What’s going on? Why is there trouble between PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) and Fortnite?
We reported yesterday that the Korean studio Bluehole is upset because Epic Games is using the battle royale mode in their game Fortnite. They even announced that they are considering measures.
The battle royale mode has become popular thanks to Bluehole’s successful game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG).
Interestingly, PUBG uses the Unreal Engine, which comes from Epic Games. Additionally, the battle royale mode in Fortnite is free to play and can be played on PS4 and Xbox One. PUBG is not available on those platforms yet.
Bluehole does not want the “Battle Royale” mode all to themselves, it’s about Epic
In Bluehole’s statement yesterday, it sounded to many like “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” wanted to claim the battle royale genre for themselves. This angered many players. They found it arrogant to claim an entire genre.
However, Bluehole does not want that, as representatives of the company clarified in an interview with PC Gamer. It is not about claiming the battle royale mode for themselves, but about how things happened with Epic Games and Fortnite.
Bluehole is specifically upset with Fortnite and Epic Games for various reasons:
- for PUBG, Bluehole uses Epic Games’ Unreal Engine and pays them “a lot of royalties.” Therefore, it is important to maintain a trustworthy relationship
- this trust now seems endangered because Epic Games acted without consultation
- they are particularly angry because Epic Games directly promoted “PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds” and it appeared to some that it was an official collaboration: “Hey, I can play PUBG in Fortnite.” This impression of an official collaboration, despite no agreement being made, has particularly upset Bluehole.
- also, other games with battle royale modes like H1Z1 have licensed the mode from Brendan Greene, the PlayerUnknown – even PUBG itself acquired a license – Epic Games did not do that
- in collaborating with Epic Games on the engine, technical ideas are exchanged and they work together. Bluehole fears that Epic Games could now use PUBG’s know-how to enhance the engine and their own mode
So it seems mainly about the fact that the companies behind Fortnite and PUBG already had an existing and significant business relationship. Bluehole now feels overlooked and disrespected.
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