Korean streaming is about to get a major injection of battle royale energy. On June 12, Naver and Krafton signed a strategic memorandum of understanding to bring PUBG: Battlegrounds esports content directly to Chzzk, Naver's fast-growing streaming platform. It's a significant deal for both companies, and for anyone who watches PUBG competitively.
What the deal actually covers
At its core, the partnership links Chzzk's streaming infrastructure with Krafton's PUBG esports intellectual property. In practice, that means a few things happening simultaneously.
Naver will broadcast major PUBG esports tournaments directly on Chzzk, with formal league partnerships to follow. Beyond just putting matches on the platform, the deal is designed around Chzzk's community-first viewing culture, particularly its co-watching feature, which lets streamers host live match broadcasts alongside their own commentary and viewer chat. That's the model that worked for the LCK on Chzzk, and now Krafton wants the same treatment for PUBG.
The deal also opens up Krafton's IP to Chzzk's individual streamer ecosystem. That means content creators will be able to legally build PUBG-themed content around their own channels and fandoms, not just re-stream official matches. Joint online and offline promotions tied to major PUBG league schedules are also part of the plan.
Why this matters for Chzzk
Chzzk has built its growth strategy around securing big content rights and using them to pull in new users at scale. It worked with the LCK. It worked with the World Cup, which pushed the platform to an all-time peak of 4.86 million concurrent viewers in June. PUBG is the next piece of that strategy.
PUBG has a large and dedicated Korean fanbase, and Krafton has been investing aggressively in the competitive side of the game globally, including over $200 million put into gaming development in India alone late last year. Tying that global IP to Chzzk's platform gives the game a streaming home in Korea that goes well beyond passive viewing.
What this looks like for viewers
If you already watch PUBG content on Chzzk, expect the volume and quality of tournament coverage to increase significantly. Exclusive content, streamer collaborations, and in-platform fan events tied to league schedules are all coming as part of this deal.
If you're a casual viewer who only checks in for big matches, the co-watching format is worth trying. Rather than watching a raw tournament feed, you can join a streamer's channel and watch the same match with live commentary and a community chat going alongside it. That's the experience Chzzk has been building toward, and PUBG content is now officially part of it.
Saving PUBG content on Chzzk
Tournament broadcasts, highlight VODs, and streamer co-watch sessions from PUBG events will all be available on Chzzk after matches end. If you want to save those VODs to watch again later, or catch up on a match you missed, Vodloader supports Chzzk downloads directly. You can grab highlight clips or full VOD recordings without needing to stay on the platform.
The PUBG partnership is still in its early stages, with the specific league schedule and content calendar yet to be announced. But the foundation is set. Chzzk is building toward being the home of Korean esports streaming across multiple titles, and PUBG is the latest addition to that roster.