Marvel's Secret Invasion has opened the dossier on its all-star cast, and it includes returning MCU actors Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, and Cobie Smulders.

Despite these high-profile names, Secret Invasion is expected to have a small cast rather than a massive ensemble a la Avengers: Endgame. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige previously hinted that the series would be a much more intimate story than its comic book inspiration, with episodes mostly revolving around Fury and Talos' investigations into a cosmic conspiracy.

The original Secret Invasion comic was published in 2008 and dealt with a vast conspiracy involving Skrull double agents using their shape-shifting powers to impersonate various heroes and villains and pave the way for the Skrull Empire to take over the planet, so it's possible that the cast of the live-action series will have their work cut out for them.

Keep reading for a rundown of who's appearing in Marvel's Secret Invasion — and don't forget to bookmark the page, as we'll be updating this article with all-new casting announcements.

Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury

Samuel L. Jackson will lead the cast of Marvel's Secret Invasion, playing an eye-patchless Nick Fury. He will investigate a sect of Skrulls who have infiltrated the highest levels of authority in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Jackson previously made a cameo as Nick Fury on Agents of SHIELD so this isn't the first time that he has reprised his role for the small screen.

Ben Mendelsohn as Talos

Ben Mendelsohn will be returning to slip into the skin of Skrull leader Talos whose previous appearances include outings in Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home. He was last seen in Far From Home's end credits tag scene, which revealed that Fury was actually in a space station with other Skrulls the entire time while Talos was doubling as him.

Kingsley Ben-Adir

Alongside Jackson and Mendelsohn, Kingsley Ben-Adir has reportedly joined the cast of Secret Invasion. Sources have suggested that he will be playing one of the lead villains on the show, coming off the back of his role as Malcolm X in Regina King's critically-acclaimed directorial debut One Night in Miami, which earned three nominations at last year's Oscars.

Olivia Colman

Oscar-winner Olivia Colman is also said to be joining Jackson in the Nick Fury-focused Disney+ series. The British star is known for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown as well as winning an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Actress in The Favourite, however, the identity of the character she'll be playing in Secret Invasion is being kept under wraps for now.

Emilia Clarke

Last year, Game of Thrones veteran Emilia Clarke was reported to be in final negotiations to join the cast of Secret Invasion. She later confirmed in an interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show that she would be starring in the upcoming Disney+ series, marking her first appearance in the MCU, though it's unknown at this time who she will be playing.

Killian Scott

In addition, Deadline reported that Killian Scott had joined the ranks of Marvel's Secret Invasion in yet another role shrouded in mystery. The Irish actor is no stranger to the small screen, having starred in the likes of Ripper Street, portraying Assistant Commissioner Augustus Dove, and Damnation, replacing Aden Young, who left due to creative differences.

Christopher McDonald

According to Deadline, Christopher McDonald has also signed on the dotted line to appear in the series as a reported "newly created" character, with the potential to "cross over to the larger MCU" by appearing in movies and other Disney+ limited series. McDonald's past TV credits include Family Law, Boardwalk Empire, and the HBO Max comedy series Hacks.

Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill

Cobie Smulders is set to return to the MCU to reprise her role as Maria Hill, the former Deputy Director of SHIELD. Smulders has played Hill across a number of different MCU projects to date. Having initially made her debut in The Avengers, the actress has also starred as Hill in several other films, including Spider-Man: Far From Home, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and more.

Keep checking back here for all the latest casting updates for Marvel's Secret Invasion.

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Marvel's Secret Invasion has opened the dossier on its all-star cast, and it includes returning MCU actors Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Mendelsohn, and Cobie Smulders.

Despite these high-profile names, Secret Invasion is expected to have a small cast rather than a massive ensemble a la Avengers: Endgame. Marvel Studios boss Kevin Feige previously hinted that the series would be a much more intimate story than its comic book inspiration, with episodes mostly revolving around Fury and Talos' investigations into a cosmic conspiracy.

