PUBG: Playgrounds — $95,000 modding contest
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Krafton and modding platform CurseForge have launched a global user-generated content contest for the PUBG: Playgrounds mode, with a $95,000 prize pool and the promise that winning entries will ship directly inside the game.
It’s the biggest modding contest PUBG: Battlegrounds has run: instead of staying a fan-made side project, the winning entries become part of the official game mode and reach the shooter’s entire player base.
What the contest is about
The organizers are PUBG: Battlegrounds’ developer and CurseForge, the modding platform hosting the entire submission process. Entrants build their own modes and maps for the new PUBG: Playgrounds creative hub, and a panel working alongside community voting picks the best work across three categories:
- Combat — modes built around fighting mechanics;
- Survival — modes focused on survival and tactics;
- Creative — open-ended formats that don’t have to follow PUBG’s core gameplay loop.
A single creator can submit multiple entries across different categories at once — the organizers haven’t capped how many submissions one person can make.
How much you can win
The contest’s total pool is $95,000, broken down like this:
| Prize | Who gets it | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Category first place | 1 winner in each of 3 categories | $10,000 |
| Category pool | Split within the category | $25,000 |
| Community Favorites | 6 entries chosen by player vote | $2,500 each |
| Interim leaders | 10 standout early submissions | $500 each |
In other words, each of the three categories has its own $25,000 pool, out of which the top entry takes $10,000 and the rest of the category’s pool is split among other strong submissions. On top of the category prizes, the organizers set aside another $2,500 for each of six Community Favorites picked by player voting, plus $500 apiece for ten interim leaders who stood out before the final deadline even arrived.
Contest timeline
Submissions on CurseForge are open from August 12 through September 2, 2026. Once submissions close, the organizers will run community voting and finalize results: winners will be announced on September 14, 2026.
The PUBG: Playgrounds mode itself went live on August 12, 2026 — the same day submissions opened. Players can jump into it straight from the PUBG: Battlegrounds play menu, with no separate client or third-party files to install.
How entries make it into the game
This isn’t just a cash prize contest: the 30 best entries — the top 10 from each of the three categories — will be officially added to the PUBG: Playgrounds mode. In practice, that means a winning mod or map becomes available to every PUBG: Battlegrounds player straight from the game’s update menu, rather than staying a niche file on a third-party site. For creators, that’s a rare shot: their work reaches one of the world’s most popular battle royale games without having to hunt down an audience or negotiate a release on their own.
Why this matters for PUBG
PUBG: Playgrounds is Krafton’s attempt to give the game a second content pipeline, similar to modding workshops in other major titles: players build their own modes, and the developer curates and officially folds the best ones back into the game. A $95,000 contest is the biggest incentive yet for the community to lean into that pipeline, and if the format sticks, future waves of content for PUBG’s maps and weapon classes may increasingly come from players rather than the developer alone.
Quick summary
Krafton and CurseForge are giving away $95,000 to modders building PUBG: Playgrounds content across three categories — Combat, Survival, and Creative. Submissions close September 2, 2026, winners are announced September 14, and the top 30 entries become part of the official game.
Frequently asked questions
How much money is up for grabs in the PUBG: Playgrounds contest?
The total prize pool is $95,000. It's split across three categories, Community Favorites prizes voted by players, and interim prizes for standout early entries.
What categories does the contest have?
Three: Combat, Survival, and Creative. Each has its own $25,000 pool, of which $10,000 goes to the top entry.
When does the submission window close?
Submissions are open from August 12 to September 2, 2026, on the contest's CurseForge page.
When will the winners be announced?
September 14, 2026, after community voting and the organizers' final review.
What do winners get besides money?
The top 10 entries from each category — 30 creations in total — will be officially added to the PUBG: Playgrounds mode, so every PUBG: Battlegrounds player will be able to see them.
What is CurseForge and how does it relate to PUBG?
CurseForge is the modding platform where PUBG's developer runs the submission process and hosts the entries for the new Playgrounds creative mode.