PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS News

Esports 2021: Road to PGC

Hello, PUBG esports fans,

When we think about PUBG esports, there are three main things we focus on in our efforts to deliver the best experience possible.

First is you, our fans. This means providing as many ways for you to conveniently watch as possible, including new screens that you can watch right on the Battlegrounds as you play, awesome new rewards for the Pick’em Challenge, giveaways throughout the broadcast, and more!

Second, is our players. We’ve steadily worked to increase our prize pools, worked with and accommodated teams as best we can during this unprecedented pandemic, and introduced even more revenue sharing into our programs so that participating teams can earn even more.

And lastly, a focus on global competition. PUBG is and always has been a worldwide game. The reason we’re able to put on tournaments like we do, is because of the widespread support from our fans that continues to this day. Giving as many regions as possible a chance to represent their home is important and something we try to do as fairly as possible.

We kept these goals, among others, in mind when coming up with our 2021 esports plan, and we are happy to share our current schedule with you all.

ROAD TO PGC

Starting with the upcoming PGI.S tournament, we are planning a total of four global esports tournaments in 2021.

We tried something new last year with the PCS format, and based on your great support have decided it will continue this year! PCS4 will be held in June and PCS5 will follow, in September.

The action culminates at the PUBG Global Championship (PGC), which will mark the conclusion of the 2021 PUBG esports season. Look forward to a hard fought final showdown in November!

PUBG CONTINENTAL SERIES 2021 INFO

Much like their predecessors, PCS4 & PCS5 are online tournaments that take place across four different regions.

However, there are several changes to the PCS tournaments in 2021. First of all, the North American region has been expanded to also include the Latin American (LATAM) region, allowing teams from Latin America to also represent their region in PCS. The consolidated region will now be called the Americas.

We’re expanding our selection process for which teams can participate and also plan on increasing the overall number of matches. We hope to provide a stable window of opportunity for skilled players to show off what they can do while giving our fans more Battle Royale action to look forward to.

Lastly, we’re also looking into the addition of more third-party events to further diversify and bolster PUBG esports. More info on that at a later time!

PUBG Global Championship INFO

More matches and tournaments is fun, but it’s important to also celebrate the best of the best from around the world. That’s where the PUBG Global Championship comes in.

Teams will qualify for PGC based on points collected from their regional tournaments. There will also be additional ways to qualify for PGC. In certain regions, this also includes a wildcard system and third-party tournaments.

The goal of this is to allow teams who may be outside of PCS regions to still have a chance at qualifying for PGC.

Once all qualification tournaments have concluded, teams who have earned the most points will advance to PGC 2021 to battle with the best PUBG teams in the world for their shot at the ultimate Chicken Dinner.

Profit Sharing

Giving participating teams opportunities to earn money is always a priority for us, and our current crowdfunding systems, such as Pick’Em Challenge, will continue in 2021.
Of course, we’re always looking at ways to improve profit sharing and give teams even more opportunities to earn cash.

PUBG is proud to have some of the greatest fans and teams in the scene, and we thank you for your tremendous support over the years. We’ll constantly work to keep our tournaments fun and rewarding to watch and look forward to delivering the best esports action yet in 2021!

That’s all for now, thanks and we’ll see you at PGI.S!

Update 10.3 - Patch Notes

Hey Survivors,

Update 10.3 is here with an assortment of new features and performance upgrades including a new Weapon Sound Selection system, some lighting improvements for Karakin, and even the ability to emote with your teammates!

Dive into the full patch notes below for details on everything new!

11.1 Update
In consideration of the PGI.S tournament schedule, the next monthly update will be later than usual. Also, from next Season the general structure will change and we'll have more details to share with you as we get closer to release.

[h2]Weapon Sound Select System[/h2]

As previously introduced in last December's Dev Letter, we're happy to be implementing the Weapon Sound Select System. This feature allows players to select between the original and remastered versions of certain weapon sounds.

Supported Weapons:

M249
M416
Kar98k
SKS

Select your preference from the Settings Menu, under the Audio tab.

[h2]Karakin Map Improvements[/h2]

Karakin Lighting Improvements
- Karakin has received lighting pass, improving overall lighting and giving each area it's own unique feel and tone.
General bug fixes across the map to improve the player experience.

