5 ways PUBG can stay relevant in 2026

PUBG Battlegrounds is one of the most successful battle-royale games in history, but players can’t help but feel that developer Krafton/PUBG Studios is missing the boat in keeping the battle-royale game relevant.

Released in 2017 as an early access PC game for Windows, PUBG Battlegrounds quickly became a smash hit, letting players fly down to an island to compete against 99 others to take the crown. The game soon reached a peak of 3,236,027 players in January 2018, before Epic Games’ Fortnite overtook PUBG, thanks to its collabs, storyline, and transition into a platform for creators and others.

Now that 2026 is here, Krafton/PUBG Studios needs to hone in on what sets PUBG apart from other battle-royale games, in order to stay relevant for this year and beyond. With this in mind, we’re listing five ways the team can do that.

In countries like Korea and the UK, PUBG still has a huge player base, especially on mobile devices. Players enjoy the realism that the game offers, as well as its esports scene that still draws in huge viewerships, such as the PUBG Global Championship tournament.

But there’s still lots to be done to keep PUBG relevant in 2026. Players still justifiably complain about the same issues, like cheating. Bots still flood matches with almost 100% accuracy in eliminating real players, as well as an over-reliance on pop music-themed events to satisfy a specific market, but alienating others. Confirmation that it uses AI for some in-game content hasn’t helped its reputation either.

This loss of focus has led to PUBG quickly losing its player base, as well as its respect in the battle royale genre and esports scene. It’s more important than ever that Krafton/PUBG Studios pause and focus on improving several aspects of the game.

Granted, maps in PUBG can be fun and varied, but they don’t reach the innovations that Epic Games has with Fortnite. For example, in 2025, players saw the whole map be transformed into Springfield from The Simpsons for one month. Not only did it draw in viewers, but it forced existing players to rethink their strategies in this new environment.

Not only should there be limited-time events that transform the map, but let’s see destructive environments like bridges collapsing, or huge weather changes that influence the map. These features would add to PUBG’s realistic, adult approach, instead of collaborating with pop stars and others who don’t add much to the game.

With Epic Games firmly placing Fortnite as a platform, PUBG has been slow to the changing tides of what players want from battle-royale games. It would be great to have the ability to set custom rules for non-ranked matches that also don’t count towards the main game. Even custom tournament modes and ways of monetising could be attractive ways to lure existing creators to PUBG to see how they can put their own spin on the game, and could bring some much-needed relevance to the title.

Unfortunately, respect and relevance for PUBG and Krafton/PUBG Studios declined in 2025 because it made hardly any headway in addressing the cheating issues. Granted, it claims that much has been done, but it still feels like there haven’t been any changes. There’s a good chance that you can log in to a match right now and be greeted with overpowered players and weapons that throw balancing out of the proverbial window.

If there’s one thing Krafton/PUBG Studios needs to take action on, it’s this. Cheating in a battle-royale game not only sucks the fun out for new and existing players, but it also gives the impression that the team doesn’t care about PUBG. At this point, it’s an essential task that needs to be solved, now.

Although there is some physics in PUBG, such as in weapons like Grenades and vehicles, players’ characters are still stiff, looking the same as everyone else when they die in a match. When Chapter 7, Season 1, debuted in Fortnite on December 1, physics came to every avatar in Fortnite, resulting in some funny moments that went viral on social media.

In PUBG, incorporating physics almost everywhere would make the game fresh and potentially viral among its younger players on TikTok and Instagram. Seeing walls crumble, players fall with their arms flapping about, and much more, could help differentiate PUBG from Fortnite by reinforcing the realism it offers.

We’re now at the one-year point of the Nintendo Switch 2 being confirmed, as well as approaching seven months since its release, and PUBG isn’t on the console. This feels like a big swing and a miss from Krafton/PUBG Studios. Fortnite was available on launch day as a Switch 2 title, complete with improvements that took advantage of the hardware.

This is a sure-fire way to be far more relevant in 2026. The Switch 2 is already a monster success, selling 10 million by the end of 2025. Expanding PUBG to Nintendo’s newest platform would be a great way to attract new players. Perhaps add in some exclusive cosmetics for Switch 2 players, and PUBG could find some relevance.

This year feels like crunch time for PUBG. With Krafton/PUBG Studios seemingly focusing on the wrong things, like Korean-based pop events and not doing enough to eliminate the cheaters, more players are flocking to Fortnite and other battle-royale games to scratch the itch that PUBG is now failing to do.

From better anti-cheat methods to bringing the game to Switch 2, there are some easy plays that the team can do to help PUBG carve its own niche in the genre again. If it listens to its players and focuses on improvements that matter, the game could finally keep and build upon its relevance in 2026, rewarding existing players with its patience and loyalty to PUBG.