The original Secret Invasion comic was published in 2008 and dealt with a vast conspiracy involving Skrull double agents using their shape-shifting powers to impersonate various heroes and villains and pave the way for the Skrull Empire to take over the planet, so it's possible that the cast of the live-action series will have their work cut out for them.

Keep reading for a rundown of who's appearing in Marvel's Secret Invasion — and don't forget to bookmark the page, as we'll be updating this article with all-new casting announcements.

Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury

Samuel L. Jackson will lead the cast of Marvel's Secret Invasion, playing an eye-patchless Nick Fury. He will investigate a sect of Skrulls who have infiltrated the highest levels of authority in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Jackson previously made a cameo as Nick Fury on Agents of SHIELD so this isn't the first time that he has reprised his role for the small screen.

Ben Mendelsohn as Talos

Ben Mendelsohn will be returning to slip into the skin of Skrull leader Talos whose previous appearances include outings in Captain Marvel and Spider-Man: Far From Home. He was last seen in Far From Home's end credits tag scene, which revealed that Fury was actually in a space station with other Skrulls the entire time while Talos was doubling as him.

Kingsley Ben-Adir

Alongside Jackson and Mendelsohn, Kingsley Ben-Adir has reportedly joined the cast of Secret Invasion. Sources have suggested that he will be playing one of the lead villains on the show, coming off the back of his role as Malcolm X in Regina King's critically-acclaimed directorial debut One Night in Miami, which earned three nominations at last year's Oscars.

Olivia Colman

Oscar-winner Olivia Colman is also said to be joining Jackson in the Nick Fury-focused Disney+ series. The British star is known for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in The Crown as well as winning an Academy Award in 2018 for Best Actress in The Favourite, however, the identity of the character she'll be playing in Secret Invasion is being kept under wraps for now.

Emilia Clarke

Last year, Game of Thrones veteran Emilia Clarke was reported to be in final negotiations to join the cast of Secret Invasion. She later confirmed in an interview with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show that she would be starring in the upcoming Disney+ series, marking her first appearance in the MCU, though it's unknown at this time who she will be playing.

Killian Scott

In addition, Deadline reported that Killian Scott had joined the ranks of Marvel's Secret Invasion in yet another role shrouded in mystery. The Irish actor is no stranger to the small screen, having starred in the likes of Ripper Street, portraying Assistant Commissioner Augustus Dove, and Damnation, replacing Aden Young, who left due to creative differences.

Christopher McDonald

According to Deadline, Christopher McDonald has also signed on the dotted line to appear in the series as a reported "newly created" character, with the potential to "cross over to the larger MCU" by appearing in movies and other Disney+ limited series. McDonald's past TV credits include Family Law, Boardwalk Empire, and the HBO Max comedy series Hacks.

Cobie Smulders as Maria Hill

Cobie Smulders is set to return to the MCU to reprise her role as Maria Hill, the former Deputy Director of SHIELD. Smulders has played Hill across a number of different MCU projects to date. Having initially made her debut in The Avengers, the actress has also starred as Hill in several other films, including Spider-Man: Far From Home, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and more.

Keep checking back here for all the latest casting updates for Marvel's Secret Invasion.

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

The nominations for the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced, with House of Gucci and The Power of the Dog leading the film category, and Succession and Ted Lasso emerging as the top TV nominees.

Rosario Dawson and Vanessa Hudgens reeled off the nominees for the 2022 SAG Awards on Instagram Live on Wednesday, with both House of Gucci and The Power of the Dog getting multiple mentions, having earned three nominations apiece. Notably, House of Gucci features in the best cast category alongside Belfast, CODA, Don't Look Up, and King Richard.

Succession and Ted Lasso both fared well on the TV side with five nominations each, including best ensemble nods in their respective drama and comedy categories. Netflix's hit Korean thriller Squid Game followed closely behind with four nominations, together with HBO's crime drama Mare of Easttown and Apple TV+'s star-studded The Morning Show.

