Krafton (259960.KS) has outlined plans to transform PUBG: Battlegrounds, now in its ninth year, into a full-fledged platform through a series of major updates. The company aims to strengthen the game's competitive edge by continuously discovering new entertainment elements and diversifying content across genres.
Krafton on Tuesday unveiled its 2026 development roadmap for Battlegrounds. The company said it will focus on elevating the game's competitiveness as an intellectual property (IP) with a proven product life cycle (PLC), after Battlegrounds surpassed 1.3 million peak concurrent users this month.
The company plans to solidify the title's position as the definitive battle royale game and sustain double-digit growth through new well-made modes and user-generated content (UGC) updates. Specifically, the roadmap centers on two pillars: evolving and innovating gameplay experiences, and advancing live services built on diverse content.
Krafton will place particular emphasis on world updates that create a deeper tactical play environment. A "terrain destruction system" will be introduced to the Erangel map next month. The feature expands terrain elements into player-driven, variable tactical tools, allowing users to create cover in open fields for more engaging gameplay. Additionally, a "secret room" will be added to the Miramar map, and the Rondo map will receive updates enabling more strategic item acquisition and movement route planning.
More dynamic and immersive environments are also in the works. Key additions include physics-based "interactive smoke" that sways in the wind and disperses from explosions, an item summoning function for the Blue Chip Tower, and equipment system improvements. User interface (UI) enhancements and quality-of-life upgrades will follow. The company will also introduce a new casual competitive format among other varied gameplay experiences.
Efforts to innovate the overall gaming experience will continue. For gun play, Krafton will introduce a "meta rotation" structure in which dominant weapon classes cycle each season. The system involves major updates every four months paired with regular patches every two months to adjust item balance. New firearms and attachments will be added while underused weapons will be partially removed to maintain equilibrium. The ranked mode will be revamped with a more intuitive performance-to-rating conversion system and an overhauled season and reward structure. Krafton also plans to increase character customization freedom to enhance the unique experience of the "Contender" character upgrade system, and expand event passes linking modes and esports to boost user satisfaction.
In April, Krafton will launch "Xenopoint," a well-made mode in the loot-shooter roguelite genre combining cooperation, progression and conquest. The mode is part of a strategy to expand Battlegrounds into a gameplay platform offering diverse shooting experiences. Krafton will also unveil "Payday," a heist mode developed in collaboration with Swedish game studio Starbreeze. The mode differentiates itself by letting players experience the thrill of strategic teamwork through infiltration and operational planning to achieve objectives with teammates.
UGC will also see a full-scale expansion. Krafton will increase the creation tools and devices available to users for building diverse modes and optimize the performance of the creation environment. A dedicated UGC space will be established to improve accessibility to user-created content. Simultaneously, the company plans to broaden IP collaborations in the gaming and animation sectors, and continue delivering differentiated content through partnerships with premium automotive brands and artists. "PUBG Fantasy League," a participatory content format where users form their own teams and run tournaments, will debut at the PUBG Nations Cup (PNC) 2026.
Krafton will also accelerate server expansion to build a more stable service environment. The company aims to maximize quality on console platforms while strengthening its anti-cheat solution to ensure fair play. Specific measures include improving detection accuracy, refining the review process for false sanctions, and developing more sophisticated region- and platform-specific management strategies. In particular, the company has been advancing detection capabilities through dedicated research and development to counter cheating attempts based on direct memory access, and will continue to treat this as a top priority.