PUBG Update #29 - Vikendi Rebalance, New Ping System & More

In update #29, players will find a lot of innovations and balance changes. For game modes in duo and in squads, the ability to install tactical markers on the map has been added, allowing you to effectively interact with allies. Increased the number of item sets available in Custom Matches, and added Camp Jackal to War: Conquest. In this update, we've made some significant balance changes to the Vikendi map. Based on player feedback after the first part of the map balance changes, we've tweaked the settings to make it easier for players to find ranged weapons.

In addition, we want to share with you the news about Survivor Pass 3: Wild Card: there are only a few weeks left to earn experience and rewards. Try to complete as many missions as possible during this time.

We've also made a number of UI changes and minor improvements. Below you will find detailed information about all the changes and improvements in update #29.

Survivor Pass 3: Wild Card

Survivor Pass: Wild Card Expiration

Survivor Pass 3: Wild Card will expire on June 5 once maintenance begins on live servers

• Players will be able to claim their rewards and XP after the Survivor Pass expires on June 5th, until June 26th (before the live server maintenance begins).
• The Premium Pass and Tier Packs will be on sale until the live server maintenance starts on June 5th.

When there are two weeks left until the specified date, a countdown timer will appear in the game.

• When purchasing a premium ticket, players will see a warning stating the remaining validity of the ticket.

The results

• As soon as the Survivor Pass expires, the results page will display data on achievements, rewards, levels, and the number of missions completed.
• Additional Information
  • The "Missions" tab provides data on the number of completed missions of each type (daily, weekly, beginner, premium ticket) in percentage
  • The Rewards tab will show the total number of rewards received.

Grace period

• Players will be able to claim their rewards and XP after the Survivor Pass expires on June 5th, until June 26th (before the live server maintenance begins).
• To get experience for completed missions, you need to click the "Get All" button until June 26 (before maintenance of the main servers begins).
• The Coupon Store will be open until June 26th (prior to the start of maintenance on the live servers).
• After the store closes, all unused coupons will become invalid.

Game process

The second part of Vikendi balance changes

While working on Vikendi's balance changes, we had a long discussion about what areas to improve, based on the feedback received from our players after the first balance change in January. We've done some internal testing and looked at ways to change the experience of playing in Vikendi's unique landscape. And with this update, we are introducing the second part of the changes into the game.

Blue zone changes

• For more variability, the starting position of the safe zone of the first phase is now harder to predict, and the time between some blue zone phases has been shortened.
• The start time of the early and late phases of the blue zone has been slightly reduced
• The total duration of the match has been reduced by 1 minute 30 seconds.

Vehicle Spawn Rate Changes

• Vehicle spawn rate adjusted to match the new blue zone spawn time

Item Spawn Rate Changes

After listening to player feedback and taking into account the characteristics of the map, we decided to change the frequency and list of spawns in order to provide players with more options for battles at medium and long distances.

Item spawning on the Vikendi map has been reworked:

• Assault Rifle spawn rate increased by 1.4 times
• Marksman Rifle spawn rate increased by 2x
• Spawn rate of sniper rifles increased by 7 times
• Submachine guns, shotguns and pistols will now spawn slightly less often.
• Modules will appear a little more often.
• Sights with high magnification will appear a little more often.

The appearance of objects in the secret cave

• Since the secret cave is no longer a secret, we have slightly changed the trophies that appear in it so that it looks more like other points on the map, but still gives a chance to find interesting trophies.
• Airdrops can no longer spawn in the cave.
• At the same time, items of the highest rank (not from boxes) may still appear there.
• Now more different items appear in the cave.

Changing the list of spawning items

• The Vikendi will now feature the MK47 Mutant, smaller grip, thumb rest, and laser sight.
• Win94 and R45 will no longer spawn on Vikendi
• Increased the frequency of the Moonlight weather phenomenon on Vikendi.

General Gameplay Changes

• Grenades can no longer be thrown through wire (especially through barbed wire)

Markers on the tactical map

• Added the ability to install one of six tactical markers on the map: attack, danger, defense, items, regroup, transport.
  • To place a marker, open the map, then hold the right mouse button to open the marker wheel. Select the desired icon, and then release the button.
  • Each player can place no more than one marker on the map.
  • Tactical markers are marked on the regular map, minimap, and compass, as is the case with current markers.

