18.2 Highlights

Live Maintenance Schedule

• PC
  • PDT: July 12, 5:30 PM – July 13, 1:30 AM
  • CEST: July 13, 2:30 AM – 10:30 AM
  • KST: July 13, 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
• Console
  • PDT: July 20, 9 PM – July 21, 4 AM
  • CEST: July 21, 6 AM – 1 PM
  • KST: July 21, 1 PM – 8 PM

Map Service

• Test Server: Normal Match
  • Miramar / Karakin
    • AS region: Squad – TPP
    • NA region: Squad – FPP
• Test Server: Featured Map
  • Deston
• Live Server: Normal Match
  • Erangel / Miramar / Taego / Sanhok / Paramo → Karakin
• Live Server: Featured Map
  • Deston
• Live Server: Ranked
  • Erangel / Miramar / Taego

※ Please keep in mind the features and updates shown below may be modified or even possibly removed due to reasons such as bugs, in-game issues, and/or community feedback. We will update our players if such changes occur.

New Map: Deston

The wait is over. Our 9th new map we’ve been teasing about all this time is finally here this update. Welcome to the 8x8km near-future and ravaged world: Deston!

Deston (formerly known as “Codename: Kiki”) presents you diverse biomes – a flooded downtown embracing one of the tallest skyscrapers you’ve ever seen in PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, a murky swamp, clear coasts, beautiful mountains, and unexplored islands.

Check out our Deston website here to go on a VR map tour (July 13th UTC) and delve more into the unknown before its live server release.

• Deston is…
  • Available as a Featured Map.
  • Playable in TPP and FPP.
    • Solo, Duos, Squads (including 1-Man Squads) available.
    • Available modes may vary per region.
  • Available in Custom Matches and Sandbox Mode (PC).
• Bots may spawn in Deston.
• Available vehicles: Pickup, Dacia, Coupe RB, Motorbike, Dirt Bike, Roadster Motorcycle, Quad, Buggy, Boat, Aquarail, and Airboat.
• The Flare Gun, DP-28, S12K, G36C, QBU, QBZ, K2, Sticky Bomb, Mortar, Lynx AMR, 15x Scope will not spawn in Deston.
• A few points of interest
  • Ripton: The overflow of water has submerged this sprawling city… players will have to wade through shallow water to pass through while always having to be on the alert for enemies lurking at the highest levels of surrounding skyscrapers. Here, you can travel seamlessly from the ground to the sky and back down again with tall buildings! But to prevent snipers from being too advantageous, we’ve made sure not every building here is accessible. (ex. Some buildings may only have a single floor accessible.)

• Swamp: Take a stroll through some trees, grass, and houses built along the water and enjoy a suspenseful cat and mouse with your enemies knee-deep in water!

• Concert: An outdoor concert festival grounds where you’re free to strut some dance moves before heading out to fight for that Chicken Dinner.

• Hydroelectric Dam: This area was once used as one of the green methods for generating power in Deston.
• Assembly: Observe how wind turbines are made here at the Assembly!
• Arena: Don’t let all the entertainment at this paintball arena distract you too much from your main purpose.

Map Utility Items

PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS has a variety of special items that can be looted and consumed to create interesting gameplay.

Therefore, to prompt even more diversified plays, we are introducing players who enter Deston to the new Map Utility Items. These items will trigger special in-game interactions depending on the situation, which are expected to provide a new core game flow without breaking player immersion.

• Map Utility Items…
  • Will be placed in your Inventory once you enter Deston.
  • Will not be consumed on use and may be used as many times as you wish.
  • Will not affect Inventory weight.
  • Can not be dropped from the Inventory.
  • Can not be swapped with other Inventory items.
  • Will occupy their own Inventory slot.
• Available Map Utility Items
  • Ascender Attachment
    • Allows you to use any Ascender as often as they want.
  • Utility Parachute
    • Looks exactly like the Emergency Parachute.
    • Can be activated by pressing the Interaction key after jumping off a certain height.
• Keys

New Feature: Ascender

Are you going to climb those towering skyscrapers on foot?

Nope! Travel the flashy and fastest way on vertical spaces with the new Ascenders!Use the Ascenders to create some Mission Impossible moments while getting your hands on some loot at the top!

