PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS News

It's been a hell of a year here at PUBG. Thanks for taking this journey with us. As we approach the holidays we're hard at work on some exciting new features for you to play in 2020. As season 5.3 starts to wrap up, we're ending the year with a number of quality of life updates to give you a better PUBG experience. Read through the patch notes below for new settings, blood effects and skins that have landed on the Battleground.

"Bloody realistic"

Blood Effect Improvements

• Headshots including the neck area produce more distinct visual effect to ensure clear identification of hit
  
• Blood splatter will be shown on walls and floors if the character is hit near it
  
  • The size of the blood splash is unified across all color settings
• Blood impacts on characters will now provide a more precise visual representation of which body parts have been hit
  

• Reduced the maximum number of uses per Vending Machine from 15 to 10
  

• Increased the overall number of spike traps spawned
  

This update was applied on Jan 7, 2020 PST

Erangel

• Increased AR spawn amount by 20%
  
• Slightly decreased Gas Can and Handgun spawns

Miramar

• 22% increase to overall loot spawned
  
• Additional 22% increase to total number of ARs spawned
  
  • This means the total number of ARs spawned on Miramar is now 44% higher than before

"Your Settings, Anywhere, Anytime"

Cloud Saving

• Settings now can be saved to the cloud in the settings screen
  
• Saved settings can be loaded in the settings screen when needed
  
• This also allows players to load their account settings even when playing on a new PC
  
• Settings that are dependent on hardware cannot be saved
  
  • GRAPHICS: All settings in the GRAPHICS category except "Language Setting"
    
  • GAMEPLAY: "Inventory Character Render" setting cannot be saved
• The Cloud Saving option can be found at the bottom right of the SETTINGS screen
  
• Test Server settings will only be saved on to the test server account
  

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens"

Favorite Weapon

• Players can now choose their "favorite weapon" in the Mastery tab
  
• The weapon of choice will show up as the first weapon stat in your PUBG ID, regardless of whether the weapon has the highest level or not
  
• A grey star will show up when player's mouse is hovered over it. Clicking the star will favorite the weapon
  
• A gold star will show up next to a chosen weapon when a player favorites it
  
• Players can only favorite individual weapons and not categories
  
• There can only be one favorite. That's just logical
  
• The favorite weapon will always show up at the top of players' list, even when the sorting feature is used
  

Lobby Theme

• Lobby background will change to a HAPPY HOLIDAYS theme once the patch is updated on live servers
  
• To set the winter mood, the lobby music has also been changed
  

Weapon HUD Improvement

• Heal and acceleration icons on the weapon HUD will now flash when activated
  

Esports Mode

• Boats and Aquarails now have fixed spawn locations and numbers on Sanhok
  

Observing UI Improvement

• Enabled rear camera flip (180 degrees flip) by pressing Ctrl+R key during freecam perspective
  
• Enabled adjusting camera movement speed during observing
  
  • Speed up: =
    
  • Speed down: -
• Bullet tracer setting indicator will now be shown on the bottom left of the UI
  

• Old replays cannot be played due to a version update to the replay system.
  

• All PGC signs and banners on Miramar have been removed
  

• The current season of both the Survivor Pass and Survival Title System will end on January 14 PDT
  
  • Starting January 1st,  there will be a countdown on the Survivor Pass lobby banner notifying players of the pass end date
    
  • A pop-up message will be displayed to users purchasing Premium Pass and Level-up items, alerting them of the time left until pass end
• Premium Pass and Level-up items can be purchased until the Pass period ends
  

The following items will be added to the Store after Update 5.3 hits live servers:

• Added 2 BattleStat weapon skins (QBU and P1911)
  
• Added 2 BattleStat weapon skins (SKS and P92)
  
  • Purchasable with BP
• Added 3 Factory Worker skins
  
• Added 4 Punk Destruction skins
  

• Crates requiring keys to unlock are no-longer included in the pool of Random Crates purchasable with BP
  
  • For more information, please go to the following link: Dev Letter: Improving Crate Content
• Random Crate contents and percentages have been adjusted as shown below:
  

Gameplay

• Fixed an issue where the reticle would shake when ADS with a 6x Scope equipped
  
• Fixed an issue where character movement would stutter when firing the DBS in certain situations
  
