Battlegrounds Also Hits near the Top of Livestream Popularity
We have witnessed a particular consistency when it comes to survival shooters. So long as they can be streamed, they rapidly rise in popularity. This is especially the case with PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds that was recently released on Steam.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is an online, third-person shooter that began as a mod for Arma’s survival simulation series. From there, the mod transitioned into a game mode for H1Z1, before transcending into standalone title H1Z1: King of the Hill. And throughout its evolving life, the simulator has witnessed rapid popularity growth via livestream recognition. Understanding this popularity, game creator Brendan “PlayerUnknown” Greene partnered with South Korean developer Bluehole to deliver Battlegrounds.
Since launch, the game has received widespread attention, raking in $11 million in revenue three days after hitting Steam Early Access. Thus, it currently sits at the top of Steam Charts and is among the top five played games on the service. Moreover, it has beaten records for sales by survival shooter. When survival game DayZ launched in 2013, it took nearly twice as long to sell one million units. Such is the comparison being made by gamers.
Interestingly enough, Battlegrounds has quickly risen to prominence on Twitch. Many high-profile streamers have taken a liking to competitive sim and have helped disseminate its brand recognition, and this is just the beginning. Currently, it only falls behind Hearthstone and League of Legends in stream frequency.
It is too early to tell when Battlegrounds shall reach its zenith in popularity, but early projections suggest it will become one of the most popular games ever released on Steam and streamed. Feel free to drop a comment telling us your own projection for this break-out title. Then remember to check back for more updates, news, and the like. We’ll certainly have more. Happy gaming.