• Ascenders are spread throughout the map as ropes attached to objects that allow vertical traversal.
  • Both ends of the Ascender are accessible any time.
• With an Ascender, you can swiftly descend from the highest rooftop with no risk of fall damage.
• You can not use an Ascender when another player is currently using the same one.
• You are unable to loot items from the ground when you’re on an Ascender.
• Once mounted on an Ascender:
  • You can move up and down the rope using movement keys.  
    • Using the Sprint key while moving down (only) will increase the speed of descent.
  • You can dismount from the Ascender at any point.
    • If you dismount at the top of the rope, you will teleport to the spot on the building near the top.
    • Otherwise, you will let go and fall.
  • You can still be shot and killed on an Ascender.
    • You will detach from the Ascender and fall to the ground.
• Ropes can be found inside and outside structures.
  • Ropes are static objects that don’t have movement.
  • Ropes can be found on varying heights based on the structure.
• Cell Towers

• Cell Towers are very tall and thin Ascender-focused buildings. 
• These towers allow you to ride an Ascender from the ground level up to a very high position in one, long ascent.
• Ascending and descending on a Cell Tower provides a faster traveling speed compared to regular Ascenders.
• When you press the Interaction key at the top of the tower, you will be flung into the air in the direction you’re facing.
• Shortly after being flung into the air, your Utility Parachute will automatically deploy, allowing you to safely glide a long distance.
• Ascending a Cell Tower and traveling with your Utility Parachute will help you reach your destination faster than traveling on foot!
• Key Bindings

Drone Accessible Spaces

We have also created spaces in Deston that are only accessible by Drones. We hope to create additional opportunities for Drone use and variety to your looting experience. Are you capable of finding all these spots?

New Feature: Security Keys and Security Doors

Discover new ways to roam Deston with the new Security Doors! Pick up Security Keys, unlock Security Doors, and pick up high-tier items at your own risk.

• Security Doors are located throughout buildings in Deston.
• Security Keys will…
  • World spawn around the map.
  • Stack in your Inventory.
• Security Keys are consumable items and will be removed after single use.
• Security Doors can be grouped together so that one Security Key can unlock the entire group.
• Security Doors can not be closed nor relocked.
  • Therefore, the open doors will be a hint to other players that you’ve been (or still are) at this area.
• Available modes
  • Only available in Deston.
  • Normal Matches, Custom Matches, Sandbox Mode (PC)
    • Unavailable in Custom Match – Esports Mode.

New Feature: Fuel Pump

As you and your vehicle chase down an enemy, you realize you’re almost out of gas… when you notice out of the corner of your eye a Fuel Pump!

Stop by the Fuel Pump to refuel your vehicles, or why not make it explode to finish off your enemies?

• Fuel Pumps will be located throughout Deston.
• Only the driver riding the vehicle can press the Interaction key to refuel the vehicle.
  • You are required to press the Interaction key for 1 second.
  • The vehicle much be at a full stop to refuel.
  • The use radius is 5m.
  • If the vehicle moves or the driver changes seats during refuel, the refuel will cancel.
  • The driver can repress the Interaction key to cancel fueling.
  • Vehicles must be missing a minimum amount of fuel before they can use the Fuel Pump.
• There is no limit to using Fuel Pumps.
• Fuel Pumps have a health value.
  • They can receive damage and be destroyed, which creates a large explosion and damages all players around it.
  • After receiving damage, Fuel Pumps will spark and begin leaking gas, exploding after a few seconds. Additional damage dealt to the Fuel Pump will cause it to explode sooner.
  • When a Fuel Pump’s health falls below a certain value, it will begin taking damage over time until it completely runs out of health.
  • Destroyed Fuel Pumps can not be used.
• Available modes
  • Only available in Deston.
  • Normal Matches, Custom Matches, Sandbox Mode (PC)
    • Unavailable in Custom Match – Esports Mode.
• Keys

New Weapon: O12

Introducing the world’s fastest shotgun: O12.

Not only is the O12 a high-capacity weapon, but the potential lethality of each slug ammo combined with its sheer volume of fire will also make it feared in both close- and mid-range combat! Its relatively long range than any other shotgun will make the O12 a worthwhile choice for every player.

