Tencent’s PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) Mobile is not only the top revenue-generating game on both Android and iOS, but it was also the most watched eSports title in 2020.
Mobile app analytics firm Sensor Tower reported that PUBG Mobile raked in a whopping US$2.6bil (RM10.7bil) last year.
Though the title is free-to-play, it generates income from its in-game currency which can be used to buy accessories, outfits and special event passes.
It was also declared the most watched eSports title by website eSports Charts for the same year.
Zoned in
PUBG Mobile is an online multiplayer battle royale game that can be played solo (because who needs friends), duo or squad (up to four players).
If you don’t have friends to form a team, don’t worry as the game will matchmake you with other players, as it boasts 50 million daily active users worldwide.
There are plenty of locations for your battles – the developers recently made available Karakin, a desert-themed map where 64 players can compete instead of the usual 99 for a fast-paced game.
Once you are parachuted into the battlezone, the first order of business is to acquire supplies, including weapons and medical kits.
You then need to take out your opponents quickly as the battlezone will shrink over time, forcing players into intense fights.
If you are the last man (or woman or team) standing, congratulations! You will be greeted with the now-iconic phrase “winner winner chicken dinner”, and awarded coins and points that will push you up the rank.
Kings of chicken dinners
Malaysian teams have been making headlines for their achievements in the region.
Last year, team Yoodo Gank emerged as champions at the PUBG Mobile Pro League (PMPL) – Spring Split 2020: Southeast Asia, besting rivals from Indonesia and Thailand.
Its win netted the squad US$32,500 (RM134,150) in prize money and another US$3,000 (RM12,350) for being selected Popular Team. On top of that, its team member Abdul Azim Ikromi Abdul Rashid aka Draxx received the Gunplayer Killer award worth US$5,000 (RM20,600).
The achievement earned the team a spot in the Malaysia Book Of Records as the first national team to win a PUBG Mobile tournament at SEA level.
Another Malaysian squad that found fortune and glory last year is Team Secret, which snatched the grand prize at PMPL Malaysia/Singapore Season 2, taking home US$15,000 (RM61,900).
Popular Malaysian players include Yoodo Gank team leader Aiman Amirul Mohd Sahid aka ManParang who commands over 600,000 followers on Facebook.
eSports community website Liquipedia estimated that his career as a professional gamer has earned him about US$28,927 (RM119,300).
Team Secret’s Raymond Tan or iShotz is also another popular – Liquipedia estimated that he has made about US$31,288 (RM129,050) from professional gaming.
Ahmad Fuad Razali, better known as Fredo, has the distinction of being voted as the Fan Favourite Player for the SEA region at PUBG Mobile World League Season Zero last year, which earned him US$2,000 (RM8,250).
He originally played for Yoodo Gank but made a transfer to Team Secret this year.
Liquipedia estimated that Ahmad Fuad has earned approximately US$22,822 (RM94,129) so far.
Going for gold
By the time you read this, the third season of PMPL MY/SG with 20 teams competing for the prize pool of US$150,000 (RM619,200) would have come to an end.
On April 12, Malaysian team Dingoz MPX emerged as the leader in the league for scoring the most points and became the first team to earn a spot in the PMPL SEA Finals which will be held in May.
All in all, exciting times are ahead as PUBG Mobile has been selected as one of the titles in the eSports medal event in the upcoming 31st SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam in November.
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