The complete list of 2022 SAG nominees follows:

Motion Picture Honors

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

• Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
• Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
• Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick… Boom!
• Will Smith, King Richard
• Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

• Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
• Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
• Lady Gaga, House of Gucci
• Jennifer Hudson, Respect
• Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

• Ben Affleck, The Tender Bar
• Bradley Cooper, Licorice Pizza
• Troy Kotsur, CODA
• Jared Leto, House of Gucci
• Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

• Caitriona Balfe, Belfast
• Cate Blanchett, Nightmare Alley
• Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
• Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
• Ruth Negga, Passing

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

• Belfast
• CODA
• Don't Look Up
• House of Gucci
• King Richard

Television, Cable and New Media Program Honors

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

• Murray Bartlett, The White Lotus
• Oscar Isaac, Scenes from a Marriage
• Michael Keaton, Dopesick
• Ewan McGregor, Halston
• Evan Peters, Mare of Easttown

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

• Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus
• Cynthia Erivo, Genius: Aretha
• Margaret Qualley, Maid
• Jean Smart, Mare of Easttown
• Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

• Brian Cox, Succession
• Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
• Kieran Culkin, Succession
• Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game
• Jeremy Strong, Succession

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

• Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
• Jung Ho-yeon, Squid Game
• Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale
• Sarah Snook, Succession
• Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

• Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
• Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
• Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
• Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
• Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

• Elle Fanning, The Great
• Sandra Oh, The Chair
• Jean Smart, Hacks
• Juno Temple, Ted Lasso
• Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

• The Handmaid's Tale
• The Morning Show
• Squid Game
• Succession
• Yellowstone

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

• The Great
• Hacks
• The Kominsky Method
• Only Murders in the Building
• Ted Lasso

Stunt Ensemble Honors

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

• Black Widow
• Dune
• The Matrix: Resurrections
• No Time to Die
• Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series

• Cobra Kai
• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
• Loki
• Mare of Easttown
• Squid Game

And... that's a wrap! The 28th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will broadcast live on Sunday, February 27, 2022, on TNT and TBS. Stay tuned to IGN for coverage of the awards.

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

The nominations for the 28th Screen Actors Guild Awards have been announced, with House of Gucci and The Power of the Dog leading the film category, and Succession and Ted Lasso emerging as the top TV nominees.

Rosario Dawson and Vanessa Hudgens reeled off the nominees for the 2022 SAG Awards on Instagram Live on Wednesday, with both House of Gucci and The Power of the Dog getting multiple mentions, having earned three nominations apiece. Notably, House of Gucci features in the best cast category alongside Belfast, CODA, Don't Look Up, and King Richard.

Succession and Ted Lasso both fared well on the TV side with five nominations each, including best ensemble nods in their respective drama and comedy categories. Netflix's hit Korean thriller Squid Game followed closely behind with four nominations, together with HBO's crime drama Mare of Easttown and Apple TV+'s star-studded The Morning Show.

The complete list of 2022 SAG nominees follows:

Motion Picture Honors

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

• Javier Bardem, Being the Ricardos
• Benedict Cumberbatch, The Power of the Dog
• Andrew Garfield, Tick, Tick… Boom!
• Will Smith, King Richard
• Denzel Washington, The Tragedy of Macbeth

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

• Jessica Chastain, The Eyes of Tammy Faye
• Olivia Colman, The Lost Daughter
• Lady Gaga, House of Gucci
• Jennifer Hudson, Respect
• Nicole Kidman, Being the Ricardos

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

• Ben Affleck, The Tender Bar
• Bradley Cooper, Licorice Pizza
• Troy Kotsur, CODA
• Jared Leto, House of Gucci
• Kodi Smit-McPhee, The Power of the Dog

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

• Caitriona Balfe, Belfast
• Cate Blanchett, Nightmare Alley
• Ariana DeBose, West Side Story
• Kirsten Dunst, The Power of the Dog
• Ruth Negga, Passing