• Fixed an issue where BRDM collision damage was higher than intended
  
• Fixed an issue where a disconnected player could float when displaced by a prone character
  

World

• Mitigated an issue which causes players to be bumped into the air when moving close to certain objects
  

Custom Match

• Fixed an issue while observing and using the x-ray feature where the character outline is not visible after a player is revived
  
• Fixed an issue where healing items would not show while spectating in free cam when in observer mode
  

UI/UX

• Fixed an issue where only the ammo of one weapon is updated in the inventory when holding more than one weapon using the same ammo type
  
• Fixed an issue where the character size would show incorrectly in lobby when moving to lobby after seeing preview of PGC 2019 bundle
  
• Fixed an issue where character rendering is done late when changing gender while creating a character
  
• Fixed an issue where item equipped icon and new item notification icon would appear at the same location in CUSTOMIZE menu
  

Skins & items

• Fixed an issue where [BATTLESTAT] Refined Mictlantecuhtli Groza kill count would not be displayed correctly.
  
• Fixed an issue where character thighs would be displayed incorrectly when certain skins are equipped.
  

Land, loot, and camp in the circle for the rest of the match no more. Circle squatters that felt safe not to engage the enemy will now be forced to keep it moving as a second Blue Zone is being added to the existing circle. The new "Inner Blue Zone" will be both a camping deterrent and an indicator of where the next circle will be. You can find complete details on the rules of the new Blue Zone dynamics below. The Bluehole mode will be available from December 5th 11pm - December 8th 11pm in PUBG Labs. PUBG Labs is a space where we introduce to you experimental in-game features and collect your feedback to perfect them as permanent game additions. The most important for PUBG Labs is your valuable opinions! Please feel free to let our Community Managers know about what you think from your experience. Now, head for that Inner Blue Zone and show us "what you goin', what you goin' do" - when they come for you.

Why was it made?

• Players didn't know where the next circle would be, so whoever was lucky enough to be in the next circle had a higher chance of winning
  
• As the next circle location was unknown, players could often find themselves fighting with the Blue Zone more than their foes and have to hoof it the entire match.
  

Mechanics

• An inner Blue Zone will now appear from the start of the match until the penultimate phase
  
• The inner Blue Zone will be the same size/location as the next circle
  
• It will be difficult for players to camp in the inner Blue Zone as they will take damage (same damage as the next phase Blue Zone)
  

Rules

• Another Blue Zone the "Inner Blue Zone" appears inside the safe zone. (Except the final phase)
  
• The Inner Blue Zone is the same size/position as the safe zone that will proceed it.
  
• The damage of the Inner Blue Zone is the same as that of the next Blue Zone phase.
  
• Item spawn rate is 0.5x higher than public matches.
  
• Faster revives, with a 4 second DBNO revive timer.
  

• Period: Dec 5 11pm PST - Dec 8 11pm PST
  
• Perspective: TPP/FPP
  
• Mode: 4-man Squad
  
• Map: Erangel
  
• Maximum Player: 64
  
• How to join: Click the banner on the left bottom above the 'START' button
  

 

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Hit the Battlegrounds with a “Ho, Ho, Ho!” by throwing on a festive sweater or gingerbread onesie. Want a more traditional look? Try the Peppermint Presents set - the coat and hat combo is only $9.99.

Tis the season for Kris Kringle to deliver special holiday skins to the PUBG store. Grab these items before January 1st, because you can only get “Peace on Earth” during this special time of year.



Festive Wish Sweater

• $2.99

Ginger Bread Onesie

• $7.99

Peace on Earth - Kar98k

• $9.99

Ginger Bread Mask

• 10,000BP

Yule Scarf

• $0.99

North Pole Operator Pants

• $2.99

Peppermint Presents Set

• $9.99

Gen.G’s path to PGC victory was by no means a straight line as we watched them evolve into a champion team before our eyes. The Gen.G we saw in Manhattan Beach for the Group Stage and Semifinals is a far cry from the team that showed up to Oakland. They were able to work their way through those early rounds well enough, but they were not where fans expected them to be. Gen.G came to Oakland far more decisive and aggressive. Once they found their feet, their star player and slaying juggernaut Pio was able to come alive with big kill sprees and a strong flank game to give his team that extra edge.

