PUBG Mobile has unveiled a $100m (~£82.3m) creator investment plan that aims to reward the game’s players.
Dubbed the Wonder Creators Network, the investment looks to support the game’s co-creation ecosystem over the next three years. The money will be directed into competitions, opportunities and incentives in a major commitment by PUBG Mobile to its creators and the creations they make in the game.
PUBG Mobile’s creator ecosystem focuses on the game’s Ptopia Design Project (PDP), an initiative that collaborates with artists to produce game content for players, and its recently launched World of Wonder (WOW) mode. The game mode allows players to build their own maps and modes with PUBG Mobile’s platform, akin to similar projects seen in Fortnite and Roblox.
According to a release, creators competing in World of Wonder and Ptopia Design Project competitions in 2023 will be offered a total $750,000 (~£617,300) prize pool. In 2024, a further incentive plan worth ‘tens of millions of dollars’ is expected to launch.
In PUBG Mobile’s World of Wonder mode, each new update cycle will launch ‘at least one’ themed contest that will have a prize pool of $50,000 (~£41,100) alongside numerous in-game rewards.
The new in-game creator showdown event is set to take place during the Version 2.8 Update. Dubbed Tournament of Wonder, the event provides creators with opportunities to create thematic maps.
Players will then vote on their favourite creator maps, with the individuals vying to win a cash prize of up to $1000 (~£820). The top 200 creator maps will share a cash prize pool of $50,000. Meanwhile, the top 5000 creators will share Crate Coupons worth over $10,000 (~£8200).
Over the last two years, PUBG Mobile says it has received over 400,000 submissions for its Ptopia Design Project. In total, 50 player-designed items have since been implemented in the game. Ptopia Design Project’s mid-year comprehensive design competition is currently opening submissions, meanwhile, the 5th Global Design Competition and the first esports-focused co-design competition are set to launch before the end of 2023.
PUBG Mobile has also introduced a range of other initiatives such as a ‘Journey to Wonders’ creator growth system, the ‘Coaching of Wonders’ Discord community, and a Creator Awards Ceremony.
The creator growth system will see World of Wonder creators earn experience points through map creation, and by having their maps played and liked. By playing through creator levels, players can unlock honours such as avatar frames and achievements.
To conclude at the end of the year PUBG Mobile will also host a creator-focused awards ceremony. The event will feature awards designed to celebrate the game’s creators with winners receiving in-game titles and custom trophies.
This isn’t the first time PUBG Mobile has invested heavily in its creator scene. In 2021 the game announced a different $100m creator programme designed to promote its creators.
