PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds) was first released onto PC platforms on Dec. 21st, 2017, making it one of the new wave of battle royale games coming onto the market. With 30 million sales, The creators of PUBG, Bluehole Studios, figured that they owned the battle royale game mode.

They couldn’t be more wrong.

Fortnite was released on September 26th, 2017 with their new battle royale game mode, switching from their sandbox “build and survive” game. Selling 10 million copies in the first six months of its release, PUBG now has a huge competition.

Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite, partnered with the creators of PUBG before Fortnite’s release making a server that they now use for their games called “Unreal Engine 4” which held all the battle royale games that PUBG had going on all over the world.

Bluehole Studios saw the startling similarities to their original game and threatened to sue Epic Games for “ripping off” their original game. The case has been held off until later 2018 where Epic Games is on track to successfully defend against the accusations with the differences of building structures, destructible buildings and different types of game modes and weapons.

The Fortnite and PUBG community have been at each other’s throats ever since the release of the battle royale game mode in Fortnite, some calling it, “a complete rip-off of PUBG,” as the similarities include skydiving onto the map, high level weapons from sky drops, and similar looting system.

Some Fortnite players would disagree as the menu and customization of characters are polar opposites, as the game gives off a sort of “cartoony” vibe as PUBG is more realistic in physics and a weapon standpoint, adding grips and flash hiders found in houses to attach to your weapons.

Fortnite takes a more subtle approach to the “real-life” battle royale as you skydive out of a bus floating on a hot air balloon. If you happen to win a match or two, you get a different skydiving umbrella, making you seem more of a Mary Poppins instead of a soldier as you touchdown to the map.  Fortnite doesn’t have all of the mods that PUBG has like the grip or a suppressor, instead, having different levels of guns and different types of weapons, some normally suppressed and some original.

Updates are a very important thing for gaming communities as playing the same game over and over again can get stale and boring for some. Epic Games are very consistent on adding new content as they have a lot to work with. A cartoony battle royale means endless possibilities for new weapons and skins. PUBG has been in the “Beta” stage of testing since it’s release onto PC and still is since the release on console. Bluehole Studios release more bug fixes and hotfixes than new content in the game, seeing as their player count has not risen since it’s release.

Graphics are also important part of games since it appeals to the gamer and draws them in to play. Season 3 for Fortnite came out one week ago with an increased frame rate from 30 to 60 FPS (frames per second) on the console, making the game smooth as butter with a little input lag. PUBG on the other hand, due to beta production, the realistic feel to the game feels unfinished and has kinks to iron out before the final product is released which is understandable.

Release date makes or breaks some games as if games are unfinished or unpolished, sales will not skyrocket. Fortnite released for free to play this summer which was groundbreaking for its success. Microtransactions are the only source of money Epic Games brings in daily and handled them in a manner other Triple A companies should follow. Paying money for in-game currency to purchase character skins and dances that don’t give in game advantages. PUBG may have released their game on console too early as textures do not load in at certain points in the map as you skydive in.

Fortnite and PUBG are both brand new games across the community giving gamers something fresh to play, two new successful games that the industry has been waiting for. New updates and bug fixes come out as the community critiques and shares how to make the game better.