• The O12 will world spawn in Deston.
• Weapon slot: Primary weapon
• Ammo: 12 Gauge Slug
• Available modes
  • Only available in Deston.
  • Normal Matches, Custom Matches, Sandbox Mode (PC)
    • Unavailable in Custom Match – Esports Mode.

New Vehicle: Airboat

Need a speedy ride capable of traveling on both water and land? The Airboat will solve your worries of having to switch between different vehicles depending on the terrain.

• The Airboat…
  • Is very fast over bodies of water.
    • Can travel through shallow water, swamps, and open water. 
  • Can travel over land as well.
  • Faster than land vehicles in shallow water.
  • Carries up to 5 players.
• Available modes
  • Only available in Deston.
  • Normal Matches, Custom Matches, Sandbox Mode (PC)
    • Unavailable in Custom Match – Esports Mode.

World

Miramar

To improve the Miramar play experience, we have improved inconveniences pointed out in the past, enhanced details of buildings and added an oasis to the minimap. 

• Improved Terrain
  • By improving the level of the terrain that caused inconvenience while driving, smoother driving is possible when driving a vehicle.
• Improved Buildings
  • The quality of small cottages and storage buildings have been improved inside and out. 
  • Due to high win rates, the billboard on San Martin’s roof has been removed. 

• Some house buildings have been improved in the outside. 
• A storage’s fences and layouts have been rearranged.
• Billboards have been installed over the map. 

• Oasis
  • The water depth comes at the character’s ankle height around the shore. At the center, it comes at the character’s waist level, so the character cannot be prone in the water. Also, the level of the terrain has been lowered around the oasis.  
  • The height of the mountain terrain has also been lowered to increase accessibility along with new roads to help access the Oasis area. 
  • The location name Oasis is added to the minimap.
  • Along with that, the Oasis has received a great improvement inside and out.
• Vehicle Spots are added.

• A vehicle spot is added near the Oasis. Certain vehicles’ spawning spots have been relocated.
• Three vehicle spots have been added near the roads of Chumacera.

Vehicle Spawn Balance

We’ve adjusted the spawn rates of the zippy Coupe RB! Now it can be found in more maps and modes. Therefore, spawn rates of certain vehicles on certain maps have been slightly adjusted. 

• Normal

• Ranked

(Console) Graphics Options

In April’s Community Care Package, we explained the graphic level we were targeting, the various technical issues we were experiencing, and the reason for the delay in development. As previously explained, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS on console platforms is very sensitive to memory usage. As a result, we’ve spent a lot of time optimizing memory usage on console, allowing us to add improved graphics options. Also, with the support from the platform holders, it became possible to differentiate between the previous generation (PlayStation®4/4 Slim/Pro, Xbox One/One S/One X) and the current generation consoles.
There is a potential stability issue in delivering the same level of graphics that many players expect on all console devices. Therefore, we’ve provided different maximum framerate and resolution options per console device to provide stable gameplay. 

Supported Specs by Consoles

Anti-Aliasing

• Added an option on specific console devices allowing players to choose between FXAA (Fast approximate anti-aliasing) and TAA (Temporal anti-aliasing). 
  • Enabling TAA will soften the sharp edges you see on objects at a distance when playing.
    • Enabling this option can cause a ghosting effect when a console’s framerate drops below 60fps.
    • FXAA is set as default.
• Anti-Aliasing options will be available on the following consoles.
  • Xbox Series X
  • Xbox One X
  • PlayStation® 5
  • PlayStation® 4 Pro

Additional Supported Graphics Specs

• Xbox
  • Xbox Series X
    • 60 FPS
    • 4K
    • FXAA ↔ TAA
  • Xbox Series S
    • 60 FPS
    • FHD
    • FXAA
  • Xbox One X
    • “Resolution Priority” Option
      • 30 FPS
      • 4K
      • FXAA ↔ TAA
  • Xbox One X
    • “Framerate Priority” Option
      • 60 FPS
      • FHD
      • FXAA ↔ TAA
  • Xbox One/One S
    • 30 FPS
    • FHD
    • FXAA

