Krafton has pulled the plug on another PUBG game. The company announced today it is ending development of PUBG: Black Budget, the extraction shooter spin-off announced nearly a year ago. The game was first revealed in November 2025, and it has now been cancelled after less than a year of public existence.
The cancellation comes via a post on Black Budget’s Steam page. Krafton says the decision followed an internal review of the project’s development status and future direction. “After reviewing the project’s development status and future direction, we concluded that its current direction would not allow us to deliver an experience players could enjoy over the long term,” the company wrote.
“We have therefore made the difficult decision to end development of PUBG: Black Budget. We sincerely thank everyone who took the time to participate in our closed alpha tests and share their feedback.”
Black Budget’s Long Road to Cancellation
Black Budget was positioned as the next major PUBG game, blending extraction shooter elements with battle royale features. The PvEvP first-person shooter takes place on an island trapped in a time loop, complete with strange weather phenomena and other anomalies meant to make each match feel different.
The game has been in development for years. It was first spotted in a 2023 Krafton financial report, and the publisher announced later that year it was aiming to release the game in the second half of 2024. Since then, Black Budget hosted several closed tests, with the most recent and biggest taking place in June.
“We concluded that its current direction would not allow us to deliver an experience players could enjoy over the long term.”
The cancellation is the second public failure for a PUBG spin-off. In March, PUBG: Blindspot — the 5v5 top-down tactical shooter that borrowed from Rainbow Six Siege — was cancelled.
What Black Budget Was Supposed to Be
Black Budget was meant to be a significant departure for the PUBG franchise. Extraction shooters focus on escaping danger rather than surviving to the last player standing, and the time-loop setting was meant to give each match a distinct identity through shifting weather and anomalies.
The island setting and PvEvP format suggested a game that would reward teamwork and strategy over individual skill.
The Team’s Next Project Remains Unclear
Today’s post offers few clues about what the team will work on next. Krafton wrote that “PUBG Studios will carry what we learned from development and testing into future projects, continuing to listen to players as we explore new gameplay experiences.”
The next PUBG spin-off, PUBG: Ded.Net, was announced at gamescom in August. Developed by Krafton’s Madison, Wisconsin studio, Ded.Net is a multiplayer shooter with an 80s aesthetic and roguelite elements. It is unlike anything else seen in the series so far.
| Game | Status | Format | Setting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Budget | Cancelled | PvEvP extraction shooter | Time-loop island |
| Blindspot | Cancelled | Top-down tactical shooter | Rainbow Six Siege-inspired |
| Ded.Net | Announced | Multiplayer shooter | 80s roguelite |
Why Krafton Cited ‘Long-Term Enjoyment’
Krafton’s stated reason for cancelling Black Budget is that the game’s current direction would not allow for an experience players could enjoy over the long term. The company has not explained what specifically went wrong. The closed tests drew participants, and the June test was described as the biggest yet.
The Pattern of Spin-Off Failures
Black Budget is now the second PUBG spin-off to be cancelled in recent memory. Blindspot was cancelled in March. The pattern is concerning for fans of the franchise.
Krafton has not commented further on the cancellation beyond the Steam post. The company has not said whether the Black Budget team will move to Ded.Net or if the studio will pursue a new project entirely.
What This Means for PUBG Fans
The cancellation is a blow to the PUBG community. Black Budget was supposed to be the next big entry in the series, and its sudden death leaves the franchise’s future in question.
Ded.Net remains the only announced PUBG spin-off still alive. Its 80s aesthetic and roguelite elements make it a very different approach from anything the series has done before.
Krafton’s decision to cancel Black Budget is a reminder that even big companies with established franchises can fail. The company has acknowledged the difficulty of the decision, thanking testers for their participation.
The closure of Black Budget leaves the franchise in an uncertain position. Krafton has not said whether the Black Budget team will regroup around Ded.Net or whether the studio will pursue a new project entirely.
Source material: “Krafton pulls the plug on another PUBG game, Black Budget, less than a year after it was announced,” Eurogamer.
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