What PUBG Corporation does

PUBG Studios, formerly PUBG Corporation, is a South Korean game developer and publisher operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of KRAFTON, INC. (KRX: 259960). Founded in 2009 and headquartered in Seoul with 1,001-5,000 employees, the company develops and operates PUBG: Battlegrounds, the battle royale title that helped define the genre since its 2017 Steam launch. The game is distributed across PC (Steam, Epic Games Store) and console (PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One, Series X|S) platforms, with mobile variants handled via separate Krafton entities. Beyond the base game the portfolio extends into PUBG Universe (crossover content with franchises such as Stellar Blade), Battlegrounds Plus premium membership, the Xeno Point co-op arcade mode, the Bridge creator platform, the PUBG Esports ecosystem, and the PUBG developer-facing API.

The studio's core technology is a battle royale multiplayer engine layered with proprietary anti-cheat infrastructure, including a kernel-level detection system that activates with the game client and AI-based detection models that increased detection volume by roughly 2.5x while reducing detection time by over 90%. Distribution spans first-party storefronts (Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store) alongside owned channels such as the official merchandise store, pubgesports.com, and documentation.pubg.com. PUBG Studio also pursues an aggressive anti-cheat enforcement program, with approximately 7.81 million accounts permanently banned and over 100 legal actions taken against cheat developers, sellers, and users between August and October 2025, alongside approximately $1,713,823 in confiscated proceeds.

PUBG monetizes through a hybrid model: one-time base game license sales across platforms, microtransactions on cosmetic items and crossover content, subscription-like seasonal Event Passes (including Event Pass: Xeno Point), and the recurring Battlegrounds Plus membership. Customer segments span competitive esports players, casual and core battle royale players across PC and console, and content creators and streamers. Go-to-market is product-led via seasonal content updates and event-driven via large esports tournaments such as BGIS, with marketing channels spanning crossover collaborations, streamer prize pools, official developer communications, and in-game store promotions.

Name

PUBG Corporation

Legal name

KRAFTON, INC.

Website

https://na.battlegrounds.pubg.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

PUBG Studios (formerly PUBG Corporation), a KRAFTON subsidiary, develops and operates PUBG: Battlegrounds, a leading cross-platform battle royale title. The company serves global PC and console players via hybrid monetization including game sales, cosmetics, subscriptions, and esports.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Battle Royale Video Games

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)

akta.pro primary industry

PC & Console Game Distribution Platforms (BPAMAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Esports Platforms & Competitive Gaming Networks (BPAMAKAH), Gaming Community, Chat & LFG Platforms (BPAMAKAK)

Keywords

• Battle royale games
• Multiplayer online games
• Game development studio
• Competitive esports tournaments
• In-game microtransactions

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Game Sales and Base Game: PUBG: Battlegrounds is available as a purchase game on PC and consoles, generating revenue from initial game sales across Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.
2. In-Game Purchases and Microtransactions: The game generates significant revenue through cosmetic items including weapon wraps, parachutes, themed accessories, and character skins available in the in-game store, including limited-time crossover items from collaborations like Stellar Blade.
3. Event Pass: PUBG monetizes through Event Passes such as Event Pass: Xeno Point, offering tiered access to exclusive content and missions for a subscription-like recurring revenue model tied to major updates.
4. Esports and Tournament Entry: Revenue generated through competitive gaming ecosystem including BGIS tournament with community-contributed prize pools, supporting player engagement and community-driven monetization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PUBG Corporation develops and publishes PUBG: Battlegrounds, a large-scale multiplayer battle royale game in which up to 100 players parachute onto an island, scavenge for weapons and vehicles, and fight to be the last one standing across maps such as Erangel and Miramar. The studio monetizes the title through one-time base game sales on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation, and Xbox, complemented by in-game cosmetic purchases, the Battlegrounds Plus subscription/Event Pass service, and an esports ecosystem anchored by tournaments such as the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGIS).

