The creator of the hit video game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is in talks with Microsoft about extending their agreement to publish the game exclusively on Xbox, according to people familiar with the matter.
South Korea’s Bluehole has agreed to produce the game for Microsoft first by the end of the year and is likely to give the company a longer period as the solo console, said the people, asking not to be identified because the matter is private. Games are typically offered exclusively for about three months to encourage people to buy a particular console, so Xbox may have the game to itself until the middle of next year or longer.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has become this year’s surprise hit of the game industry, selling 13 million copies and shattering records for personal-computer game sales. Giants such as Sony Corp. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. are clamoring for rights to put the title on consoles and mobile phones.
Microsoft declined to comment on whether it was in talks to extend the exclusivity. “Right now, the team is solely focused on bringing the best game possible to Xbox One and PC. We have nothing further to announce at this time,” a spokesperson said.
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