PUBG: Mobile has now surpassed 1 billion downloads, marking a 29% in revenue year-on-year to $6 billion and creating a stronger product.
Outside of China, PUBG: Mobile is now well-past the billion downloads mark. This figure came out of a recent earnings call, as reported by Reuters. So far, it outperformed even its closest competitor, Call of Duty: Mobile.
PUBG still dominating Asian region
The mobile version of PUBG is one of the strongest titles outside the United States. While it does not have as big of a market in the West, it dominates much of the Asian region. Specifically, Middle East, India, and Southeast Asia are driving the game’s market.
Players, please enjoy this special message from the CEO of Krafton ✉️😄 Thank you for being a part of our 1 billion downloads over the past 3 years 💛 pic.twitter.com/8IAYBCBqEB
— PUBG MOBILE (@PUBGMOBILE) March 24, 2021
The battle royale’s popularity made it a heavy performer on all mobile platforms. According to Sensor Tower, the only games that historically outperformed the game are both addictive casual games. Candy Crush Saga and Subway Surfers are ahead of it.
Candy Crush Saga historically uses questionable dopamine tricks. Subway Surfers, on the other hand, is doing strongly in India, where almost everyone has already played the game.
PUBG is raising the bar when it comes to mobile games. It attracted both casual and hardcore gamers alike from different nations. The game also has a low entry curve, compared to other popular games like Mobile Legends.
PUBG front and center in national issues
PUBG: Mobile is doing well in the Asian region, and would’ve done well in China too. Unfortunately, strict regulations in China prevents the game’s monetization. This move prompted the devs to create a localized version called Peacekeeper Elite.
After localization, the game surged to as much as $1 billion in revenue. In India, PUBG is still banned in at least four cities since 2019. The local authorities note that the ban comes from the violence and angry provocation it instills in the youth.
In 2020, the game was among the more than 100 games banned by the Indian government. The ban coincided with the conflict with China, together with concerns about the apps’ connection to the Chinese government.
For Q4 2020, Tencent reported its online games revenue rose to $6 billion or around RMB 39.1 billion. Games revenue outside China reaches $1.5 billion or 43% year-on-year.
Much of the game’s revenue comes from online microtransactions. While the game itself is free, many of the game’s mechanics revolve around spending money for skins and costumes. The game’s Royale Pass encourages players to spend on season passes for faster ranking.
PUBG: Mobile will have a sequel on mobiles soon called PUBG: New State. The game will have updated graphics and more mechanics similar to the original PC title.
Featured image courtesy of PUBG Mobile/Youtube Screenshot