https://www.pcgamer.com/pubg-cant-provide-people-with-free-servers-says-brendan-greene-on-custom-server-paywall/

PUBG custom matches "won't have an associated cost" during beta but may charge in future, so said the battle royale's developer earlier this month. Brendan Greene, aka PlayerUnknown himself, has now explained PUBG Corp "can’t provide people with free servers" as doing so is not financially viable. 

In conversation with PCGamesN, Greene says paywalls are required—be that with real money or in-game currency.