PUBG: Black Funds – All the things we learn about Krafton’s Extraction Shooter

It’s been six years since a brand new PUBG recreation was launched, with 2018’s PUBG: Cell. Nevertheless, with PUBG: Battlegrounds rising in reputation in 2025, the time appears proper for investing within the wider PUBG IP, or we could name it the ‘PUBG-iverse’. All indications recommend that is what Krafton is doing, partly with PUBG: Black Funds.

The closely leaked Krafton extraction shooter was the goal of a lot of hypothesis within the first quarter of 2025, with info abruptly quietening. So, the place are issues with Black Funds, when could we see it, and the way is it shaping up? With the small print we’ve thus far, we’ll dive into every part under. Nevertheless, it actually shouldn’t be one other six years till we see a brand new PUBG title.

We’re as excited for a PUBG extraction shooter as the following gamer, as a result of it appears like a smart subsequent step for the IP that kicked off the Battle Royale style. However any PUBG: Black Funds launch date stays unconfirmed. Whereas there are Reddit posts from 2023 suggesting that the discharge date might be “ahead of anticipated”, some titles spend a couple of years in growth earlier than even a closed play check. 

That’s confirmed to be the case with Black Funds, as we do know the title was within the manufacturing section in early 2025, there was a closed beta check in Q1 2025, and an open beta check was not less than deliberate to run earlier than the top of 2025. This could lead us to consider a launch date might be in 2026, though that is solely hypothesis. 

PUBG: Cell launched in March 2018, however that doesn’t have a lot weight of affect right here. A primary half of 2026 launch might be attainable, however as no info has emerged from Krafton past a extremely scrutinised earnings name (C Dome, YouTube), and with different PUBG titles within the works, it might equally be a late 2026 or later launch. In any case, Krafton’s The Calisto Protocol was launched on December 2, 2022.

Free-to-play or ~$40 relying on the trail Krafton takes

Whereas there’s no pricing or pre-order info for undertaking Black Funds, PUBG has itself in an fascinating place with potential pricing. In any case, PUBG is free to play, as is PUBG: Cell, however extraction shooters aren’t. The standout titles (and commonplace prices) on this area are arguably Escape From Tarkov ($45), Hunt: Showdown at ($30), Gray Zone Warfare ($40), and the upcoming Arc Raiders ($40). 

It’s price noting that Arc Raiders was initially conceived as a free-to-play title, however shifted to a premium mannequin, with Embark Studios feeling it could higher go well with the title. Which may be the course that Undertaking Black Funds takes, however we don’t know on the time of writing. Sustaining a free-to-play mannequin would match the prevailing PUBG mannequin. Enviornment Breakout: Infinite is one free-to-play extraction shooter, however a $40 worth would match Black Funds nicely inside the current extraction shooter panorama. 

That is all guesswork, although, as a result of no PUBG: Black Funds leak has supplied any indication about worth, and Krafton hasn’t supplied any info both. As with pre-order info, the chances are the worth affirmation will come alongside an official launch date. That announcement will doubtless be after an open beta, so we could not know till early 2026. 

Whereas the straightforward reply to “What’s PUBG: Black Funds?” is ‘an extraction shooter’, there’s successfully no confirmed info from Krafton concerning the gameplay or in-game parts past leaks and screenshots. No leaked video content material exists, both, in order we write, the obtainable ‘gameplay’ leaks are restricted to 4 screenshots posted on X/Twitter by ‘SargeOP_’ and the unofficial fan account referred to as ‘@PUBGBLACKBUDGET’. 

These alleged leaked photographs embrace an inside shot, with alligators or crocodiles current, hinting at wild animals (there have been rumours about animals in PUBG itself), a screenshot of a map with “gamers deploying” famous on the backside (doubtless a loading display), a portal or extraction level screenshot, and an inside office-looking space. Whereas the pictures don’t seem to point out a lot initially, parts of a minimalist UI will be seen, with continuity throughout three of the 4 photographs for weapon mode, ammo, and stamina bars. 

These photographs have been checked out in depth by the PUBG group, however they’ve additionally irked some followers. One reply to SargeOP_’s submit on X, from a person named Nyamatsuka, commented, “we bought black holes, gators, a map that appears generic [redacted], and a tactical dash as standard”. Nevertheless, this leaked information from March, together with some artwork and emblem photographs, is what’s visually obtainable for PUBG: Black Funds. New particulars could emerge from an open beta, however as but, the ‘finish of the yr’ timeframe goal by Krafton hasn’t been clarified. 

Finally, we all know that PUBG Black Funds is being labored on, is confirmed by Krafton, and is being lined up for an open beta earlier than the top of 2025. Past that, most issues stay hypothesis, which is testomony to Krafton retaining issues in-house whereas work is ongoing. 

What we do have by way of leaks and rumours needs to be handled precisely as that, whereas we await an extraction shooter that may hopefully compete with current and upcoming releases. The PUBG IP is in a wholesome place, and if there’s one current IP that might go well with the style, it could appear (to this author) to be this. Anticipate extra particulars on the extraction shooter from PUBG when information arrives!