[h2]Kicking AFK Players in Training Mode[/h2]

Much like in TDM, players who AFK in Training Mode will be removed from the session, with a 10 second warning prior to removal.
- Players will receive a message after being kicked, to let you know why you've been removed.
Players who AFK in Training Mode after queuing for Ranked with our Dual Matchmaking will be removed from the Training Mode session, but remain in their Ranked queue.

[h2]Emote With Your Squad Mates[/h2]

Certain emotes can now be used together, in sync with teammates! Emotes which support this feature are displayed with two characters in the emote image.

Sync-up your emotes with players within a 15 meter radius of your character or in the lobby on the main menu.
- You can choose to stop emoting at any time, independent of the person who had initiated the emotes.
- Free-look camera is supported while emoting in TPP only.
View each emote and the maximum number of players who can sync-up with you at once under Customization, Emotes, on the main menu.
You're unable to use other interactions while emoting, such as vaulting or picking up items.

[h2]Improved Store Experience[/h2]

Improved G-Coin messaging on purchases to ensure players understand the value of their G-Coin purchase.
- Previously, any bonus G-Coin was bundled into one G-Coin total. Now, bonus G-Coin is also displayed as an independent figure.

Added Currency Filter
- You can sort and browse the items by BP or G-Coin.

[h2]Season 10 is Soon Wrapping Up[/h2]
Haven will only be around until the end of Season 10, enjoy the most out of it while it's here!

Survivor Pass Schedule

Survivor Pass: Breakthrough comes to an end on March 24. You still have two weeks from that point to claim all your rewards and access the coupon shop. Although, you'll no longer be able to purchase or use Level-Up Tokens, purchase the Premium Survivor Pass, or complete missions from that date.

March 23, 7 PM PDT
March 24, 11 AM KST
March 24, 3 AM CET

In regards to the Ranked Season schedule, stay tuned and we'll keep you updated with specific Ranked announcements.

[h2]Reputation System Update[/h2]
The Reputation System introduced is one of our newest features, implemented in Update 10.2 and is designed to encourage positive player interactions within the community. We have received lots of player feedback so far and a common trend we're seeing is that some players feel certain penalties are too harsh.

We hear your concerns and are making the following changes with Update 10.3:

Normal Matches: Exiting a match while in the starting area, prior to boarding the plane will NOT negatively impact your reputation.
Ranked Matches: You will lose reputation for exiting Ranked Matches, even if exiting while in the starting area prior to the plane leaving. There are some exceptions, which you can read below.
- You can leave a Ranked Match up to 5 minutes after (but not before) the plane has taken off without losing reputation, in situations where matchmaking has provided you with a random teammate who has then exited the match.
- Additionally, the same applies if matchmaking fails to provide you with at least one random teammate after queuing for Ranked Squads.

We'll continue reading your feedback and make additional improvements in the future. Please, let us know your thoughts on these change.

[h2]Performance Enhancements[/h2]
We have made multiple improvements to various pipelines and processes to improve overall performance.

Improved performance for low core count CPUs.
Optimized the pipeline for lighting calculation methods to improve performance.
Improved CPU performance by processing both character animation and vehicle physics calculations in parallel.
Improved memory optimization of character models through memory cache optimization.
Improved memory and processing optimization cost.
Optimized CPU/GPU performance with improved character creation/deletion logic.
Optimizations have been made so that objects such as furniture and stairs, can be viewed normally while ADS even at medium/long distances.

[h2]Items & Skins [/h2]
Emotes

Victory Dance 39
Slow-dodge
Victory Dance 40
- Sales Period
  - 2/10 2021 11 AM KST - 2/22 2022 11 AM KST
  - 2/9 2021 6 PM PST - 2/21 2022 6 PM PST
  - 2/10 2021 3 AM CET - 2/22 2022 3 AM CET

Valentine's Day Skins - February 13, 11 AM KST - March 13, 11 AM KST

RED HOOD'S BUNDLE
- Red's Scar
- Red's Hood
- Red's Jeans
- Red's Gloves
- Red's Boots
BIG BAD BUNDLE
- Big Bad's Hood
- Big Bad's Jeans
- Big Bad's Boots
Bloodlust Weapon Skins
- Bloodlust - SKS
- Bloodlust - Vector
Emotes - February 13, 2021 11:00 - February 12, 2022 11:00 (KST)
- Victory Dance 41
- Victory Dance 42

