#GamingBytes: PUBG takes on Call of Duty Blackout, emerges unscathed
PUBG or PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds took the Battle Royale format of gaming to new peaks of popularity. However, recurring issues on the PC version and with big budget titles releasing, it was predicted that Call of Duty's Blackout would be the final nail in the coffin of PUBG. Despite critics calling it a more polished PUBG, Blackout has not impacted the old-school Battle Royale's popularity.
The wicked game of numbers
Despite being the first big-budget franchise to enter the Battle Royale format, Blackout has not had as much success as Fortnite in denting player base of PUBG. In fact, the numbers showed only a four percent decrease over the weekend when compared to last week's number before the launch of the anticipated Call of Duty. The decrease translates to a loss of 24,000 players.
What do the numbers mean in context?
The four percent fall is not alarming compared to decline in the past few weeks, most notably when the beta mode of Blackout came out. At its worst, the numbers fell by twenty percent. The ability of PUBG to hold on to players despite Blackout's aggressive promotion from streamers like Ninja, Shroud and Dr. Disrespect sends the message that it won't go down easily.
Die another day
Despite speculations about Blackout denting popularity of PUBG, the truth is PUBG has developed a loyal base and historically Call of Duty games have always enjoyed short-attention spans. However, it must keep updating and improving gameplay experience if it wishes to survive the competitive market.
