PUBG Says Goodbye to Xbox One & PS4 This November — The End of an Era

When PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) first dropped onto consoles in 2018, it wasn’t just another shooter making the jump from PC — it was a cultural moment. The battle royale genre was exploding, and PUBG was at the forefront, bringing its tense, tactical firefights to living rooms worldwide. Now, seven years later, the game’s journey on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 is coming to a close.

On November 13, 2025, PUBG will officially end support for last-gen consoles, marking a decisive shift toward current-generation hardware.

This move was foreshadowed in PUBG’s 2025 roadmap, which outlined a clear focus on optimizing the game for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. The developers cite improved visuals, more stable frame rates, and reduced crashes as key benefits of leaving older hardware behind.

Xbox Series X|S players will receive the upgrade automatically via Smart Delivery.
PS5 players will need to manually download the new version from the PlayStation Store once it goes live.

Importantly, all account data and purchased items will carry over automatically, so players can pick up right where they left off — no manual transfer required.

A Look Back: PUBG’s Console Legacy

When PUBG arrived on Xbox One in late 2017 (via Game Preview) and PS4 in 2018, it brought a new kind of multiplayer experience to console gamers. Matches were slower-paced than Fortnite, with a heavier emphasis on positioning, sound cues, and realistic ballistics.

Despite early technical hiccups — frame rate drops, texture pop-in, and long load times — the game cultivated a dedicated player base. PUBG’s console versions helped normalize the battle royale format outside of PC, paving the way for other titles like Apex Legends and Call of Duty: Warzone.

For many, PUBG on Xbox One and PS4 was their first taste of the genre’s adrenaline rush: the heart-pounding final circles, the desperate scramble for loot, and the unforgettable “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner” screen.

As games grow more complex, last-gen hardware struggles to keep up. PUBG’s developers have been candid about wanting fairness across all platforms, aiming for a stable 60fps experience for everyone.

To achieve this:

Xbox Series S will offer both Resolution Mode and Performance Mode.
Current-gen hardware will allow for more consistent updates without the constraints of older systems.

What This Means for Players

If you’re still on Xbox One or PS4, November 13 will be your last chance to drop into Erangel, Miramar, or Sanhok on those systems. After that date:

The game will no longer be playable or downloadable on last-gen consoles.
You can continue playing on PS5 or Xbox Series X|S with your existing account.

This isn’t just about PUBG — it’s part of a broader industry trend. As we approach the five-year mark for the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, more developers are phasing out last-gen support to focus on modern hardware capabilities.

For PUBG, this transition could mean faster development cycles, more ambitious updates, and a smoother competitive environment. But for players who’ve stuck with the game on older consoles, it’s a bittersweet farewell.

PUBG’s departure from Xbox One and PS4 is more than a technical update — it’s the closing chapter of a significant era in console gaming. From its scrappy, bug-ridden beginnings to its status as a battle royale pioneer, PUBG’s console journey has been as unpredictable and thrilling as the matches themselves.

Come November, the battleground will still be there — just on newer, faster, and more capable hardware. And for those making the leap, the chicken dinners will taste just as sweet.