Last year, the company’s previous PUBG battle royale game, which was published in the country by Chinese internet giant Tencent, had to be withdrawn due to a prohibition on Chinese apps. The decision comes after the company launched a Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) version of the popular game in July, which was designed exclusively for the Indian market.
“We view these (BGMI and PUBG: New State) as two distinct games with distinct mobile experiences. PUBG: New State, developed by PUBG Studios, is a brand-new game in the booming PUBG franchise,” Krafton said in a statement. PUBG: New State has topped more than 50 million pre-registrations on Apple’s iOS and rival Google’s Android OS, according to the company. According to Krafton, the new game will be open in 17 languages and will be free to play on mobile devices.
“PUBG: New State inherits the heart of the PUBG IP and will be competitive on the worldwide market in and of itself,” Krafton CEO CH Kim said during the company’s online presence. “Krafton will continue to develop games that players all across the world will appreciate. We’re committed to providing a more comprehensive experience because we believe games will become the most impactful form of media,” Kim stated.