PUBG Mobile Surges Past $1.5 Billion in Gross Revenue

Key insights

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Growth driver

The relaunch as 'Game for Peace' in China significantly boosted revenue.

This relaunch contributed $614 million to the game's total lifetime revenue in just seven months.

China's Impact. The relaunch as 'Game for Peace' in China was a primary revenue driver, contributing $614 million.

$614 million

Revenue contributed by 'Game for Peace' in China.

Share of total lifetime revenue: 40%

Market position

PUBG Mobile outperformed key mobile shooter competitors in lifetime revenue.

Its lifetime revenue was significantly higher than Fortnite's $838 million (App Store only) and Knives Out's $915 million (combined stores).

Like a marathon runner finishing far ahead of the pack, PUBG Mobile's revenue significantly outpaced its rivals.

$1.5 billion+

PUBG Mobile lifetime revenue.

Fortnite (App Store only): $838 million
Knives Out (combined stores): $915 million

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Summary

PUBG Mobile has achieved a significant financial milestone, surpassing $1.5 billion in lifetime gross revenue by the end of 2019. This performance highlights the title’s dominance in the mobile shooter genre, with 88 percent of its total lifetime spending occurring within 2019 alone. The surge is largely attributed to the successful relaunch of the game as Game for Peace in China, which contributed $614 million to the total, alongside the effective implementation of a battle pass monetization model that drove consistent quarterly growth globally.

Geographically, China leads in total revenue, accounting for approximately 40 percent of lifetime spending, followed by the United States at 20 percent and Japan at 8 percent. In terms of platform distribution, the Apple App Store generated $1.08 billion, or 72 percent of total revenue, while Google Play accounted for $438 million. Regarding user acquisition, the game has reached 555 million global downloads, with India representing the largest market for installs at 21 percent, followed by China at 19 percent and the United States at 8 percent.

These findings are based on Store Intelligence data, which tracks mobile application performance across the Apple App Store and Google Play. While the data provides a comprehensive view of the title's commercial trajectory, it excludes third-party Android store metrics in China. By outperforming competitors like Fortnite and Knives Out, PUBG Mobile has established a benchmark for season-based live operations, demonstrating sustained momentum and effective monetization strategies as it entered 2020.