PUBG: Battlegrounds Going Free-to-Play In January

After an alternate version that launched in select territories in 2019 (and was shut down a short time later) and a free trial earlier this year, PUBG: Battlegrounds is going all the way, free-to-play early next year.

Krafton made the announcement at The Game Awards tonight, setting a date of January 12, 2022 for the changeover. It will include a one-time $12.99 "account upgrade" called Battlegrounds Plus that lets you play custom and ranked modes. Previous owners of the game will receive a Special Commemorative Pack, which includes Battlegrounds Plus and in-game items and currency.

PUBG was practically the hottest game in the world shortly after it launched, peaking at over three million concurrent players on Steam in late 2017 -- notably, also right after Fortnite came out. Since then, it's dropped off considerably, though 140,000 concurrent players isn't too shabby. Still, Krafton no doubt hopes that the F2P move will reinvigorate the game and make it top-tier again.

Learn more about the PUBG: Battlegrounds free-to-play transition on the pre-registration page on the game's website.