PUBG Studios
A South Korean game development studio best known for creating PUBG: Battlegrounds and developing games in the PUBG universe.
Last updated August 21, 2026
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Overview
PUBG Studios is a development division of the South Korean game company Krafton, best known for developing PUBG: Battlegrounds. The studio traces its origins to Ginno Games, which was acquired by Bluehole in 2015, renamed PUBG Corporation in 2017, and became PUBG Studios in 2020. The studio is responsible for the ongoing development of PUBG: Battlegrounds and has produced spin-offs such as New State Mobile.
History
PUBG Studios traces its organizational roots to Ginno Games, a South Korean developer founded by Kim Chang-han. The company initially pursued massively multiplayer online games, but a disappointing release led to substantial staff reductions before Bluehole acquired the business in 2015. The acquisition closed in March 2015, when the team had approximately 60 employees, and the company was renamed Bluehole Ginno Games. Kim Chang-han subsequently contacted Brendan Greene, an independent designer known for battle-royale modifications inspired by earlier multiplayer games. Bluehole Ginno Games offered the resources needed to turn that concept into a standalone commercial title. The result was PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, which entered early access in March 2017. Its combination of a large map, scavenged equipment, shrinking play area and one-life match structure attracted a very large international audience and helped make battle royale a mainstream genre. The game's commercial success changed the scale and structure of the developer. In September 2017, Bluehole Ginno Games was renamed PUBG Corporation. The company expanded internationally, opening offices in Madison, Wisconsin, and later in Amsterdam and Japan. In March 2018, it acquired MadGlory, a New York-based studio subsequently renamed PUBG MadGlory. These changes supported global development, operations and the expansion of PUBG as a service rather than a one-time release. Greene left the Seoul-based PUBG division in March 2019 to lead a separate Amsterdam initiative initially called PUBG Special Projects and later PUBG Productions. Its announced project, Prologue, was presented as an experiment in gameplay and technology rather than a conventional PUBG sequel. The separation illustrated the broader range of research and development work that had emerged around the franchise. Bluehole established Krafton in November 2018 as a parent and holding structure for its game businesses. In December 2020, PUBG Corporation was absorbed into Krafton's internal studio organization and renamed PUBG Studios. This transition made PUBG Studios one of Krafton's principal development units and placed the PUBG brand within a wider portfolio of studios and intellectual properties. The studio's later work extended the franchise across mobile and regional markets. PUBG: New State, later renamed New State Mobile, was announced in 2021 as a futuristic mobile title set in 2051. Krafton also took control of the PUBG intellectual property for the Indian market after the Indian government banned PUBG Mobile in 2020 over data-privacy concerns associated with the Tencent-published version. Krafton then launched Battlegrounds Mobile India for Android in July 2021 and iOS in August 2021. PUBG Studios remains principally associated with PUBG: Battlegrounds, which continues to operate as an internationally distributed live-service game. Its work encompasses ongoing updates, new content, platform support, competitive features and franchise extensions. In 2024, Krafton announced a licensing agreement with Pocketpair for a mobile Palworld project to be developed by PUBG Studios. This further demonstrated the studio's role as a major Krafton development resource capable of applying its production and live-service expertise beyond the original PUBG release.
- 2024
Palworld mobile development is announced
[1]Krafton announced that PUBG Studios had begun developing a mobile title under a licensing arrangement for the Palworld intellectual property.
- 2021
Battlegrounds Mobile India launches
[1]Krafton launched a regionally adapted PUBG mobile product in India after taking control of the relevant regional intellectual property.
- 2021
New State Mobile is released
[1]The futuristic mobile entry in the PUBG universe launched in November and was later renamed New State Mobile.
- 2020
PUBG Corporation becomes PUBG Studios
[1]Krafton integrated PUBG Corporation into its internal studio structure and rebranded it PUBG Studios.
- 2019
PUBG Productions is established
[1]Brendan Greene moved to a separate Amsterdam-based unit focused on experimental projects, later known as PUBG Productions.
- 2018
MadGlory is acquired
[1]PUBG Corporation acquired New York-based MadGlory, later renaming it PUBG MadGlory.
- 2017
PUBG enters early access
[1]PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds entered early access in March and rapidly became a global commercial success.
- 2017
The developer adopts the PUBG Corporation name
[1]Bluehole Ginno Games was renamed PUBG Corporation as the PUBG franchise became central to the business.
