PUBG Lite is shutting down very soon

(Image credit: Krafton, Inc.)

PUBG Lite, the lower-spec, free-to-play PC version of the popular battle royale, is due to shut down at the end of April.

The free-to-play PUBG is now unavailable to download as of March 30, but existing players have until April 29 to continue enjoying the game, after which they’ll have no choice but to move onto PUBG on PC and consoles or PUBG Mobile on Android and iOS.

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Krafton, PUBG’s Lite’s publisher, wasn’t overly specific on why this version of the game is being discontinued, but had the following to say in a note to fans: “We are deeply grateful for the passion and support from the astounding number of PUBG LITE fans that have been with us. During the strenuous times of the COVID-19 pandemic, we hope that PUBG LITE was able to provide our fans a fun way to stay safe.

The battle continues elsewhere

PUBG Lite always had to fill a unique position among the battle royale’s numerous versions. Largely aimed at PCs that couldn’t handle the main game’s system requirements, PUBG Lite was more akin to the mobile version, but with its own separate ranking system and play base.

Still, PUBG Lite was a welcome option for those who wanted to get into the battle royale who may not have enjoyed playing the game on a mobile device, as well as those who hadn’t sunk their hard-earned cash into a PC gaming rig.

We would have loved to have seen a Switch version of PUBG Lite somewhere down the line, as the game could have thrived on Nintendo’s portable machine. It would have had to compete with other successful battle royale games in that case, though, including Epic Games’ powerhouse Fortnite.

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Rhys is TRG's Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.