Naver, Krafton team up to bring PUBG esports to bigger audiences

Korean internet giant Naver Corp. has entered into a strategic partnership with game developer Krafton to expand the media and content ecosystem surrounding the hit video game franchise PUBG: Battlegrounds, Naver announced Friday. The medium-to-long-term alliance aims to capitalize on the growing intersection of livestreaming, digital communities and competitive gaming. Under a memorandum of understanding signed Friday, the two companies plan to link Krafton's intellectual property for PUBG esports with Chzzk, Naver’s proprietary video streaming platform. The integration will leverage Naver’s stable infrastructure and specialized interactive viewing features, such as its co-watching tool, which allows creators and viewers to stream and discuss live matches together in real time. Naver intends to broadcast major PUBG esports tournaments directly on Chzzk and establish formal league partnerships. By integrating Krafton's globally recognized game brand with Chzzk’s established network of creators, the platform seeks to develop exclusive broadcasts that can broaden its user base and