Yes, PUBG is free. PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS went free-to-play on 12 January 2022 on PC and console, and you can download it at no cost on Steam, the PlayStation Store and the Microsoft Store. You only pay for optional extras: the one-time BATTLEGROUNDS Plus upgrade and the in-game currency G-COIN. Here is what Plus adds, how G-Coin and refunds work, which platforms PUBG runs on and who you can play with through crossplay. Valid as of 20 October 2026.
When PUBG became free
KRAFTON announced the switch in December 2021, and on 12 January 2022 the game became free-to-play on every platform. Steam lists its price as Free To Play, and Free To Play is also among its genres. Players who had bought and played the game before the switch automatically received the BATTLEGROUNDS Plus upgrade as part of the Special Commemorative Pack.
Basic Account and BATTLEGROUNDS Plus
Every player starts with a Basic Account, the free base account. The optional one-time upgrade is called BATTLEGROUNDS Plus, and you buy it directly in the game lobby. When the game went free-to-play in 2022, KRAFTON listed it at 12.99 USD in the official announcement. The game itself shows the current price, as we could not verify it in any store or on the official site.
What Plus adds according to pubg.com:
| Benefit | What it means |
|---|---|
| Ranked Matchmaking | listed among the Plus benefits |
| +100% Survival XP boost | faster progress in Survival Mastery |
| Chicken Dinner medals | Mastery Medals for wins |
| Custom Match | you can create your own matches |
| Clan | you can found a clan |
| Cosmetics | Captain’s Camo Hat, Mask and Gloves |
| Survivor Base | part of the Plus package |
| Customizable presets | your own presets |
The bonus G-Coin you get with Plus is valid for 5 years. Full details are on the official Plus page.
Do you need Plus for Ranked?
Ranked requires Survival Mastery level 80 (and, depending on region, SMS verification). BATTLEGROUNDS Plus lists Ranked Matchmaking among its benefits, and its +100% Survival XP gets you to level 80 faster. All requirements and tiers are covered in our PUBG Ranked guide.
G-COIN: the in-game currency
You buy G-COIN in the in-game store on the G-COIN tab or with the ADD G-COIN button. There are three kinds:
- paid G-Coin – bought with real money,
- free G-Coin – from events and Survivor Pass missions,
- time-limited free G-Coin – with an expiry date.
The game spends them in this order: time-limited free first, then paid, then free. G-Coin buys items in the in-game store (skins, sets) as well as the Survivor Pass. G-Coin prices are shown by your platform’s store. What is currently on sale and which pass is available is summed up in our article on the current update.
On console, both the PlayStation Store and the Microsoft Store sell G-Coin bundles. The PlayStation Store also offers a PlayStation Plus Exclusive Bundle at no cost for PS Plus Essential members, and the Microsoft Store lists an exclusive PUBG bundle for Xbox Game Pass.
Refunds
- G-COIN can be refunded within 7 days of purchase if you have not spent it. The money goes back to your Steam Wallet.
- Items bought with G-COIN can be refunded within 14 days if you have not used them. An opened or equipped item counts as used.
- No refunds for equipped skins, opened sets, the Survivor Pass and purchases made with Bonus G-COIN or BP.
- Purchases outside the game (Steam, Xsolla) are handled by that store’s support.
Which platforms PUBG runs on
| Platform | Store | Status on 20 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| PC (Windows only) | Steam | free (Free To Play) |
| PC | Epic Games | version covered by official support |
| PlayStation 5 (PS5 Pro Enhanced) | PlayStation Store | free |
| Xbox Series X|S | Microsoft Store | free |
On PC you need 64-bit Windows. Mac and Linux are not supported, and Steam Deck is unsupported because of the anti-cheat. More on that in our system requirements guide.
The PlayStation Store lists optional in-game purchases, a required online connection and 99 players online. Cloud streaming works only with PS Plus Premium. The Microsoft Store lists online multiplayer for 2 to 100 players and Xbox Series X|S Enhanced with 4K and HDR.
The end of PS4 and Xbox One
Since maintenance on 13 November 2025, the console version runs only on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. On PS4 and Xbox One you can no longer download or play the game. Accounts and purchases carried over without any transfer: on PlayStation you download the PS5 version from the PlayStation Store, on Xbox the current version arrived through Smart Delivery. On console PUBG targets a stable 60 fps, Xbox Series S offers 1080p at 60 fps or 1440p at 30 fps, and Xbox Series X and PS5 Pro have dynamic 4K.
Crossplay
Crossplay works only between consoles: PlayStation and Xbox players meet in the same matches. Console cross-play arrived with update 4.3, back then for PS4 and Xbox One.
PC and console play separately. Support describes them as standalone versions with different game mechanics, and updates are released on different days. Update 43.2 reached PC on 14 October 2026 and console only on 22 October 2026.
Join our Discord to find teammates on PC and console: Discord GamersTogether.
FAQ
Yes. It has been free-to-play on PC and console since 12 January 2022. You download it for free on Steam, the PlayStation Store and the Microsoft Store and only pay for optional in-game purchases.
When the game went free-to-play in 2022, KRAFTON listed it at 12.99 USD. The current price is shown in the game lobby, where you buy the upgrade.
No. Crossplay only works between PlayStation and Xbox, PC and console play separately.
No. Since 13 November 2025 the console version runs only on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Yes, within 7 days of purchase if you have not spent it. Items bought with G-Coin within 14 days if unused. The Survivor Pass cannot be refunded.
Information verified on 20 October 2026. More guides are in our PUBG guides section.