PUBG Mobile: maps, modes and how a match works

PUBG Mobile is the phone version of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, made by Krafton with Tencent's Lightspeed Studios and released in 2018. 100 players parachute onto a map, loot gear and fight until one player or squad is left.

How a match works

You jump from a plane, pick where to land and loot guns, armor and healing. A blue zone shrinks the map in stages, and red zones get bombed at random. Matches are longer and slower than in Free Fire, and positioning matters as much as aim.

Most squads play in fours. You can revive knocked teammates, mark loot and enemies on the map, and drive cars, boats and bikes. Late in a match the circle gets small, and the winner is often the team that moved early to a good spot.

Main maps

Erangel. The original island, big and mixed, with towns, fields and a military base.
Miramar. A large desert map with long sightlines and lots of driving.
Sanhok. A smaller jungle map with faster fights.
Vikendi. A snowy island where footprints and cover change how you move.
Livik. A small map made for mobile, for quick matches.

Modes and versions

Classic is the full battle royale. Arena modes like Team Deathmatch are short and good for warming up, and themed modes rotate in with events.

In India the game is published as BGMI, Battlegrounds Mobile India, a separate version run by Krafton. PUBG: New State is a different game with a future setting.

Tips for new players

Land away from the plane line. Hot drops end fast. Landing a bit off the path gives you time to loot.
Move with the zone. Rotate early. Getting caught outside the blue zone with no car is a common loss.
Learn one rifle. An assault rifle with a red dot covers most fights. Practice its recoil in the training ground.

Play it on Roam

Make your own battle royale with Roam

Roam is a free iPhone app. Describe the map, the drop and the squad, and play it with your friends as the team. Roam is rated 13+ on the App Store.

Try: "battle royale on a frozen island, 30 players, plane drop, red zone bombing, my squad is my friends on snowmobiles"

Create it with Roam Pre-register on Android See Roam

Roam ("Roam - Make Games" on the App Store) is an iPhone app where you play games and make your own by describing them or from a photo. It is free to download and play, and making games works without a subscription; optional Spark and Reality plans and credit packs add more creation. Android: pre-register on Google Play.

Questions people ask

Is PUBG Mobile free?

Yes. It is free on iPhone and Android, with optional purchases.

Who makes PUBG Mobile?

Krafton, with Tencent's Lightspeed Studios. It came out in 2018.

What is BGMI?

Battlegrounds Mobile India, the version of PUBG Mobile published for India by Krafton.