Is PUBG getting more popular? Why you should play it in 2025

A Battle Royale game loved by many, PUBG has been around for a while now. But where does it sit in terms of popularity? That’s what we’re here to find out. In this article, we’re going to look at the numbers, comparing 2025 with previous years, and assessing whether it’s a thumbs-up or down for PUBG’s popularity and whether it’s worth playing in 2025. 

Beyond cold, hard statistics, we’re going to dive into the context, too. Why is PUBG where it is, what that says about what’s to come, and what can you expect from an eight-year-old title that’s chugging along with a loyal fanbase with a potential sense of positivity? Without further ado, let’s jump in and address each query.

PUBG is gaining popularity, and the numbers prove it. Despite being released more than eight years ago in March 2017, “100% yes” is the definitive answer to, “Is PUBG getting more popular?”. The battle-royale classic has been steadily increasing in average player counts in recent months and indeed over the last couple of years. Although the days of its record-high peak of over three million players may be behind it, there’s still a healthy fan base, community, and an enjoyable esports scene. 

Checking recent PUBG stats and a simple year-on-year comparison tells you the key facts. As shown by Steam Charts, June 2025 saw more than 309,000 (average) players in PUBG, compared to the June 2024 number of around 287,000 and the even lower June 2023 figure of 164,000. 

The last two years have shown an overall upward trend in PUBG player count, which has to be rewarding for anyone attached to or enjoying the title. And it’s not gone unnoticed, either. Reddit posts about regained popularity and questions of “Is PUBG back?” reflect what many gamers have seen in the last six months. At the time of writing, the title is second in Steam Charts’ games played list, behind only Counter-Strike 2, and it’s ahead of Dota 2. 

Undoubtedly, one of the key reasons for a boost in PUBG’s popularity is its move to being free-to-play. That happened in January 2022, over three years ago, but it provided an immediate jump-start for falling interest, kicking up the average player count by more than half (57.69%) in one month, from 153,000 to 242,000 players. While player counts fluctuated throughout 2022 and 2023, the average player count hasn’t been below 153,000 since before it went free-to-play. 

That accounts for addressing an initial boost, but why is PUBG becoming popular again, even more so, in 2025? It may partly be the cost of games. Since a lot of triple-A tiles cost around $70, more players finding an enjoyable online, competitive game that’s also free makes a lot of sense. The free-to-play model is a known winner for maintaining players when it works well, and it may even be that some BR fans are shifting from Fortnite, which has been on a general downward trend so far in 2025. That’s speculation, although there are some other clearer ideas. 

As pointed out by Private PRIME in his video, ‘Why are 1.3 Million People Playing PUBG in 2025? March was the eighth anniversary of PUBG, and to celebrate, the title had two anniversary events. These included giving away G coins, the game’s in-game currency for cosmetics and items. Free things are always good, and indeed, the average player count in March 2025 was over 1.3 million, although, at the time, this seems to have largely been overlooked outside of the PUBG community.

Contemporaneously, PUBG’s publisher, Krafton, published a post on PUBG.com about the 2025 roadmap, and within it, there’s another clue for PUBG regaining popularity: hype for Unreal Engine 5. PUBG in UE 5 is likely to be a new game, as suggested by C Dome and a Krafton earnings call referring to PUBG 2.0. However, with that rumoured to be pencilled in for 2028, it’s a good time to play PUBG, as anticipation builds and the PUBG ‘universe’ is being developed. 

One of those developments in the universe is PUBG: Black Budget. The PvEvP extraction shooter had a closed beta test in Q1, and Krafton is hoping to deliver an open beta test in the coming months. That’s in addition to more titles in the form of a console BR project known as Project Valor, and a top-down tactical shooter, called Blind Spot – also in development. All of these put the PUBG universe in a warm and easy light, and with ongoing content releases, seasonal events, collaborations, and major updates like the planned Worlds update, which reimagine existing maps, there’s a lot to be positive about. 

Honestly, there are manifold reasons to play PUBG in 2025. Not only is it among the top 10 biggest esports titles, with a thriving scene and loyal community, but it’s a game that is very much alive and enjoyable eight years after release. As we’ve mentioned, Krafton has big plans and a roadmap that suggests PUBG – at least the universe, if not the title itself – will be supported well beyond the next few years. 

While it’s true ‘PUBG 2.0’ may ultimately replace the existing PUBG as we know it until a UE 5 ground-up offering arrives, it remains a uniquely placed Battle Royale that is fun, intense, and has plenty of replay value. It’s free, gets map, content, and event updates, and did we say it’s free? There’s no downside to trying it, especially if you have an older system that doesn’t enjoy the latest triple-A titles. 

Whether you’ve heard whispers about it and are wondering, “What is PUBG?” or you used to play it and are surprised it’s still going, the title’s increasing popularity is a testament to its fans and players. It is also thanks to the shift to a free-to-play model, commitment to new and impactful updates, and vision that extends beyond the current title. 

For anyone tired of the Fortnite vibe, or looking for a plucky game to jump into over and over again (alone or as part of a squad), PUBG is a heavy recommendation. It’s clear it’s in a good place with players, and that may well improve even further as 2025 progresses and more updates and news of future projects emerge.