Was PUBG or Fortnite first?
PlayerUnknown‘s Battlegrounds (PUBG) was the first fully-fledged battle royale game to truly capture the gaming world‘s attention. Developed by Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene and PUBG Corporation, it launched in Steam Early Access on March 23, 2017 and quickly amassed a passionate fanbase.
PUBG‘s Explosive Early Popularity Cements Battle Royale
Within its first 6 months, PUBG sold over 20 million copies and simultaneously had over 2 million concurrent players on Steam. This exponential growth kickstarted the modern obsession with the battle royale genre.
| PUBG Peak Concurrent Players on Steam | 3,257,248 players (January 2018) |
| PUBG Lifetime Sales | Over 75 million copies by September 2022 |
Fortnite developer Epic Games took notice of PUBG‘s meteoric rise in popularity. Though Fortnite had been in various stages of development since 2011, its original mode was a cooperative tower defense game called "Save the World."
With the battle royale buzz in full swing thanks to PUBG, Epic made the shrewd decision to quickly pivot.
Fortnite Battle Royale Follows on PUBG‘s Coattails
Just 6 months after PUBG‘s early access launch, Epic launched Fortnite Battle Royale on September 26, 2017 as a free-to-play mode distinct from Save the World.
It kept core battle royale tenets like the ever-shrinking storm and 100 player matches, while incorporating Fortnite‘s building mechanics to add a construction element not seen in PUBG or other contemporaries.
So in plain terms: PUBG came first – it was the pioneer that paved the way for the likes of Fortnite by establishing the modern battle royale genre through its unprecedented success in 2017.
But Fortnite‘s accessible free-to-play model and distinctive building hook fueled incredible growth in 2018 and beyond. By adapting the popular new genre while adding its own flavor, Fortnite has gone on to become one of the most influential games of all time.
The Epic Saga Continues for Both Titles
In the years since, Fortnite has exceeded PUBG in total players thanks to its stranglehold over casual gamers, kids, and streaming audiences. Seasonal updates constantly shake up the meta too. PUBG has still maintained a substantial, dedicated player base however, especially in Asian markets.
As of September 2022:
- Fortnite lifetime revenue: roughly $9 billion
- PUBG lifetime units sold: Over 75 million copies
So while PUBG‘s raw numbers are lower, it remains a marquee title with PUBG Corporation continuing to support the game with updates, tournaments, and new modes years later.
Both games stand to impact gaming for years to come – but PUBG now deserves credit as the originator that made the battle royale genre what it is today, paving the way for record-breaking success stories like Fortnite along the way.
