Did you know Garena Free Fire made about $100 million in the U.S. in early 2021? That’s 4.5 times more than the year before.
At the same time, PUBG Mobile earned $68 million, growing over 9% from the previous year. This raises a big question: which is richer, PUBG or Free Fire?
Both games are giants in the battle royale world. They attract millions of players. Whether you love the thrill of the game or just want to know more about gaming, we’re comparing these two.
We’ll look at their earnings, what makes them special, their popularity, how they impact the market, and their role in esports.
Key Takeaways
- In Q1 2021, Garena Free Fire earned $100 million in the U.S., while PUBG Mobile earned $68 million.
- Free Fire showed a 4.5 times revenue increase, and PUBG Mobile saw a 9% rise year over year in the U.S.
- Globally, PUBG Mobile and Game For Peace earned $744.4 million combined in Q1 2021.
- Global Battle Royale market revenue reached $1.3 billion in Q1 2021, a 16.6% year-over-year increase.
- Free Fire and PUBG Mobile are top contenders in revenue, features, and popularity.
Overview of Battle Royale Games
Battle Royale games are super popular in mobile gaming. Titles like PUBG and Free Fire are top players.
They have changed how we play multiplayer shooting games, offering fun on mobile devices.
What is PUBG?
PUBG Mobile started from the game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, first on Windows in 2017. It then hit Android and iOS in 2018.
With releases on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Stadia, and next-gen consoles, PUBG now has over 500 million downloads. It’s a top game with 44.5 million reviews.
PUBG’s graphics are sharp, thanks to the Unreal Engine. It needs a good phone to run well. You get nine maps, many weapons, and vehicles to play with.
What is Free Fire?
Free Fire hit the big mobile market, developed by Garena. By 2023, it got over 187 million people playing every day. In 2021, it beat PUBG Mobile as the top-earning mobile battle royale in the US. It works better on less powerful phones because it uses the Unity engine.
Players have many characters to choose from, each with different powers. This makes the game fun and varied. Free Fire provides six maps and is smaller in size than PUBG Mobile.
The Rise of Mobile Battle Royale Games
Mobile battle royale games have become very popular. Titles like PUBG Mobile and Free Fire lead the charge.
They offer competitive fun that keeps players coming back. These games dominate Twitch, showing just how many people love watching them. Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Free Fire have millions of hours watched. For instance, Fortnite alone got over 14.67 million hours.
Games like PUBG Mobile and Free Fire have evolved mobile gaming. They cater to what players like through different game styles and community involvement.
This has pushed other players towards exciting, survival games.
| Game | Viewer Hours | Number of Creators | Total Streams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fortnite | 14.67 million | 349,778 | 934,104 |
| Apex Legends | 8.25 million | 78,188 | 215,448 |
| Garena Free Fire | 7.21 million | 14,056 | 36,258 |
Free Fire and PUBG have become big names in mobile gaming. They offer unique games, from graphics to how they play. These games keep winning fans worldwide.
Revenue Comparison: PUBG Mobile vs. Free Fire
Looking at the money PUBG Mobile and Free Fire make, we see their big impact on mobile games. Both have seen highs and lows in their earnings over time.
Global Revenue Statistics
Free Fire’s global earnings have seen big changes, especially with its ban in India. Its earnings dropped from $2.1 billion in 2020 to $500 million in 2022. But in October 2021, it hit a high with 34 million downloads, reaching 262.3 million that year.
On the other hand, PUBG Mobile has shown steady earnings. It has around 120 million users each month. This strong player base helps keep it at the top in gaming money.
Revenue in the United States
In the US, Free Fire is doing well. Sensor Tower Store Intelligence data shows it earned more than PUBG Mobile in early 2021.
Despite global challenges, its strategies for keeping players engaged and spending have worked well in the US market.
PUBG Mobile, though, uses its wide range of features and keeps more users coming back.
This helps it keep a big share of the US gaming money. This shows the tough competition between these two mobile game leaders.
| Game | Global Revenue in 2022 | Downloads in 2022 | Daily Active Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Fire | $500 million | 262.3 million | 41 million |
| PUBG Mobile | Unavailable | 120 million (monthly users) | Unavailable |
Features Comparison: PUBG Mobile vs. Free Fire
Choosing between PUBG and Free Fire isn’t easy. You need to know about their features, graphics, and gameplay. Each game is designed for a different kind of player.
Core Gameplay Differences
PUBG Mobile and Free Fire are battle royale games, but they’re pretty different.
PUBG Mobile focuses on being realistic, with strategies playing a significant role. Free Fire offers quick matches, just 10 minutes, perfect for gamers on the go.