• PlayStation®
  • PlayStation® 5
    • 4K Monitor
      • 60 FPS
      • QHD
      • FXAA ↔ TAA
    • Non-4K Monitor
      • 60 FPS
      • FHD
      • FXAA ↔ TAA
  • PlayStation® 4 Pro
    • “Resolution Priority” Option
      • This option is displayed on 4K supported monitors but not on non-supported monitors. 
      • 30 FPS
      • QHD
      • FXAA ↔ TAA
    • “Frame Priority” Option
      • This option is displayed on 4K supported monitors but not on non-supported monitors. 
      • 60 FPS
      • FHD
      • FXAA ↔ TAA
  • PlayStation® 4/4 Slim
    • 30 FPS
    • FHD
    • FXAA

Survivor Pass: Deston

Richen your Deston experience even further with the new Survivor Pass: Deston! Check out more details in the upcoming July Store Update announcement.

New System: Workshop

As a Squad streaks through the Battlegrounds, one player starts to notice another teammate’s skin.

“Hey, nice skin. Where’d you get it?”

“I made it in the Workshop.”

“Workshop?”

Yup, the Workshop! We’re very excited to introduce our brand new system: the Workshop where you can now craft your own skins with never-before-seen materials!

Purchase Chests and keys from the Store, gather Imprints, Vouchers, Credits, and Tokens, murmur a little bibbidi-bobbidi-boo and craft various skins!

• Workshop will be available to use from the 18.2 Live Server (Not available in 18.2 Test Server, but will be in the next 19.1 Test Server).

• A Workshop menu has been added to the lobby menu.
• You can choose to do Regular Crafting or Special Crafting at the Workshop menu.

• To use the Workshop, a Hunter’s Chest and/or an Archivist’s Chest is required.
  • You can obtain Imprints, Vouchers, Credits, and/or Artisan Tokens from these Chests.
  • Purchase a Hunter’s Chest and/or an Archivist’s Chest from the Store.
    • The materials’ probabilities are available through the Store preview.
  • You’d need a key to open Hunter’s Chests and/or Archivist’s Chests.
    • Keys are purchasable at the Store.
    • Or, you can craft a Key by using 3 Key Fragments.
  • You can open obtained Chests at the Regular Crafting page.
  • Different types of Chests may be added in later updates.
• Use up materials to craft items you were unable to get in the past! You can craft items no longer at the Store, Survivor Pass items, Workshop-exclusive items, and more.
  • Item sales that ended after a certain period are only available for crafting.

Regular Crafting

• Craft previous Store, Survivor Pass, and Esports items with Regular Crafting!
• You can also Disassemble or Repurpose materials here.
• Imprints, Vouchers, and Credits are the core materials.
• Imprints
  • Use Imprints and Credits to craft items.
  • You can also choose to Disassemble Imprints to earn Credits or Repurpose Imprints.
• Set Imprints
  • You can craft at least 2 items from designated items.
  • You can choose to exclude the item(s) you do not wish to craft from the options.
  • If you do not receive a Set Imprint from the Chests four times in a row, you are guaranteed 1 Set Imprint in the next Chest opening.
• Vouchers
  • You can craft items without having to use Credits.
  • You can also choose to Disassemble Vouchers to earn Credits or Repurpose Vouchers.
• Credits
  • Currency used for crafting items with Imprints.
  • Obtainable from Chests or from Disassembling Imprints/Vouchers.
• Repurposing
  • Allows you to exchange 3 Imprints/Vouchers for a random item (of the same tier as the Repurposed materials) that you do not possess.
  • The probabilities of the random items are all equal.
  • You can obtain costumes, gear skins, vehicle skins, emotes, sprays, and/or nameplates through Repurposing.
  • If you already possess every item of a certain tier, you’ll receive the tier’s worth of Credits instead.
• You can check out/equip your crafted items at the Customize tab.

Special Crafting

• Craft new costume sets only at Special Crafting!
• Artisan Tokens are the core materials.
• Artisan Tokens
  • Currency used for crafting at Special Crafting.
  • Obtainable from Chests.
• You can check out/equip your crafted items at the Customize tab.
• New items and time-limited Tokens will be updated regularly.

