The battle royale phenomenon PUBG: Battlegrounds is officially retiring its PS4 and Xbox One versions. Krafton confirmed in a console service update that as of November 13, 2025, the game will no longer be downloadable or playable on those last-gen platforms—pivoting instead entirely to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.
The move is driven by a push toward “a more stable gameplay environment” and smoother, crash-free updates going forward. With full current-gen support, PUBG players can expect improved visuals, consistent frame rates, and memory-based performance boosts.
Krafton says this decision wasn’t made on a whim—it followed “long and careful consideration,” especially given the current version’s eight-year console lifecycle. They also reassured players that progress, purchases, and unlocks will carry over seamlessly via Smart Delivery on Xbox and a fresh PS5 download on PlayStation.
This isn’t just about cutting loose the dinosaurs of last-gen gaming. Industry data shows that sticking with legacy consoles may be costing studios more than it’s worth—while the market shifts emphatically toward newer hardware. Polygon recently observed that once-dominant consoles like the PS4 still house millions of users, but developers are increasingly choosing performance—and progress—over backward compatibility.
PUBG: Battlegrounds’ exit from PS4 and Xbox One highlights a broader trend: the days of extended cross-gen support are finally waning. For players, it’s a bittersweet farewell to a familiar battleground—but with PUBG reportedly smoother and sharper on current-gen hardware, it’s likely the change needed to keep the fight fair and those frying pan kills fluid.
