARZONE + APEX have bigger playerbases + more content updates. (2) MATCHMAKING TIMES longer in some regions due to smaller base. (3) STEEPER LEARNING CURVE than arcade competitors. (4) HACKERS + BOTS in Asian servers (well-known issue). VERDICT: Great for players wanting sim-focused BR experience. Try free before committing time. PUBG MOBILE / BGMI more accessible for casual players.

Who is the best PUBG player or team?+

PC HISTORY: (1) CLOUD9 (Korea/international, 2019 PGC WORLD CHAMPIONS) — legendary early era; DGKGoblin, KDG lineup. (2) GEN.G (Korea) — multi-time regional champion; Aoahos + TGltn era. (3) NAVI (Ukraine) — legendary Eastern European squad; Ceh9 IGL era 2018-2020. (4) TWISTED MINDS (Saudi Arabia) — 2023-24 Middle East power. (5) TEAM FALCONS (Saudi Arabia) — 2024 world class. (6) DANAWA E-SPORTS (Korea) — consistent top; also fun style. MOBILE HISTORY: (1) NOVA ESPORTS (China) — multi-time PMGC champion. (2) BIGETRON RA (Indonesia) — PMWI winner. (3) S8UL + GODLIKE (India) — dominant Indian scene. (4) ALPHA7 (Brazil) — Latin America power. (5) FOUR ANGRY MEN (China) — historic dominance. Individual: hard to pick GOAT — team dependencies matter huge. Notable individuals: TGltn (Gen.G IGL), Ceh9 (NAVI), Aidenpwnz (NAVI). PGC 2024 in Riyadh had 24 international squads competing.

Sources & provenance

Wikipedia — PUBG: Battlegrounds— Wikipedia
Krafton — PUBG— Krafton
PUBG Esports— Krafton
Wikipedia — PUBG Mobile— Wikipedia

Last verified 2026-08-25.verified