PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has been free-to-play for almost two weeks now and the switch appears to have paid off in a big way.
According to PUBG's parent company Krafton (via GameSpot ), the game has enjoyed a 486% increase in new players this week. The company adds that the player count on Steam peaked at 690,000 total active players.
The tutorials were the most played content in the whole game (obviously due to the massive surge in new players), with the Taego and Erangel maps being the most popular ones.
Krafton is celebrating the achievement by rewarding players with special content, as long as they play for at least one hour between January 27 and January 30. Anyone who logs in before February 17 will also receive the new Orbital Vanguard skins.
Why not play? It's free
There were already signs that adopting a free-to-play model was beneficial to PUBG from the start. The number of concurrent players doubled following the change and while some players who paid full price for the game initially took issue, those same players were offered automatic access to Battlegrounds Plus .
As for why it has been so successful, well, the obvious answer is that it is now free. Players are far more willing to give the game a try to see if they like it without needing to drop $30.
It also makes sense since rival battle royale games like Fortnite , Call of Duty: Warzone , and Apex Legends are all free-to-play as well. Those games were simply made more enticing because players never had to spend money just to play them.
PUBG is by no means the first premium game to switch to a free-to-play model post-launch and reap the benefits. Fortnite did the exact same thing, adopting the model once the battle royale aspect of the game proved to be the most popular thing about it.
While PUBG and Krafton are enjoying this newfound popularity, being free can't be its only merit. They will still need to offer meaningful content and a solid gameplay experience in order to maintain players, otherwise they will abandon it in favor of other free-to-play games.
How to watch Superman and Lois season 2 online from anywhere
Superman might have a dazzling new suit, but it's the Department of Defense's Lieutenant Mitch Anderson who's flexing his muscles in the second season of smash hit series Superman and Lois, as the US military does everything in its power to force the Man of Steel to bend to their will. Our guide below details how to watch Superman and Lois season 2 online from anywhere.
*Warning: Potential season 1 spoilers*
You'd think that saving Smallville would grant him some credit in the bank, but Clark is getting hammered from all directions and it's proving too much for even the Kryptonian to handle.
After all, getting to grips with a National Security situation in the middle of an existential crisis and the potential breakdown of his marriage is no excuse to give Jonathan free rein of the Kent family home.
Lois, meanwhile, finds herself at odds with her husband as she's tormented by a very different kind of nemesis.
Family feuds tangle with international relations in the hotly anticipated follow-up to the gripping first season, and you can read on below as we break down how to watch Superman and Lois season 2 online from anywhere.
How to watch Superman and Lois online from outside your country
If you're abroad right now, you won't be able to access your favorite shows and streaming services due to annoying regional restrictions.
Luckily, there’s an easy solution. Downloading a VPN will allow you to stream the new series online no matter where you are. It's a simple bit of software that changes your IP address, meaning that you can access on-demand content or live TV just as if you were at home.
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Aston Villa vs Manchester United live stream: how to watch online from anywhere, team news
Their second meeting in a week, it's Manchester United's turn to visit Villa Park in the Premier League's Saturday evening clash today. Read on to find out how to watch Aston Villa vs Manchester United online and get a Premier League live stream, no matter where you are in the world right now.
Having lost in somewhat controversial circumstances earlier in the week to Man United at Old Trafford in the cup, Steven Gerrard's men get a quick-fire opportunity to exact revenge. And he'll get to do so without the looming presence of one Cristiano Ronaldo, who misses out through injury.
Monday's result was a harsh one for Gerrard's men, with Villa having twice had the ball in the United net. Both were ruled out by VAR in a matter of minutes, with the first an extremely contentious decision.
Villa will likely have the bit between their teeth as they look to right that perceived wrong. Their loan signing Philippe Coutinho completed his move from Barcelona in midweek and starts today's game back in the EPL on the bench. But their new man from Everton, Lucas Digne, does go straight into the starting eleven, with Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings starting upfront and desperate not to go a second-straight game without scoring.
In addition to CR7, Marcus Rashford is another notable absence from United's starting line-up. Despite being passed fit, club captain Harry Maguire starts on the bench with Victor Lindelöf preferred. And it's been left to to Edinson Cavani to lead the attack, with Bruno Fernandes just behind.
Follow our guide to get an Aston Villa vs Man United live stream and watch the Premier League online from anywhere this weekend.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Man United from outside your country
If you're abroad right now and struggling to tap into your local coverage of the game, you'll want a VPN . This'll help you circumvent the geo-blocking that will try to stop you watching a Aston Villa vs Man United live stream in particular parts of the world.
They're a useful means of getting around this issue, are cheap, and easy to set-up as well.
Use a VPN to watch Aston Villa vs Man United from anywhere
How to watch Aston Villa vs Man United: live stream Premier League football in the UK
Watch Aston Villa vs Man United online without cable
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