PUBG Mobile quietly started beta testing on Android devices, finally bringing the massively popular PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds to smartphones shortly after the announcement of Fortnite Mobile.
The competition between Battle Royale-inspired shooters continues to heat up, with both PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite looking to widen their respective player bases by expanding into mobile devices.
PUBG Mobile Now Online, But There's A Catch
In November last year, it was announced that PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds mobile will soon be a reality, through a partnership with Chinese tech company Tencent. The multiplayer shooter spawned numerous clones on the iOS and Android, so it would make sense to bring the original game to mobile devices.
It was initially reported that PUBG Mobile will be released first in China, with no definite date on when the mobile port will travel to the West. However, Fortnite Mobile may have spurred changes in the plans for the game.
Tencent has now carried out a soft launch for PUBG Mobile on Android devices, with rumors that beta testing will also come very soon to the iOS. The officially licensed port of the original PC version will feature the same gameplay of surviving against 99 other players in a shrinking map, with adjusted controls for mobile devices.
However, the catch is that PUBG Mobile is currently only officially available in the Google Play Store of Canada.
How To Try 'PUBG Mobile' In US
Fortunately for PUBG fans in the United States, there is a way to get the game loaded into your Android devices. According to a quick guide by Newsweek, it will require the installation of VPN software to trick your Android smartphone or tablet into thinking that it is located in Canada.
Once the VPN for Canada is up and running, users will need to turn off their cellular data and create a new Google account for the purpose of downloading PUBG Mobile on the Canadian Google Play Store. Once the installation starts, users can disable their VPN and switch their cellular data back on.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds vs Fortnite
Fortnite may now be more popular than PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds on Twitch, but PUBG still continues to draw a massive number of players. PUBG and Fortnite are locked in competition in the Battle Royale genre, which is good for players, as the studios of both games are driven to keep them fresh.
The soft launch of PUBG Mobile was a surprise, especially after gamers thought Fortnite would be taking a lead on iOS and Android with the recent announcement of Fortnite Mobile.
Fortnite Mobile will feature cross-play between the PlayStation 4 and PC, with sign-ups for the waiting list of the iOS version still open.
