Fortnite Replicating PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS? PUBG Developers Not Amused By Fortnite Battle Royale Mode

The free-to-play Fortnite Battle Royale mode could be replicating PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS and PUBG developers are not happy at all.

The free-to-play Fortnite Battle Royale mode is catching on with players as the concept is pretty much the same as PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS but as PUBG is not on console yet, Fortnite Battle Royale mode is the closest thing to PUBG that console players have at the moment. It is no surprise that games are trying to cash in on the huge success that PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS has got.

We talking about Ubisoft taking an interest in the gameplay style and that GTAV also has a battle royale mode now but Fortnite Battle Royale mode totally cashes in on the PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS experience and publisher Bluehole Inc. has taken note of this fact. It is safe to say that the development team behind PUBG is not happy that they are being ripped off.

I have been playing the game ever since PUBG first came out on Steam as an early access title and I have seen the game grow into what it is today. While the game is still far from perfect it is a great experience and it would be chaotic if some other game decided to cash in on that experience one day.

In a recent press release, Chang Han Kim, Vice President and Executive Producer for Bluehole Inc. had the following to say about the free-to-play Fortnite Battle Royale mode:

We’ve had an ongoing relationship with Epic Games throughout PUBG’s development as they are the creators of UE4, the engine we licensed for the game. After listening to the growing feedback from our community and reviewing the gameplay for ourselves, we are concerned that Fortnite may be replicating the experience for which PUBG is known.

Kim also talked about Epic using PUBG for game sales and marketing which has not been discussed with the game developers or the publisher. This is clearly not right. He also pointed out that the PUBG community has been pointing out similarities between the two games and that some kind of action will be taken in the near future as he further went on to say:

We have also noticed that Epic Games references PUBG in the promotion of Fortnite to their community and in communications with the press. This was never discussed with us and we don’t feel that it’s right. The PUBG community has and continues to provide evidence of the many similarities as we contemplate further action.

Do you think the free-to-play Fortnite Battle Royale mode is ripping off PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS?

Sarmad is our Senior Editor, and is also one of the more refined and cultured among us. He's 25, a finance major, and having the time of his life writing about videogames.