Krafton To Turn PUBG Into A Franchise; Will Actively Utilize AI In Game Production

PUBG: Battlegrounds has stood its ground over the years after setting a new era in the gaming scene. Now, Krafton wants to take things up a notch and change the game into an entire franchise. The tidbit was stated in a new Krafton press release, citing the ambitions for PUBG shared by the company CEO Changhan Kim. He wants to ensure “continuous investment in PUBG IP and market expansion.”

It plans to build its own platform ecosystem by franchising PUBG IP to have unrivaled competitiveness. Specifically, the company plans to implement a long-term brand strategy such as expanding the product lineup based on PUBG IP and increasing the development business through internal and external studios and outsourcing,” reads the blog. [machine-translated]

It means that we could see mainline and spin-off PUBG titles that come out under the new franchise umbrella. The CEO gave a ton of updates about the new initiatives today. However, he also shared his stance on using AI in game dev. One of the points mentions that Krafton will “actively utilize the world’s best AI technology in game production.” It paints a grim picture regarding the usage of AI in different processes of game dev. 

[The CEO] saw deep learning technology as a ‘game-changer’ that will change the game industry, and also announced the idea of using it more actively in the development stage. As KRAFTON already has the world’s best AI R&D capabilities, it is expected that it will be able to provide new user-centered experiences as well as production efficiency.”

For those not in the know, the devs have effectively kept working on PUBG over the years. Therefore, the major updates and events have been full of content to keep the fans engaged and thrilled. Krafton’s decision to turn the battle royale experience into a franchise could make it a giant in the industry. For now, only a spin-off in the IP dubbed Black Budget has been confirmed to arrive later this year, precisely the second half of 2024.

Related Content:

• PUBG’s New Creative Director Wants To Restore Focus On Larger Maps And Slower Survival Gameplay.
• Krafton’s New Korean-Fantasy Game Confirmed Open-World.
• KRAFTON Inc. Hiring For Development Of Unannounced AAA Title.

Over half a decade has passed since PUBG came out on December 20, 2017, birthing a new genre in the gaming landscape. It is now available to play on many consoles, including PC, Android, iOS, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Stadia, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PlayStation 5. The global sensation has sold in the millions and holds the record for boasting the most active players on Steam for any paid game. 

If you are just jumping back into PUBG after a long time, then I suggest making a stop at our intricately-written beginner’s guide to bag a chicken dinner.