Krafton to Unleash Major Changes and Revamp for PUBG 2.0, Says Goldman Sachs
Krafton has more surprises in store for its highly successful mobile battle royale game PUBG, according to investment bank giant Goldman Sachs. The South Korean video game company is gearing up to implement “incremental updates” and a wider variety of gaming styles to sustain and expand the PUBG franchise, as stated in a recent note published by the bank.
Goldman Sachs revealed that Krafton is planning to expand its intellectual property by launching a diverse range of genres, platforms, and playing modes for PUBG. Additionally, the gaming company has ambitious plans for a graphic overhaul, with plans to utilize the advanced Unreal Engine 5 for the highly anticipated PUBG 2.0.
The original version of PUBG was built using a custom version of Unreal Engine 4. But with the release of Unreal Engine 5, which promises groundbreaking advancements in realism and immersion while minimizing performance costs, Krafton is ready to take their game to the next level. Experts in the industry have praised the new engine for its streamlined tools that allow developers to create visually stunning effects and sounds while optimizing workflows across multiple genres and applications – opening doors for even more dynamic and detailed experiences in the next generation of gaming.
In a statement to TechCrunch, Krafton confirmed their intentions to explore different avenues, including utilizing Unreal Engine 5, to ensure the “sustainable growth” of PUBG: Battlegrounds.
Since its introduction to the world of online multiplayer games, PUBG has taken the industry by storm and become a household name amongst gamers. With its pulse-racing, unpredictable gameplay where up to 100 players fight to the death on massive, desolate maps scattered with abandoned structures and forests, it has gathered a massive fan base in the millions and sparked a worldwide obsession.
Goldman Sachs also projected a bright future for PUBG’s PC and mobile apps, as well as BGMI – the India-only mobile version of the game released last year. With PUBG PC reaching a record concurrency of 600,000 users after the recent Rondo update in December 2023, the bank remains optimistic. They stated, “We observe BGMI maintaining its number one position in gross ranking, which we view as a sign of growing confidence in the return of BGMI. As Krafton continues to invest in the local market through events and promotions, we believe BGMI will continue to bring in high revenues. Therefore, we have predicted revenue of W77bn/W152bn/W157bn for 2023E/24E/25E, which represents 6%/11%/12% of mobile revenue and factors in the expected unban of BGMI.”