Gen.G never secured a Chicken Dinner on Day 2 of the Grand Finals, but they effectively nursed the lead they established on Day 1 to get the job done. That and a ferocious 10 kills on the last map of the day to overcome a two point deficit was all Gen.G would need to overpower 4AM.



Match Winners
Match 1 (Miramar) – FaZe Clan
Match 2 (Miramar) – Na’Vi
Match 3 (Miramar) – 4AM
Match 4 (Sanhok) – VC Gaming
Match 5 (Erangel) – 4AM
Match 6 (Erangel) – Na’Vi



When it comes to the Grand Finals, no ordinary format would do. The final day of PGC 2019 had players starting out with three matches on Miramar, finishing with two on Erangel, with a Sanhok game in between. Typically Miramar is a strong NPL map, however today it was PEL’s Na’Vi and Faze Clan who took the first two wins. Genesis made a valiant effort to take Match 3, but 4AM’s Forever managed to take it in a 2-v-1 prone showdown.

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A big pattern for the final day of PGC was teams not going down until late in the match. Much like being the first to fall asleep at a sleepover, if you go down too soon, you miss all the good stuff. Getting knocked out early was not an option if teams wanted those points. That meant teeny tiny circles with LOTS of bodies and lots of action.

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This pushed teams in terms of multitasking skills as more often than not, there were three if not more parties involved in firefights. Casters were working overtime keeping up with all the high stakes battles.

When it was all said and done and sorted, however, Gen.G went wire-to-wire in the Grand Finals, save a brief scare from PCL’s Four Angry Men, and left no doubt about their championship pedigree. They’re the winners of $2M USD in prize money, thanks to the PGC crowdfunding programs, and Gen.G stand undisputed as the last survivors of PUBG Esports in 2019.

The PGC Grand Finals have arrived! Oakland Arena was filled with PUBG fans ready to cheer on their favorite top teams. There was no shortage of chaos and show stopping moments and the audience was LOVING it!

Top Guns

Gen.G set the bar high by taking the first two wins on Ergangel with a hefty amount of kills in their pocket. From here on out, if anyone wanted to take that top spot from Gen.G they would have needed to deliver some efficient killing runs. If ever there was a team that was capable of doing so, it was Four Angry Men. These PCL favorites were nothing short of vicious with aggressive tactics and tight, methodical rotations. Watch as xxxLu is able to clean house thanks to his team getting him access to this angle.

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Two teams that turned in consistent performances were OGN Entus Force and OGN Entus Ace. At one point, these two PKL teams had an epic showdown with OGN Entus Ace coming out victorious and taking the win on Sanhok.

Potential Landmines
The teams on the bottom may not be where they want to be on the leaderboard, but there are some that could easily disrupt the ranks on Day 2. Getting the kills, but never the Dinner we have The Rumblers. If they could turn their solid edge game into some wins they could be a much bigger threat. Waldoe in particular made a big show of himself, managing to move into the top five for kills. PML’s Global Esports Xsset (GEX) is another team with lots of potential to cause problems for the front runners. They found themselves staring down Gen.G’s barrels often and managed to take them out with common sense instincts.

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This is not the first time GEX has showed this level of composure when they’re in a bind as they made similar moves in both the Group Stage and the Semifinals. There’s a reason they’re here for the final show. Meanwhile, Faze once again pulled out a last minute surprise on Miramar by taking the last Chicken Dinner of the day after playing quietly for most of the evening. They are a prime candidate to pull off an upset come Day 2.

New Day, Same Teams
The beauty of the Grand Finals is that while teams may get knocked down or disillusioned on Day 1, everyone will punch in again tomorrow. By now everyone on the battlegrounds has had a chance to get acquainted with one another. Day 2 will be the occasion when teams will try to throw one another off by changing their playbooks. Some adjustments may be minor, other teams may come in looking to completely reinvent themselves. The best mindset going into the final day of PGC is to assume NOTHING.



Match Winners
Match 1 (Erangel) – Gen.G
Match 2 (Erangel) – Gen.G
Match 3 (Erangel) – TSM
Match 4 (Sanhok) – OGN Entus Ace
Match 5 (Miramar) – Tempo Storm
Match 6 (Miramar) – Faze Clan

You’ll want to be tuned in to watch.pubgesports.com on Sunday, November 24 at 5:00 p.m. PT to watch the incredible conclusion of PGC 2019!