Krafton officially canceled the development of PUBG: Black Budget, an extraction shooter set in the PUBG universe, approximately one year after work began. The company had aimed to offer its own take on the extraction shooter genre, which gained momentum with the growing popularity of titles such as Arc Raiders and Escape from Tarkov.
PUBG Studios conducted closed alpha tests in December and June to gather player feedback. However, following the tests, it was stated that the team was not satisfied with the game’s direction and that the data collected was not sufficient to ensure the project’s long-term success. In a statement published on Steam, the team reported that it had concluded the game’s current direction would not provide players with a sustainable and enjoyable experience.
Following this assessment, the decision was made to end the project. The team thanked the players who participated in the closed alpha tests and announced that the experience gained during the process would be carried over to future projects. The project was thus shelved after the closed alpha phase.
Why it matters
The decision directly affects Krafton’s plans in this area, as it means the PUBG universe’s presence in the extraction shooter genre will not come to fruition. For players who participated in the closed alpha process in particular, the most tangible outcome was being unable to reach a playable product despite providing feedback. PUBG Studios’ assessment shows that not only technical development issues but also the criterion of providing players with long-term enjoyment played a decisive role in project decisions. However, the team did not elaborate on what findings it drew from the tests or how they would be used in future projects; therefore, it remains unclear which projects will reflect the experience left behind by the canceled game.
Background
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