PUBG Mobile joins forces with University of Southern California

PUBG Mobile has announced a partnership with the USC Games programme at the University of California (USC).

The deal will use the mobile battle royale’s co-creation platform, World of Wonder, as a teaching tool as part of USC’s Games as a Service and Live Operations class, starting in 2026.

According to a release, World of Wonder’s integration aims to ’empower students to bring their creative ideas to life’. This includes receiving direct feedback from PUBG Mobile players during the development process.

Projects from next year’s course will be showcased at the USC Games Expo, taking place in May 2026. The top students from the class earn interview opportunities for a summer internship, which aims to recruit the next generation of game development talent into the industry.

USC becomes the latest university to join forces with PUBG Mobile and to integrate World of Wonder into its education programmes. The title has partnered with over 50 universities across the world, enabling students to gain the knowledge required to embark on a career in game development.

World of Wonder continues to provide creators with a variety of tools to create unique experiences that are playable within PUBG Mobile. In September, the platform launched the version 1.0 update alongside a $10m (~£7.5m) prize pool.

Outside of its educational partnerships, PUBG Mobile continues to collaborate with a variety of brands from the world of entertainment. September saw it join forces with internet phenomenon Skibidi Toilet, introducing limited-time game modes and exclusive themed rewards.

The title’s esports scene remains one of the most-watched mobile games in the world. The PUBG Mobile World Cup, won by Yangon Galacticos, recorded peak viewing figures of over 1.38m, becoming the second most-watched event in its history.

In addition to building a thriving esports ecosystem, KRAFTON has heavily invested in supporting content creators. The Next Star Program features a $6m (~£4.5m) prize pool on offer to creators around the world.