Is there a chance we could see PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds on PlayStation 4 (and maybe even Switch) at some point? Based on new comments Bluehole founder Chang Byung-gyu gave to Bloomberg in a profile of Brendan Greene, it certainly sounds that way. The studio founder stopped short of confirming a new PUBG port. But it doesn’t sound like Bluehole, now valued in the billions, wants to see PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds confined to PC and Xbox One for the long haul.
Here’s the bit that’s grabbed everyone’s attention, via Bloomberg:
Chang says his company has had talks with all of the major console companies about bringing PUBG to a broader audience. Microsoft Corp. will launch the title exclusively on Xbox later this year. Bluehole is in talks with Sony about introducing a version for the PlayStation after that.
While the Switch isn’t specifically mentioned, we’re not sure how to interpret a statement like “all of the major console companies” in a way that doesn’t include Nintendo. It would’ve been easier (and fewer characters) to mention Microsoft and Sony’s individual efforts by name if they were the only platforms in discussion. Nintendo’s latest console would probably struggle to run Bluehole’s wildly successful battle royale game, but it’s not hard to a imagine modified version of PUBG running on Switch. The game uses a smaller landmass than the one we explored in Breath of the Wild, and Splatoon 2 proves the console is capable of supporting a multiplayer shooter community.
Any potential release on the PS4 or Switch is likely many months off. We recently had a chance to speak with PUBG Executive Producer Chang Han Kim and he says the team is still trying to meet staffing needs for the PC and Xbox One versions.
“It’s been a challenge to keep up with the pace of growth that the game is showing,” Kim told Player.One at PAX West 2017. “We have been trying to expand our team, very aggressively, but we’re still in need of more people.”
The studio obviously has the capital to continue hiring new personnel. Unfortunately, attempts to staff up for other platforms would still require time and effort probably better spent elsewhere given the studio’s current commitments. But we wouldn’t be shocked to see Bluhole turn its focus to other platforms after its Game of the Year candidate hits Xbox in 2018.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is currently available in Early Access. PUBG’s launch build is expected before the end of 2017 and a Xbox One port is slated for early 2018.
Be sure to check back with Player.One and follow Scott on Twitter for more PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds news in 2017 and however long Bluehole supports PUBG in the years ahead.