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

• Belfast
• CODA
• Don't Look Up
• House of Gucci
• King Richard

Television, Cable and New Media Program Honors

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

• Murray Bartlett, The White Lotus
• Oscar Isaac, Scenes from a Marriage
• Michael Keaton, Dopesick
• Ewan McGregor, Halston
• Evan Peters, Mare of Easttown

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

• Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus
• Cynthia Erivo, Genius: Aretha
• Margaret Qualley, Maid
• Jean Smart, Mare of Easttown
• Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series

• Brian Cox, Succession
• Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
• Kieran Culkin, Succession
• Lee Jung-jae, Squid Game
• Jeremy Strong, Succession

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

• Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show
• Jung Ho-yeon, Squid Game
• Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid's Tale
• Sarah Snook, Succession
• Reese Witherspoon, The Morning Show

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

• Michael Douglas, The Kominsky Method
• Brett Goldstein, Ted Lasso
• Steve Martin, Only Murders in the Building
• Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
• Jason Sudeikis, Ted Lasso

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

• Elle Fanning, The Great
• Sandra Oh, The Chair
• Jean Smart, Hacks
• Juno Temple, Ted Lasso
• Hannah Waddingham, Ted Lasso

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series

• The Handmaid's Tale
• The Morning Show
• Squid Game
• Succession
• Yellowstone

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

• The Great
• Hacks
• The Kominsky Method
• Only Murders in the Building
• Ted Lasso

Stunt Ensemble Honors

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

• Black Widow
• Dune
• The Matrix: Resurrections
• No Time to Die
• Shang Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series

• Cobra Kai
• The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
• Loki
• Mare of Easttown
• Squid Game

And... that's a wrap! The 28th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will broadcast live on Sunday, February 27, 2022, on TNT and TBS. Stay tuned to IGN for coverage of the awards.

Adele Ankers-Range is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow her on Twitter.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Spider-Man: No Way Home!

Spider-Man: No Way Home originally included some “big” Marvel characters.

During an interview with The Wrap, No Way Home co-screenwriter Chris McKenna revealed that some major Marvel characters were removed from the script.

“I don’t know if we’re allowed to, honestly, but there were big characters,” he said. “But almost too big, because it always became a balancing act of how do we tell not only a story with all these awesome villains that we know we want to bring into this movie, the classic ones, but also how do we make this still a Tom Holland/Peter Parker story so that he’s not completely overshadowed?”

McKenna stopped short of revealing which characters would have been in the movie. But it sounds as though removing them was a good idea. After all, Spider-Man: No Way Home isn’t exactly short on heroes and villains.

Starring Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, No Way Home brought the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), The Lizard (Rhys Ifans), Electro (Jamie Foxx), and Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) back to the big screen.

Alongside an appearance from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) any additional Marvel characters may have made the movie feel a lot more cluttered. It may even have shifted the focus away from Peter Parker.

“Because at the end of the day, it’s not going to be a great Spider-Man movie if you’re not telling an emotional Peter Parker story,” added McKenna. “We had these riches that we had to… This giant idea [with] all these great actors, but also we had to tell a story that felt like we were telling a personal story for our main character.”

The multiverse crossover in Spider-Man: No Way home featured some of Spider-Man’s greatest villains, as well as a long-rumoured return for both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as their own incarnations of the web-slinging superhero.

And while it was originally intended to be little more than a post-credit scene this complicated crossover proved to be a big hit with the fans, as No Way Home became Sony’s highest-grossing film of all time.

Spider-Man: No Way Home debuted in theaters on December 17, 2021.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

Warning: This article contains spoilers for Spider-Man: No Way Home!

Spider-Man: No Way Home originally included some “big” Marvel characters.

During an interview with The Wrap, No Way Home co-screenwriter Chris McKenna revealed that some major Marvel characters were removed from the script.

“I don’t know if we’re allowed to, honestly, but there were big characters,” he said. “But almost too big, because it always became a balancing act of how do we tell not only a story with all these awesome villains that we know we want to bring into this movie, the classic ones, but also how do we make this still a Tom Holland/Peter Parker story so that he’s not completely overshadowed?”

