PUBG Mobile Surpasses $10 Billion in Revenue
According to research firm Sensor Tower, the popular video game PUBG Mobile has now generated over $10 billion in worldwide revenue. The game, which was developed by Tencent, is particularly successful in China, which contributes 60.3% of the game’s total revenue. The United States, Japan, and South Korea follow China as the countries generating the highest revenue.
Top Countries in Average Revenue per Download
China also leads the way in terms of average revenue per download at $34.2. Japan comes in a close second with an average revenue per download of $31.8. The United States and South Korea follow at $15.9 and $7.9, respectively. PUBG Mobile’s success in Japan is notable as it has historically been a difficult market for mobile games to penetrate.
Downloads by Country
India leads the way in terms of downloads, making up 21.8% of PUBG Mobile’s total downloads. However, China and the United States are not far behind, comprising 14.3% and 5.9% of downloads, respectively. Sensor Tower did not release exact numbers of downloads.
Success in the Gaming Industry
While PUBG Mobile is identified as the second highest grossing title of the past two years, it is the number one shooting game, with three times as many sales as the second best-selling title, Garena Free Fire. Sensor Tower attributes PUBG Mobile’s success to various factors, including intuitive controls and a user-friendly interface, translating the elements of the original PC game to mobile, and immersive gameplay that leverages the battle royale genre’s social meta features.
Rocky Journey in India
Despite its global success, PUBG Mobile has had a rocky journey in India in particular. In 2020, the game was banned because of concerns about user data handling. It was later relaunched as Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) with Krafton taking on publishing duties within the country. The game was again removed in 2022 before making a comeback in May. As India is a huge mobile-first gaming market, this recent turn of events could very well see PUBG Mobile’s success reach even greater heights.
Ultimately, PUBG Mobile’s accomplishment is a product of the game’s ability to appeal to its users in both China and worldwide. Its immense popularity can also be attributed to its accessibility, team-based gameplay experience, and immersive atmosphere. With the gaming industry’s increasing focus on mobile gaming, this success story will not be one to overlook.