PlayerUnknown’s first major game since PUBG is now free, but it’s not good news

Brendan Greene, better known as PlayerUnknown, had been working on his first major game release since PUBG for several years, with larger plans in place. Unfortunately, the game, called Prologue: Go Wayback, has reached its end, and the studio seems to be coping with significant layoffs.

Through a post on Steam, PlayerUnknown Productions has announced that they will be halting further development on Prologue: Go Wayback. The game was first released in November last year in early access, where it remains to date. However, as per the new development, the studio will be bringing the game out of early access with one last update. This final update will add some new items, paths, and trails for exploration.

Moreover, the studio will make Prologue: Go Wayback free for everyone. They are also looking into offering refunds to those who have already purchased the game through Steam and the Epic Games Store.

While the nitty-gritty of the layoffs is unclear, Greene shared on X that it is a funding issue and that he has reached the limit of how far he can continue to fund the game in its current form. Like the first tech demo, Preface, Prologue: Go Wayback was supposed to be a showcase for the Melba technology the studio has been working on since its inception. That work will still continue, though with a smaller team.

That said, Greene is still open to the possibility of development restarting on Prologue: Go Wayback at some point in the future.