McKenna stopped short of revealing which characters would have been in the movie. But it sounds as though removing them was a good idea. After all, Spider-Man: No Way Home isn’t exactly short on heroes and villains.

Starring Tom Holland as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, No Way Home brought the Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe), Doctor Octopus (Alfred Molina), The Lizard (Rhys Ifans), Electro (Jamie Foxx), and Sandman (Thomas Haden Church) back to the big screen.

Alongside an appearance from Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) any additional Marvel characters may have made the movie feel a lot more cluttered. It may even have shifted the focus away from Peter Parker.

“Because at the end of the day, it’s not going to be a great Spider-Man movie if you’re not telling an emotional Peter Parker story,” added McKenna. “We had these riches that we had to… This giant idea [with] all these great actors, but also we had to tell a story that felt like we were telling a personal story for our main character.”

The multiverse crossover in Spider-Man: No Way home featured some of Spider-Man’s greatest villains, as well as a long-rumoured return for both Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield as their own incarnations of the web-slinging superhero.

And while it was originally intended to be little more than a post-credit scene this complicated crossover proved to be a big hit with the fans, as No Way Home became Sony’s highest-grossing film of all time.

Spider-Man: No Way Home debuted in theaters on December 17, 2021.

Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

STALKER 2 developer GSC Game World has taken the decision to delay the game until later this year.

As announced on Twitter, the developer has notified its fans that STALKER 2's new release date has been shifted back to December this year.

pic.twitter.com/E4bdKVmzxV

— S.T.A.L.K.E.R. OFFICIAL (@stalker_thegame) January 12, 2022

"We have made a decision to postpone the release of STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl to December 8, 2022," reads a statement from the development team.

"These additional seven months of development are needed to fulfill our vision and achieve the desired state of the game. STALKER 2 is the biggest project in the history of GSC, and it requires thorough testing and polishing. We are convinced that development should take as long as necessary, especially in the case of such a project."

The delay to STALKER 2 will likely come as a disappointment to some fans, some of which have been anticipating the game's release for almost a decade now. STALKER 2 has seen a rather bizarre and tumultuous development cycle over the years, having been initially announced in 2010 only to then be cancelled just a year later. In 2012, reports then surfaced that the game was "currently in development" without a release date before news broke in 2018 that GSC was developing the sequel.

Elsewhere in the statement from GSC, the team notes that the decision to delay the game "has not been an easy one", but that it will hopefully allow them to deliver a game "that can live up to the expectations". The statement ends by explaining to fans that further information, updates, and showcases for the game will be coming in due course and that the team has an "exciting and important year ahead."

For more on STALKER 2, make sure to check out this article detailing how GSC Game World revoked a decision to incorporate NFTs into the game after fan feedback on the topic received notable backlash.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

STALKER 2 developer GSC Game World has taken the decision to delay the game until later this year.

As announced on Twitter, the developer has notified its fans that STALKER 2's new release date has been shifted back to December this year.

pic.twitter.com/E4bdKVmzxV

— S.T.A.L.K.E.R. OFFICIAL (@stalker_thegame) January 12, 2022

"We have made a decision to postpone the release of STALKER 2: Heart of Chernobyl to December 8, 2022," reads a statement from the development team.

"These additional seven months of development are needed to fulfill our vision and achieve the desired state of the game. STALKER 2 is the biggest project in the history of GSC, and it requires thorough testing and polishing. We are convinced that development should take as long as necessary, especially in the case of such a project."

The delay to STALKER 2 will likely come as a disappointment to some fans, some of which have been anticipating the game's release for almost a decade now. STALKER 2 has seen a rather bizarre and tumultuous development cycle over the years, having been initially announced in 2010 only to then be cancelled just a year later. In 2012, reports then surfaced that the game was "currently in development" without a release date before news broke in 2018 that GSC was developing the sequel.

Elsewhere in the statement from GSC, the team notes that the decision to delay the game "has not been an easy one", but that it will hopefully allow them to deliver a game "that can live up to the expectations". The statement ends by explaining to fans that further information, updates, and showcases for the game will be coming in due course and that the team has an "exciting and important year ahead."