- 2015
Bluehole acquires Ginno Games
[1]Ginno Games was acquired by Bluehole and renamed Bluehole Ginno Games, creating the organizational foundation for the later PUBG development team.
Products and positioning
A globally oriented, live-service game studio centered on competitive multiplayer and battle-royale experiences, with a strong emphasis on continuous content updates, cross-platform reach and expansion of the PUBG intellectual property.
PC and console battle-royale game · 2017
PUBG: Battlegrounds
PUBG: Battlegrounds is the studio's flagship title and the product that established its global identity. Matches place numerous players on a shared map, where they collect equipment, fight other participants and attempt to remain the last surviving player or team. The game has been operated as a live service, with continuing content updates, maps, weapons, seasonal systems, platform support and competitive activities.
Mobile battle-royale game · 2021
New State Mobile
New State Mobile is a mobile title in the PUBG universe set in a futuristic 2051 setting. It extends the familiar battle-royale structure with a more technologically advanced visual and gameplay framework, including drones, shields, weapon customization, neon-oriented equipment and expanded approaches to reviving or recruiting other players.
India-specific mobile battle-royale game · 2021
Battlegrounds Mobile India
Battlegrounds Mobile India is a Krafton-published regional version of the PUBG mobile experience for the Indian market. It followed the 2020 removal of PUBG Mobile in India and was released under Krafton's control of the relevant regional intellectual property, with an adapted presentation and local operating arrangements.
Licensed mobile game in development
Palworld mobile project
Krafton announced that PUBG Studios had begun developing a mobile version connected to Pocketpair's Palworld intellectual property. Publicly available reference material identifies the licensing arrangement and the studio's involvement but does not establish a final title, release date or detailed feature set.
Controversies
2020
PUBG Mobile is banned in India over data-privacy concerns
The Indian government banned PUBG Mobile in September 2020 along with numerous applications associated with Chinese vendors. The action was linked to stated data-privacy and national-security concerns involving the Tencent-published version. Krafton later took regional control of the relevant PUBG intellectual property and launched Battlegrounds Mobile India.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Krafton G-Star 2020 PUBG-related program
South Korea · Online international audience
Krafton's G-Star 2020 participation included PUBG-related entertainment and esports programming in which celebrities and streamers took part in a themed broadcast format. The activity supported the wider PUBG brand through creator and celebrity engagement.
Outcome. Brand and community engagement around PUBG and Krafton's broader game portfolio.
Brand decisions
2024
Develop a licensed Palworld mobile titleProduct launchBackground
Krafton expanded its development activity beyond wholly owned PUBG products through a licensing arrangement with Pocketpair.
Action taken
Krafton announced that PUBG Studios had begun work on a mobile game associated with the Palworld intellectual property.
Aftermath
The project broadened PUBG Studios' role as a mobile development team, although public reference material does not provide a confirmed release schedule.
2021
Launch a new-generation mobile PUBG experienceProduct launchBackground
Krafton sought to extend PUBG's reach on mobile platforms with a separate futuristic title rather than simply reproducing the original mobile product.
Action taken
PUBG Studios announced PUBG: New State, released it in November 2021 and later changed its name to New State Mobile.
Aftermath
The title expanded the PUBG universe into a future setting and reinforced Krafton's mobile-focused strategy.
2021
Re-establish PUBG mobile operations in India under KraftonStrategyBackground
PUBG Mobile had been banned in India in 2020 amid data-privacy concerns affecting the Tencent-published version.
Action taken
Krafton took back regional control of the game's intellectual property and published Battlegrounds Mobile India for Android and iOS.
Aftermath
The PUBG mobile business returned to the Indian market under a Krafton-operated regional brand.
2020
Integrate PUBG Corporation into Krafton's studio systemStrategyBackground
Krafton was consolidating its development businesses under a multi-studio structure after the PUBG franchise had become its most internationally prominent property.
Action taken
Krafton merged PUBG Corporation into its internal studio organization and renamed the team PUBG Studios.
Aftermath
PUBG Studios became the principal Krafton development organization associated with PUBG: Battlegrounds and related franchise projects.
Recent events
PUBG Corporation announces India-specific PUBG MOBILE game[3]
Reported:
PUBG Corporation said it would launch PUBG MOBILE INDIA soon, describing it as a new game created specifically for the Indian market; the article reports a plan, not a completed launch.
Krafton announces collaboration with Microsoft Azure[4]
Reported:
Krafton announced that it would work with Microsoft-owned cloud computing service Azure to host a range of Krafton titles, including PUBG games.
Sources4 sources
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