[h2]Bug Fixes[/h2]
Gameplay

Fixed the issue where sometimes respawns wouldn't work correctly in TDM.
Fixed a clipping issue when Racy Reindeer Top and Lv. 2 Vest is equipped at the same time.
Fixed a clipping issue when a female character equips Sinister Skull Mask and PGI.S Hood.
Fixed a clipping issue when a female character equips Gen.g Jersey and Madsy Utility Belt.
Fixed the issue where the female character's hair disappears when wearing Shiba Crew Hood Jersey and a hat.
Fixed the clipping issue when Christmas Party Jacket clips with the main weapon.
Fixed the issue where reporting a player in Custom Match - Observer didn't function.
Fixed an issue where the livestream displays wouldn't function correctly with certain PC configurations.
Fixed an issue where the video on livestream displays would stop working correctly.
Fixed the issue where when using a controller, the r-stick and d-pad on didn't scroll or change focus when navigating the inventory in certain occasions.
Fixed the issue where certain vehicle parts were sticking out too low onto the ground.
Fixed an issue where Schwizard's Hypno-eyes Glasses and other types of glasses could be worn at the same time.

UI/UX

Fixed an issue with an out-of-date Key Guide on the loading screen.
Fixed the issue where when selecting Emotes in the menu, the wrong sound effect played..
Fixed an issue where the size of a character in the PASS 10-2 loading screen was too large.
Fixed a translation setting issue for Japanese in the Reputation System.
Fixed an issue where filtering didn't work when entering a banned word after pressing [CTRL] + [Backspace] before entering chat.
Fixed the issue where other players' reputation levels were not displayed correctly.
Fixed the issue where the number of daily/weekly missions did not match the actual number of missions.
Fixed the issue where the previous season points are incorrectly displayed.
Fixed an issue where the weapon icon in use was displayed as a steering wheel when the observer is watching a player who is shooting while driving.
Fixed the issue where certain nicknames are displayed in the wrong position when the observer zooms in on the map.
Fixed the issue where the visible/invisible hat icons in the inventory weren't aligned correctly.
Fixed the issue where the Hero section in the News Page wasn't displayed properly under certain conditions.
Fixed the issue where the attachment UI disappears when switching back and forth fast between the driver's seat and the passenger seat in a vehicle with the inventory window open.
Fixed an issue where the notification was continuously re-received when reconnecting to the lobby even if the expiration notification of the customized preset slot was deleted.

PUBG hacking: Why do people hack, what hacks are there, and more

Chicken dinners in PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds can be elusive, and there's nothing more frustrating than coming so close to victory than being pipped to the post by a hacker. Like most competitive games out there, PUBG's servers are rife with cheaters, and it's hard to fall in love with a game when you're being shot from 800 metres away.

When games are that competitive, it's easy to fall into the trap of wanting to cheat, but PUBG Corp has dedicated a lot of time and research into finding and banning hackers since the game launched in 2018. The developer has set up an extensive anti-cheat system which can shut down hackers pretty quickly, and it has in the past even caught out professional players too.

So if you're here because you're wondering what hacks look like in PUBG, or you're contemplating trying them out for yourself, we've put together a guide on everything you need to know about hacking in PUBG, including what will happen if you get caught. TL;DR, it's not good news.

Read the rest of the story...

PGI.S Broadcasting Channels and Talent Lineup

Hello, PUBG Esports fans!

Coming up at the Studio Paradise, Incheon, South Korea in February, The exhilarating journey of the PUBG Global Invitational.S is just about to begin! We’re providing English broadcasts for PGI.S across all regions, as well as multiple languages, with the best PUBG Esports talent and casters for every match, all around the world.

There are much more special pieces of PGI.S content ready for your entertainment! Every Tuesday, WEEKLY PGI.S will be live just before the main matches begin, to cover results of the previous week's PGI.S! On every Saturday 6PM, the PGI.S SHOW, a weekly PGI.S-themed show will be live with special guests. Stay tuned and don't miss a single episode!

