AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS – December 14, 2023: KRAFTON’s PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS is celebrating success after the release of its tenth map, RONDO which launched on 6 December for PC. Featuring areas that harmoniously blend traditional beauty with modern elements, the RONDO release has resulted in attention from players worldwide.
Since RONDO’s launch on 6 December, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS saw its concurrent player number increase significantly, reaching a peak of 620,000 on Steam.
An action-packed short film, "GROUND OF HONOR: RONDO," directed by Sam Hargrave (Extraction and Extraction 2), depicts the intense confrontation between "Beta" played by Lee Jung-Jae, and "Alpha", played by Daniel Wu. The film was simultaneously released on 6 December on PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS' Europe and global official YouTube channels and now has surpassed one million views.
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS is offering a variety of events to celebrate the launch of RONDO. Players can participate in the "RONDO Welcome Gift" and "Claim Your Weapon Skins" events on the event page to earn rewards. In addition, in-game events such as the "Check-in Event of Honor" and "RONDO Mission Event," and other regional activations are currently underway.
"RONDO is a map where modern cities and places with a traditional flavor from the past coexist, offering a unique charm," said Taehyun Kim, Production Director of In-game, PUBG STUDIOS. "In the first month of release, we will give players enough time to explore the new map to get used to it, and then we will introduce new features and content that inject a twist into the core elements of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS - LAND, LOOT, SURVIVE - to provide increased choices and a fresh gameplay experience," he added.
"We sincerely thank our fans for their love and interest in the release of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS’ tenth map, RONDO," said Taeseok Jang, Executive Producer, PUBG STUDIOS. "We've always been able to grow thanks to our players' love and feedback, and we'll continue to do our best to deliver the gameplay they want."
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS’ robust growth has led to a combined cumulative PC and console revenue of USD $3 billion (approximately KRW 4 trillion) as of November. The cumulative registered accounts exceeded 170.98 million, and total playtime exceeded 21.23 billion hours. The game also lowered barriers to entry and increased accessibility by going free-to-play in January 2022, which has resulted in a steady stream of new players and sustained growth. KRAFTON and PUBG STUDIOS plan to overhaul, repair, and revamp every aspect of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS while maintaining the game's core gameplay, further strengthening its long-term service.
Headquartered in South Korea, KRAFTON, Inc. is dedicated to discovering and publishing captivating games that offer fun and unique experiences. Established in 2007, KRAFTON is home to globally renowned developers that include PUBG STUDIOS, Striking Distance Studios, Unknown Worlds, VECTOR NORTH, Neon Giant, KRAFTON Montréal Studio, Bluehole Studio, RisingWings, 5minlab, Dreamotion, ReLU Games and Flyway Games. Each studio strives to continuously take on new challenges and leverage innovative technologies. Their goal is to win over more fans by broadening KRAFTON’s platforms and services.
KRAFTON is responsible for premier entertainment properties, including PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, PUBG MOBILE, The Callisto Protocol, NEW STATE MOBILE, Moonbreaker, Defense Derby and TERA. With a passionate and driven team across the globe, KRAFTON is a tech-forward company that possesses world-class capabilities and is set on expanding its business horizons to encompass multimedia entertainment and deep learning. For more information, visit www.krafton.com.