Netflix is developing a live-action series based on PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, and Donald Glover is attached to write, direct, executive produce and star in it. Krafton, the game’s publisher, made the announcement, and no release date, platform window or episode count has been given.

The show is in the development stage. For readers in Canada and the United States, that means there is nothing to stream yet, and the sources do not say when or where in North America it will arrive.

What exactly has been announced?

A live-action PUBG series is in development at Netflix, based on Krafton’s battle royale game. Gematsu, relaying the Krafton announcement, describes Glover as the director, writer, executive producer and star.

Game Developer notes that no timeline was given for the adaptation. The reports Gematsu and Deadline carry name Glover as the only cast member and do not describe a plot.

Who is making it?

Glover is joined by a group of producers from film, television and games. Here is the line up the sources list:

  • Donald Glover: director, writer, executive producer and star.
  • Stephen Glover: writer and executive producer. Deadline identifies him as Donald’s brother.
  • Michael Schaefer: executive producer, for NEON TV.
  • Fam Udeorji: executive producer, for Gilga.
  • Taeseok Jang and Sujin Lee: executive producers, for LV3H, which Gematsu describes as Krafton’s entertainment content subsidiary.

Deadline reports that the project came together after lengthy negotiations, and that Netflix brought Glover in. The Glover brothers co-created Atlanta for FX, where Donald won two Emmys, one for acting and one for directing, according to Deadline.

What is PUBG?

PUBG started life in 2017 as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, a battle royale game in which players are dropped onto a map and compete to be the last one standing. Krafton says the franchise has set seven Guinness World Records, according to Deadline’s report.

Game Developer says the game sold over 75 million copies before it went free to play, and that it has spawned numerous spin offs with varying levels of success.

Is this the first PUBG screen project?

No. Deadline recalls that Krafton announced plans for a PUBG movie and TV series in 2020, with LV3H involved in turning the franchise into original content. An animated series from Castlevania executive producer Adi Shankar, announced in 2021, was previously in development at Netflix. The latest announcement does not say what has become of that project.

Where does it fit among Netflix game adaptations?

Netflix has been building a slate of game based projects. Deadline lists a live-action Assassin’s Creed series and a live-action Gears of War film, plus animated series based on Minecraft, Magic: The Gathering and Clash of Clans, and an Overcooked competition series. A PUBG series would add a battle royale title to that list.

Prices

No price applies to this announcement. Nothing is on sale, and the sources do not mention Netflix subscription costs, Canadian pricing or Canadian availability. Netflix’s own plan pages in Canada and the United States are the place to check what a membership costs today.

Who it suits

PUBG players. If you have put hours into the game, this is the first sign of a live-action take on it, led by a creator with a long television track record.

Fans of Donald Glover. Glover is writing, directing and starring, so this is a hands on project for him rather than a licence handed to someone else. Anyone who followed Atlanta has a reason to watch for updates.

Netflix subscribers who like game adaptations. The service keeps adding game based shows and films, so this slots into a growing list.

Who should wait. Anyone hoping for a trailer or a premiere date. The sources give neither, and development projects can change shape before cameras roll.

What is still unknown?

The sources do not say what the story will be, which characters appear, who else is cast, how many episodes there will be, or when filming starts. They also do not say how the series will roll out in Canada or the United States.

What to do next

Follow Krafton’s and Netflix’s official channels for the first casting news or release window. The original reports are linked below for anyone who wants the full line up of producers.