PlayerUnknown’s Battlegroundshas been a key player in the battle royale genre and for many, it was the commercial breakthrough of the game mode. Since the release of the game thebattle royale genre has become increasingly saturatedand as a result competitive. While several games have used different elements to entice players, it seems thatPUBGis now looking to use cinematic and narrative features to help players engage with the world on a deeper level.
For many, games likeWarzoneandFortnitehave overshadowedPUBGrecently and this is in part because of marketing but they do offer some unique takes on the battle royale formula. However, through a 7-minute video,PUBGhas added a new level of intrigue into its gaming mechanics as there now seems to be narrative importance in undertaking a challenge while playing the game. Of course, games likeFortnitealso use challengesbut not with the cinematic factor thatPUBGhas now introduced.
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The video is shot from the point of view of a worker atPUBGonly the players in the game are real and people die. In this sense, the video nods to films and literature like Battle Royale and Hunger Games but this footage also offers something new. It shows gambling elements as well as a team trying to maintain the systems that allow fans to watch and comment on the live stream. The team receives plenty of abuse which may be a nod to the real-life experience ofPUBGbut most importantly a team goes off the grid and kills a member of the team before shutting down the system. Players now look to be tasked with finding the four rogues. The full video is below.
The lore is connected to the returning Sanhok map which has been remastered and is set to arrive in Season 8 at the end of the month. This video will likely increase anticipation for the returning map but it may also have a tangible financial benefit for the team behind the game.Sales of PUBG have increased since the Season 8 announcementsand with that in mind, a story may encourage even more players to pick up the title or revisit it.
There is no doubt thatPUBGis a successful gamein its own right, but these new story components may help preserve its success and even build on its already impressive audience. Either way, players seem excited to track down the rogues who have brought downPUBGfrom the inside.