For more on STALKER 2, make sure to check out this article detailing how GSC Game World revoked a decision to incorporate NFTs into the game after fan feedback on the topic received notable backlash.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

PUBG: Battlegrounds' recent decision to make the game free-to-play is "in no way a response" to similar successful free-to-play shooters such as Call of Duty: Warzone, Fortnite, and Apex Legends, who have all similarly adopted that model.

During an interview with GamesRadar, studio creative director Dave Curd discussed its move to a free-to-play structure on PC and consoles from today. "We came to the decision to make PUBG: Battlegrounds free to play because we feel that it is truly the right time," explained Curd.

"Our game is in a great place with eight maps, an engaged community, and our deep gun mechanics, so this is the natural next step and a great way to introduce more players to our universe. I know there are a lot of people who are interested in PUBG: Battlegrounds but have never gotten around to playing it for various reasons - now is the perfect moment to get started."

Elsewhere in the interview, Curd explained that the decision was "in no way a response" to other similar Battle Royale titles on the market. "They're all great games which specialize in their own unique strengths, just as we do. We develop our game independently of others and are excited to see what is to come," he said.

The PUBG Corporation announced that the game would be moving to a free-to-play model during a segment at The Game Awards last year. During the show, the developer revealed that PUBG would feature two tiers moving forward - a standard free-to-play account, which "offers access to most game features", and the studio's premium tier, Battlegrounds Plus. Players who have previously bought the game will automatically be made a part of Battlegrounds Plus, while those new to the series will need to pay $12.99 should they want the additional features that the mode has to offer.

The full list of Battlegrounds Plus benefits are:

• Bonus 1,300 G-COIN
• Survival Masters XP + 100 percent boost
• Career - Medal tab
• Ranked Mode
• Custom Match functionality
• In-Game items, including the Captain’s Camo set, which includes hat, camo mask and camo gloves

For more on PUBG: Battlegrounds, make sure to check out this video detailing 5 additional things to know about the game going free-to-play.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.

PUBG: Battlegrounds' recent decision to make the game free-to-play is "in no way a response" to similar successful free-to-play shooters such as Call of Duty: Warzone, Fortnite, and Apex Legends, who have all similarly adopted that model.

During an interview with GamesRadar, studio creative director Dave Curd discussed its move to a free-to-play structure on PC and consoles from today. "We came to the decision to make PUBG: Battlegrounds free to play because we feel that it is truly the right time," explained Curd.

"Our game is in a great place with eight maps, an engaged community, and our deep gun mechanics, so this is the natural next step and a great way to introduce more players to our universe. I know there are a lot of people who are interested in PUBG: Battlegrounds but have never gotten around to playing it for various reasons - now is the perfect moment to get started."

Elsewhere in the interview, Curd explained that the decision was "in no way a response" to other similar Battle Royale titles on the market. "They're all great games which specialize in their own unique strengths, just as we do. We develop our game independently of others and are excited to see what is to come," he said.

The PUBG Corporation announced that the game would be moving to a free-to-play model during a segment at The Game Awards last year. During the show, the developer revealed that PUBG would feature two tiers moving forward - a standard free-to-play account, which "offers access to most game features", and the studio's premium tier, Battlegrounds Plus. Players who have previously bought the game will automatically be made a part of Battlegrounds Plus, while those new to the series will need to pay $12.99 should they want the additional features that the mode has to offer.

The full list of Battlegrounds Plus benefits are:

• Bonus 1,300 G-COIN
• Survival Masters XP + 100 percent boost
• Career - Medal tab
• Ranked Mode
• Custom Match functionality
• In-Game items, including the Captain’s Camo set, which includes hat, camo mask and camo gloves

For more on PUBG: Battlegrounds, make sure to check out this video detailing 5 additional things to know about the game going free-to-play.

Jared Moore is a freelance writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.