PUBG Developer Bluehole Not Happy with Epic Games’ Battle Royale Mode in Fortnite
On Friday, Bluehole, the developer of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), expressed its dissatisfaction with Epic Games and their new battle royale mode in Fortnite.
In an attempt to clarify their statements, Bluehole’s VP and executive producer C.H. Kim reached out to PC Gamer, stating that the original message was not clear enough.
Not About the Idea, All About Epic Games
Kim clarified that their objection was not about the battle royale game mode itself. Bluehole had no issue with other similar game modes released earlier this year, such as the last man standing or GTA 5’s battle royale mode. Kim stated that they believe in healthy competition and encourage others to create their own battle royale game modes. However, their problem lies specifically with Epic Games.
Bluehole’s main concern with Epic Games is that they mentioned PUBG by name in both the Fortnite: Battle Royale trailer and official blog post. This led to confusion and misunderstanding among the gaming community.
An Unexpected Use of Their Name
According to Kim, the real issue arises from Bluehole’s business relationship with Epic Games. As they use Epic’s game engine and pay substantial royalties, they expected continued support and collaboration. However, Epic Games used Bluehole’s name to officially promote their game mode without prior discussion or consent. This came as a surprise and disappointment to Bluehole, as it was assumed that they were involved in the project.
This situation led to a misunderstanding, causing Bluehole to initially release a statement with a negative tone. However, Kim emphasized that Epic Games should have approached them for a discussion before proceeding with the game mode.
Two Successful Games, Two Different Paths
PUBG has seen tremendous success during its early access period, breaking Steam’s concurrent player count record and selling 10 million copies in just five months.
Meanwhile, Fortnite: Battle Royale will be available for free to everyone starting on September 26.