Free Fire works great on not-so-powerful phones. It has fun features like emotes and pets with powers. The gloo walls in Free Fire are also a unique touch.
Graphics and Visual Appeal
PUBG Mobile is known for its detailed and realistic graphics. The environments and characters look fantastic, making you feel like you’re there.
On the other hand, Free Fire’s graphics are more superficial and cartoonish, which helps the game run better on older phones.
PUBG looks great, but Free Fire runs smoothly on various devices. This includes phones with Snapdragon 400 and older MediaTek chips.
Game Modes Available
Both games offer many modes to keep things interesting. PUBG Mobile has the usual battle royale setup and adds arcade modes. Free Fire keeps things fresh with new events and rewards every week.
This approach offers players lots of different ways to play. It makes Free Fire a lively and varied game.
Available Maps
The maps in PUBG and Free Fire are pretty different. PUBG Mobile has big maps like Erangel and Miramar.
These allow for lots of exploration and vary in setting. Free Fire’s maps are smaller, which leads to faster games, but they’re still full of unique spots.
PUBG’s big maps offer much to discover, but Free Fire’s smaller maps make for quick and exciting matches.
Which Game is More Popular?
When discussing competitive gaming, we see different tastes for PUBG Mobile and Free Fire in the gaming community. Free Fire has hit 1 billion downloads on Google Play Store as of 2021. It became the top downloaded mobile game in the world in 2019.
PUBG Mobile has also attracted a large number of players since its launch. Yet, we should look at daily users and earnings to know their popularity.
Free Fire’s success is shown by its earnings too. By Q1 2021, it made $100 million in the U.S., beating PUBG Mobile’s $68 million.
The Free Fire World Series also became the most viewed esports event, with over 5.4 million watchers. This shows its considerable influence in competitive gaming.
Now, let’s examine some key figures to understand the competition between them:
| Attributes | Free Fire | PUBG Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Global Downloads | 1 Billion | 730 Million (as of early 2022) |
| Daily Active Users | 150 Million (as of 2021) | 50 Million (as of early 2022) |
| Revenue in the US (Q1 2021) | $100 Million | $68 Million |
| Peak Live Viewers (Esports) | 5.4 Million | 3.8 Million |
The stats clearly show PUBG popularity and Free Fire popularity in the dynamic gaming community. Free Fire’s huge player count and impressive revenue speak to its strong position in competitive gaming.
Whether because of its gameplay or esports success, Free Fire is loved by gamers worldwide.
Market Impact and Esports Presence
In recent years, PUBG Mobile and Free Fire have changed the mobile gaming world. They are big names in competitive esports.
These games reach players around the globe and cater to various interests. They offer exciting gameplay and a solid esports setup. This has helped them create a big niche for themselves.
Tournaments and Competitive Scene
These games have made waves in esports tournaments. PUBG Mobile, for instance, has been a massive hit in significant events.
It has reached a peak viewership of 513,680 viewers. Its competitive scene and frequent updates keep players hooked.
Free Fire, on the other hand, shines in emerging markets and stands tall in its genre. Its peak viewership hit 340,521. While that’s less than PUBG Mobile, it’s still a top player in gaming tournaments.
Both games host numerous esports events worldwide. They are mainly active in Africa, where mobile esports is growing.
Community Engagement
PUBG Mobile and Free Fire stay popular because they focus on community engagement.
They organize community gaming events to build a robust and diverse gaming community. PUBG Mobile’s events and collaborations keep players excited and engaged.
Free Fire does well in emerging markets because it knows its players well. It plans events to match its diverse player base.
This approach builds strong community ties and draws in new players. The big rewards in their esports tournaments also promote competitive gaming. They help gamers think about becoming professionals.
PUBG rich, Free Fire: Determining the Leader
In the world of battle royale games, it’s a tough call between PUBG rich and Free Fire. PUBG Mobile boasts significant earnings globally. Free Fire, on the other hand, is growing fast, especially in Southeast Asia and Latin America. In the U.S., PUBG Mobile is the top dog in money made.
Each game offers a different vibe. PUBG Mobile wins with its lifelike graphics and huge maps. This makes the game feel more natural. Free Fire is known for quick matches and relaxed game modes like Clash Squad. Both have strong player communities. Stars like TSG Jash and Raistar in Free Fire have tons of fans, boosting the game’s fame.
PUBG Mobile and Free Fire are big names in esports too. Free Fire leads with fun events and players like Gyan Sujan drawing crowds on YouTube. PUBG Mobile isn’t far behind, with major tournaments and loyal fans. What comes next in the games will greatly affect their fight for the top spot. Their battle keeps the gaming world exciting, with new stuff for players everywhere.