So, learned everything you need for the Workshop? A Workshop walkthrough video will also be available at our official PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS YouTube channel soon so make sure to watch for more insight!

And last but not least, several events that give out Chests and materials as rewards are also coming up to help you get used to the Workshop, so stay tuned!

Item Tier

Even though it is difficult to place a clear standard on an in-game item’s value (as they vary depending on the situation and definitely through time), we thought this would be the best time to readjust a bunch of our items’ tiers – including the earlier items that were not even bestowed a tier in the first place – as a sequential update to the Workshop.

The tiers were readjusted based on each item’s in-game quality, how difficult they were/are to obtain, and many other factors. With this, we hope to create a synergy with new features such as the Workshop and upcoming updates as well.

You can check out the list of readjusted tiers of each item at the very bottom of the Patch Notes.

Weapon Mastery

Remember how we shared our plan for a significant overhaul of the Weapon Mastery, which had not been updated for a while, through the Weapon Mastery Overhaul announcement last March? We’ve expanded the Mastery Tier to motivate our already maxed-out players. Also, we have added must-have rewards, so level up and move on to the next tier to collect all rewards!

Stats Overhaul

We have categorized stats by game modes (All, Normal, Ranked) and by weapon type (All, AR, DMR, SR, SMG, SG, LMG, Pistol, etc.)to provide all the information our players wanted to know in the past. You can check the following information through the new Stats.

Expert Tier System

The Expert Tier System will motivate players to continue their level upgrades as it will allow players to move on to the next tier once they reach the highest level. There are a total of seven different steps from tier 0 to 6. 

• Highest level is 700.
  • As soon as you reach level 100, you can move on to the next tier and start leveling up again for all tiers below Master tier.
• Tier levels
  • Tier 1: 100 – 199
  • Tier 2: 200 – 299
  • Tier 3: 300  – 399
  • Tier 4: 400 – 499
  • Tier 5: 500 – 599
  • Master Tier: 600 – 700

Rewards

We have made the Mastery Level more visible to other players so that players can start showing off their achievements. In addition, the following will be rewarded on every tier upgrade. 

• Weapon Nameplates evolve through visual upgrades.
  • You can see the Weapon Mastery Tier through the kill message (the message that shows up in the center of the screen when a kill is made, not the kill feed) when a kill occurs. 
• Weapon Mastery Medals are rewarded on every tier upgrade.
  • Previous and new BATTLEGROUNDS PLUS players will be rewarded by the number of weapons that have reached level 100 retroactively. Therefore, accounts before the transition to BATTLEGROUNDS PLUS will not receive Mastery Medals. 
• Charms are provided retroactively. 
  • Weapon Mastery Charms will be retroactively rewarded based on the highest level weapon after the update and will no longer be provided as Weapon Mastery Rewards. For example, if you have a level 50 M416 and a level 30 AKM, all Charms up to level 50 will be rewarded.
  • Charms can no longer be acquired through Weapon Mastery and instead can be acquired with BP or through other means.

Universal Charm System

Due to the nature of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS’ battle royale system, it was challenging to pick and upgrade a weapon in particular. For that reason, the ownership of the charm was given to unlocked guns. Now, the ownership goes to players, and they can be equipped with any weapons.

• Charm Customize Menu
  • Charm customization is now possible from the Charms Customize weapon tab. 

XP Count

• Increased bonus multiplier to allow less popular guns to level up faster.
• Points are rewarded based on kills instead of defeats. Also, defeat distance is no longer included in the final score. 
  • We’ve increased the overall amount of XP.

Store – Charms

After the retroactive distribution of Charms, they can no longer be acquired through Weapon Mastery and instead can be acquired with BP from the store except for the ones you have already acquired. For more details on Charms, please checkout our July Store Update announcement. 

Mastery Medal

Previously, the medals were only obtainable in-game. Now, we have added commemorative medals that can also be acquired in the lobby. Meet all the conditions to collect all commemorative medals! The medals are for you to keep for good. 

• Conditions

• Commemorative Medal Notifications
  • You’ll be alerted through the Notification Center whenever you initially gain a new medal and when your medal tier increases.
• Medal Customizing Improvements
  • Medals will now show their names and descriptions along with a button to navigate to your profile editing page.