Product overview

PUBG Corporation, under KRAFTON, offers PUBG: Battlegrounds as its core battle royale product with multiple platform availability (PC, console, mobile). The portfolio includes the flagship game, PUBG Universe sub-brand for crossovers (Stellar Blade), Battlegrounds Plus subscription service, PUBG Esports competitive initiatives including BGIS tournaments, and the PUBG API for developer access. The Xeno Point co-op mode and Bridge platform extend the ecosystem. The company is headquartered in South Korea and distributes across Steam, Epic Games, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PUBG: Battlegrounds The flagship battle royale multiplayer game where up to 100 players parachute onto an island, scavenge for weapons and vehicles, and fight to be the last one alive across multiple maps including Miramar and Erangel. Sold as a one-time purchase on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation, and Xbox, with ongoing seasonal updates and crossover content for individual consumers.
• Battlegrounds Plus Premium membership/subscription service for PUBG: Battlegrounds that provides subscribers with exclusive in-game benefits, rewards, and enhanced gameplay features on a recurring billing basis. Targeted at individual players seeking additional cosmetic and gameplay perks beyond the base game.
• PUBG API Developer-facing API product providing programmatic access to PUBG game data for third-party developers and ecosystem integrations. Documented at documentation.pubg.com, it enables external developers to build applications, services, and analytics on top of PUBG match and player data.
• Bridge PUBG-operated platform service aimed at content creators and community members, providing features for streaming, content creation, and community engagement. Separate from the Krafton ID account infrastructure and serves as a standalone hub for PUBG creator economy participants.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7.81 million cheat accounts permanently banned as of November 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Shift UpcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 March 2026PUBG Studios announced a crossover collaboration with Shift Up's hit action-adventure game Stellar Blade, featuring protagonist Eve as a new playable character in PUBG: Battlegrounds. The collaboration includes exclusive cosmetics such as weapon wraps, parachutes, and themed accessories available through limited-time missions and the in-game store. Stellar Blade previously collaborated with NieR: Automata and Goddess of Victory: NIKKE.
• Stellar Blade (Shift Up)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPUBG: Battlegrounds Update 41.1 introduced a Stellar Blade crossover featuring the character EVE as the first Ultimate Contender, with exclusive themed content available through Event Pass: Xeno Point and limited-time missions.
• KRAFTON IndiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerKRAFTON India, the Indian subsidiary of KRAFTON, Inc., organizes the Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGIS) 2026 Grand Finals at Chennai Trade Centre, highlighting India's maturing competitive gaming ecosystem with community-contributed prize pools and esports infrastructure.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Ubisoft (Rainbow Six Siege / XDefiant): Ubisoft operates Rainbow Six Siege and the newer XDefiant, both competitive shooters competing for the same tactical-FPS player pool. While not strictly battle royale, they overlap on platform footprint (PC, console) and live-service + cosmetic monetization.
• Roblox Corporation: Roblox is a cross-platform user-generated game platform with comparable youth-skewing global audience and creator economy (analogous to PUBG's Bridge creator platform). It competes for the same casual gaming time-spent, though in a UGC rather than premium-licensed model.

Direct peers

• Epic Games: Epic Games develops and publishes Fortnite, the largest direct competitor to PUBG: Battlegrounds in the battle royale genre. Both operate as cross-platform (PC, console, mobile) live-service games with cosmetic microtransactions, seasonal battle passes, and crossover collaborations as core monetization pillars.
• Riot Games: Riot Games operates competitive live-service shooters (Valorant, League of Legends) with comparable esports ecosystems, cross-platform ambitions, and free-to-play cosmetic monetization. Their global esports infrastructure parallels PUBG's BGIS and competitive scene.
• NetEase Games: NetEase publishes competing mobile shooters (Knives Out,荒野行動) and partnered with Blizzard to operate titles in China. It is a direct competitor to PUBG Mobile in Asia-Pacific markets and operates comparable cross-platform shooter live services.
• Electronic Arts (Apex Legends): EA's Respawn Entertainment develops Apex Legends, a hero-shooter battle royale competing head-to-head with PUBG: Battlegrounds for the same core shooter audience on PC and console, using seasonal battle passes and cosmetic microtransactions.
• Garena (Free Fire): Garena publishes Garena Free Fire, a mobile-first battle royale that competes directly with PUBG Mobile, particularly in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and India — markets where PUBG Corporation also operates via KRAFTON India.
• Activision Publishing (Call of Duty: Warzone): Activision publishes Call of Duty: Warzone, a leading battle royale shooter that directly competes with PUBG: Battlegrounds for the same FPS/battle royale player base on PC and console. Both titles rely on seasonal updates, paid battle passes, and cross-platform play.

Broad incumbents

• miHoYo / HoYoverse: HoYoverse operates Genshin Impact and other live-service games using seasonal updates, gacha monetization, and crossover collaborations — comparable to PUBG's Event Pass and crossover strategy as a large-scale Asian live-service publisher.
• KRAFTON, Inc. KRAFTON is the publicly listed (KRX: 259960) parent company of PUBG Corporation and operates adjacent live-service titles. Comparable as a parent-peer given shared IP portfolio, esports infrastructure, and cross-studio initiatives like PUBG Universe.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/pubg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PUBG Corporation