PUBG Mobile becomes the third mobile game to cross 1 billion downloads on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store

PUBG Mobile has officially been downloaded over 1 billion times on Android and iOS devices combined, says a new Tweet from the game's official Twitter handle. It joins the likes of Subway Surfer and Candy Crush Saga as one of the handfuls of mobile games to achieve the feat. However, this figure only accounts for the number of times it has been downloaded and not the number of active players. It is a remarkable achievement for a relatively new mobile game, nonetheless.

It is also worth noting that the 1 billion figure doesn't include the number of downloads in China, where PUBG Mobile is distributed via local app stores instead of Google (which is still banned). While a fraction of PUBG Mobile's success can be attributed to the success of its original PC/Console game, Tencent did an excellent job of promoting the game and keeping it topped up with fresh content. That, combined with its virtually non-existent barrier to entry, active esports scene and cosmetic-only in-app purchases, has ensured PUBG Mobile's longevity in today's volatile market.

However, its affiliation with Tencent got PUBG Mobile banned in one of the world's largest smartphone markets- India. Its ability to run on a wide range of hardware ensured that it was a massive hit in the region. The game remains banned to date, with the prospects of it getting reversed looking grim. It'll be interesting to see what Krafton has in store for us with the game's successor- PUBG: New State, which was announced some time ago.

Play PUBG Mobile on your shiny new Asus ROG Phone 3