BP Balance

We’ve updated the match reward BP earning formula to reduce the gap in BP income among players. 

• This update applies to Normal/Ranked/Casual/TDM/LABS

Customize

• O12 category has been added.

Custom Match

• To open up communication between players and observers, the “Observer Voice Chat” option has been re-added.

Performance

• (7/20 Edit: This performance update has been pushed back to a later update.) Optimized memory use by compressing data used to show indoor reflections. As a result, you can save over 50MB of memory on Xbox One S.
• Slightly reduced CPU usage for all vehicles. This helps secure frames when multiple vehicles are on one screen, especially when playing on low-end console devices.
• Reduced memory consumption by flushing the cache memory in the physics engine when switching between map and lobby. As a result, you can save at least 30MB to 50MB, depending on the world you’re on.

Bug Fixes

Gameplay

• Training Mode 1v1 Arena fixes
  • Removed related camera renderings as players could not enter spectator mode when a player dies per round.
  • Fixed the issue where the player was not visible in spectator mode when participating in an arena match through certain steps.
  • Spectating is now unavailable after a participant dies in a 1v1 Arena match.
  • Removed Report Player UI from the match result screen after a 1v1 Arena match.
  • Fixed the temporary freeze issue when moving on to the next round.
  • Fixed an issue where a player who died in the third round would enter spectator view of the spectating players.
  • Fixed the issue where you could exit to the lobby from the match results screen after you die during a match.
  • Fixed the stuttering issue when moving on to the next round.
• Fixed the issue of the moving Mirado and Pony Coupe even after parking.
• Fixed the issue of the incorrect interaction animation being shown of a teammate using a Drone.
• Fixed the issue of being unable to select certain Spawn Kit categories in Arcade Mode – TDM after setting language to Russian.
• Fixed the issue of being unable to receive Weapon Mastery XP after

• getting a kill with the Lynx AMR.
• (PC) Fixed the issue of vehicles receiving damage from colliding with broken objects (when server is unstable).
• (Console) Fixed the issue of the size of the arrow on recommended items getting reduced when dropping a recommended item.
• (Console) Fixed the Voice Chat issues occurring on the Xbox Series.

World

• Fixed collision, texture, performance, and more general issues in Miramar.
• Fixed the issue of a certain door’s window not breaking in Taego after vaulting it.
• Fixed the issue of being unable to pick up a deployed Mortar in certain spots in Erangel and Taego.

UX/UI

• Fixed the issue of a “Looking for Team” message for Ranked being shown to a player currently unable to play Ranked.
• Fixed the issue of the drop-down menu in Ranked’s Stats tab overlapping with the bottom of the screen.
• Fixed the issue of a vehicle’s UI being shown over the World Map in Training Mode.
• Fixed the awkward text arrangement of the Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner! screen when viewed in a Traditional/Simplified Chinese language setting.
• Fixed the issue of the incorrect order of Contraband Crates being shown on the Hideout page after going through certain steps.
• (PC) Fixed the issue of the System Menu being cut off in 4:3 resolution.
• (PC) Fixed the issue of the default selection in the Social page not being set on the Friends tab.
• (PC) Fixed the incorrect G-COIN label being shown at the Store – G-COIN tab after setting language to Portuguese.
• (Console) Fixed the issue of the L-Stick key guide being shown in the Tutorial mission list.
• (Console) Fixed the issue of the options bar remaining in the Friends Requests list even after accepting a request.
• (Console) Fixed the issue of the sound effect being heard twice when moving between tabs in Match History.

Items & Skins

※ Clipping issue: Graphics that are shown outside the visible part of an image/object.

• Fixed the clipping issue on the character’s wrists when equipping LISA’s BLACKPINK Top with Quasar King’s Gloves.
• Fixed the clipping issue on the character’s ankles when equipping ROSÉ’s BLACKPINK Shoes with most Bottoms skins.
• Fixed the clipping issue on the female character’s waist when equipping 10000DAYS’ Top with 10000DAYS’ Shorts.
• (PC) Fixed the awkward texture when a female character equips Jeremy Lin Shades.