Does Tencent Own PUBG Mobile? A Comprehensive Analysis

By | May 6, 2023

Introduction

The Tencent logo on a building.

The Tencent logo on a building.

PUBG Mobile is one of the most popular mobile games in the world, with over 1 billion downloads and a massive player base. The game’s success has led to a lot of speculation about its ownership, with many people wondering if Tencent, the Chinese multinational conglomerate, owns PUBG Mobile. In this article, we will explore the relationship between Tencent and PUBG Corporation to determine if Tencent owns PUBG Mobile.

Tencent: Who are They?

The headquarters of PUBG Corporation.

The headquarters of PUBG Corporation.

Tencent is a Chinese multinational conglomerate that specializes in various Internet-related services and products. The company was founded in 1998 and has since become one of the largest technology companies in the world, with a market value of over $500 billion.

Tencent’s services and products include social networking, online gaming, e-commerce, mobile payments, and cloud services. The company is best known for its social media platform, WeChat, which has over 1 billion active users. Tencent is also the largest video game company in the world, with a portfolio of games that includes League of Legends, Honor of Kings, and Fortnite.

In addition to its gaming portfolio, Tencent has also invested in several other gaming companies, including Activision Blizzard, Riot Games, and Epic Games. The company’s investment in the gaming industry has led to speculation about its ownership of PUBG Mobile, one of the most popular games in the world.

PUBG Corporation: Who are They?

Executives from Tencent and PUBG Corporation shake hands.

Executives from Tencent and PUBG Corporation shake hands.

PUBG Corporation is a South Korean video game company that was founded in 2017. The company is best known for creating PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), a battle royale game that has sold over 70 million copies worldwide. PUBG Corporation is a subsidiary of Krafton Game Union, a South Korean video game holding company.

PUBG Corporation has a massive following, with millions of players around the world. The game’s popularity led to the creation of PUBG Mobile, a mobile version of the game that was released in 2018. While PUBG Mobile is similar to the original game, it was developed by Tencent Games, a subsidiary of Tencent.

The Partnership between Tencent and PUBG Corporation

Tencent and PUBG Corporation have a complicated relationship. While Tencent developed and operates PUBG Mobile, the original game was created by PUBG Corporation. In 2017, Tencent acquired a 10% stake in Bluehole Studio, the parent company of PUBG Corporation. This investment led to the development of PUBG Mobile, which was developed by Tencent Games, a subsidiary of Tencent.

In 2018, Tencent announced that it had formed a partnership with PUBG Corporation to bring PUBG Mobile to China. The partnership allowed Tencent to publish and distribute the game in China, where it quickly became one of the most popular games in the country. The partnership also led to speculation about Tencent’s ownership of PUBG Mobile, with many people assuming that Tencent owned the game outright.

However, it’s important to note that Tencent does not own PUBG Mobile. While the company has a significant stake in PUBG Corporation’s parent company, it does not own the game itself. PUBG Mobile is still owned by PUBG Corporation, and Tencent’s involvement is limited to the game’s development and distribution in China.

Tencent’s Ownership of PUBG Mobile

After PUBG Mobile’s success, many people speculated that Tencent owned the game. While Tencent does have a stake in the game, it does not own it outright. In fact, PUBG Corporation, the developer and publisher of the game, is a subsidiary of Bluehole, a South Korean video game company.

Tencent invested in Bluehole in 2017, acquiring a 1.5% stake in the company. Since then, Tencent has increased its stake in Bluehole to 11.5%, making it the second-largest shareholder after Bluehole’s founder, Chang Byung-gyu. Tencent’s stake in Bluehole gives it some influence over PUBG Mobile, but it does not have complete ownership of the game.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Tencent does not own PUBG Mobile outright. While it does have a significant stake in Bluehole, the parent company of PUBG Corporation, it is not the sole owner of the game. PUBG Corporation remains an independent company, and it continues to operate and develop PUBG Mobile. Tencent’s investment in Bluehole has undoubtedly contributed to the game’s success, but it does not control the game’s destiny.

As Tencent continues to invest in the gaming industry, it is likely that the company will continue to acquire stakes in other game developers and publishers. However, for now, PUBG Corporation remains an independent company, and PUBG Mobile remains one of the most popular games in the world. For more information and news about PUBG Mobile, stay tuned to Pubgfact.com.