[h2]PGI.S Broadcast Schedule[/h2]

Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Sunday
- On Air: 6:30 PM KST (Tuesday: WEEKLY PGI.S)
- Match Start: 7 PM KST
Saturday
- On Air: 6 PM KST (PGI.S SHOW)
- Match Start: 7 PM KST

[h2]PGI.S Global (English) Feed Talent[/h2]

PGI.S Tournament Format & Rules

Hello PUBG Esports fans!

Our biggest tournament ever, the PUBG Global Invitational.S, is just two weeks away!

32 teams from around the globe will battle week over week to claim as much prize money as they can! Let’s take a look at the tournament and rules for PGI.S 2021.

[h2]PGI.S Tournament Structure[/h2]
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
First off, starting with PGI.S, we’re adopting a new ruleset for PUBG Esports. All PUBG esports will have identical bluezone settings to PUBG Ranked matches!

We will continue to monitor and review the new rule set with the aim to gradually combine PUBG esports and Ranked matches into identical rule sets.

Rank Decision
Starting on February 5th, before the main tournament starts, teams will battle it out in 24 deciding matches across 3 days. The results of these matches will split our 32 teams into 4 different groups and decide their placement order for the first set of Weekly Survival matches. The Top 16 and Bottom 16 teams from this decision are important - more on that in a bit.

Weekly Series
The meat of PGI.S are 6 different Weekly Series where teams battle for placement and prize money. These consist of the Weekly Survival matches held during the week and the Weekly Finals matches held on the weekend.

Unlike our previous tournaments, teams earn prize money each week and the team with the most at the end of the tournament is crowned the winner.

Weekly Survival
Let’s go over Weekly Survival first.

Weekly Survival matches are 16 matches played over the course of 3 days during the week. The object here is pretty simple, 16 teams fight to the last team standing. The team who brings home the Chicken Dinner moves on to the Weekly Final. The remaining 15 teams are joined by the next team on the Bottom 16 waiting list and another match begins. This goes on until 16 teams qualify for the Weekly Finals.

The first 8 teams to win a Survival Match each week also win some prize money, with more money given the sooner you win.

Weekly Finals
The 16 qualifying teams from the Weekly Survival matches then compete in a 10 match tournament over the weekend. This tournament follows traditional PUBG Esports tournament structure and the top teams bring home an even bigger amount of prize money, which increases week over week.

These 16 teams become the first teams to play in next week’s Weekly Survival matches and the Bottom 16 compete in another set of placement matches to determine their position on the waiting list. These placement matches happen on Saturdays before the main tournament starts.

*Bottom 16 placement matches are not broadcasted. You can find the placement results from your region's official PUBG esports social channels!

[h2]Prize Pool[/h2]

PGI.S offers teams plenty of opportunities to earn prize money throughout the tournament. In fact, there’s a whopping $3.5 million available to be earned! The team who collects the most prize money over the course of the tournament will be declared the 2021 PGI.S Champion.

*Total prize pool of $3.5 million includes the minimum guarantee of approx. $1 million to benefit all participating teams.

Here are the ways teams can earn prize money once again:

Weekly Survival

The first 8 teams to win a Chicken Dinner during each week’s Weekly Survival win prize money. Prize money earned decreases each game, so winning early earns you more!

Weekly Finals

The TOP 4 Teams at the end of the Weekly Finals earn prize money according to their rank. Total prize pool of each Weekly Finals tournament increases week over week starting from $50,000 during the first week, up to an astounding $1 million during the final week!

This format allows teams plenty of time to win some prize money and plenty of ways to come back if their early performance wasn’t great. We hope it makes for an exciting tournament!

[h2]PGI.S Item sales profits[/h2]
We’re giving teams 30% of the profits earned from the sale of PGI.S gear in the store. This money doesn’t count towards the overall winner, but will be distributed to teams based on how much prize money they won during the tournament. Pick up some cool PGI.S gear, get some voting coupons for the Pick’em Challenge, and support your favorite teams in the process!

How much prize money will your favorite team take home? Find out when the 2021 PUBG Global Invitational.S begins in February! We’ll see you on the Battlegrounds!