Crosshair improvements for thrown weapons

• Added a new crosshair for thrown weapons. It makes it easy to determine which throwing method is selected.

Minimap Improvement

• Icons and the status of allies outside the minimap now show at the edges of the minimap. This will help you quickly determine the location and status of the squad members.

Parachute interface improvements

• The parachute interface has been improved. We made the descent bar more visible and divided it into two parts. One shows the current speed, and the other shows the altitude.
• Ally status UI improvements
  • Added an icon to indicate that an ally descends after jumping from a plane.
  • Status icons for parachuting allies, which were previously only shown on the map, are now visible on the lower left side of the screen, next to other elements of the team's interface.

Flare gun UI improvements

• The rocket launcher's crosshairs now change to a circle when aiming at a suitable location to request a special airdrop or an armored UAZ.
• Changed the delivery status interface of a special airdrop or an armored UAZ after firing a rocket launcher.
  • The green blinking indicator disappears immediately after dropping the crate from the aircraft.
  • Previously, it would only disappear 30 seconds after the payload landed.

Custom Matches

Added item set setting

We've added a variety of settings to Custom Match starter packs to give players more options for this type of game.

• Added the ability to select kits in custom match modes "Normal", "War", "War: Capture".
  • For modes in which platoons participate, the ability to select a set of items for each platoon has been added.
• Kits available in the mode
  • "War", "War: Capture"
    • original kits
      • Assault Rifles, Shotguns, Pistols, SMGs, Western, Suppression
    • Equipment sets
      • War Mode Sets: There are four sets that include the following items, corresponding to the concept name:
        • Assault: M416, R1895, Helmet and body armor lvl. 1, ammo, bandages
        • Medic: UMP, shotgun, Helmet and body armor lvl. 3, cartridges, small and large first aid kit, painkiller, adrenaline syringe,
          emergency kit
        • Support: S12K, Scorpion, Helmet and body armor lvl. 2, ammo, grenade, bandages, mechanic's set
        • Scout: Kar98K, P18C, Helmet and body armor lvl. 1, camouflage, ammo, bandages
  • battle royale
    • Standard Kits
      • Pistols, shotguns
    • Equipment sets
      • Combat set: Crossbow
      • survival kit: Frying pan, syringe with adrenaline
      • Armor set: Helmet and body armor lvl. one
      • Support kit: emergency kit, mechanic kit

New Items for Custom Matches 

Exclusive items have been added to the game for custom matches, these items cannot be found in standard matches.

• Added Emergency Kit and Mechanic Kit (custom matches only)
  • Emergency kit - raising teammates is much faster than without using this kit.
  • Mechanic's Kit - Using this kit restores a small amount of vehicle armor.

New Map for War: Conquest: Camp Jackal

• Players can now select the Camp Jackal map (Map from Training Mode) when creating custom matches in War: Conquest

Spectator mode improvements

• Player list interface improvements
  • Added icons for exclusion and report buttons.
    • The cross indicates the player's exclusion button, the exclamation point indicates the complaint button.
    • The report button is available in the player list only during a replay
• Damage UI improvements

• Improved font for damage numbers in spectator mode.

Interface / Perception

Improvement of the interface of viewing items in the store

• Viewing items from sets is different for each of the categories: character, weapon, and parachute.
  • Highlight one of the items in the set to select a view type and take a close look at the items.
• Now, during the viewing, any item from the set can be removed.

UI improvements to prevent unfair use of spectator mode

• When the map is not fully loaded in spectator mode, an interface has been added that closes the screen until the map has finished loading.
  • When the download is completed, this interface is closed.

Lobby interface improvements

• Improved display of icons that looked blurry at 4K resolution.
• Removed an unused third party account link button in the upper right corner of the lobby.

Cards

• Removed FACEIT Global Summit signs and posters from Vikendi and Sanhok.

Replay system

• A new version of the replay viewer has been installed. Replays recorded before the release of the current version can no longer be played back.

Error correction

• Fixed an issue where players could take excessive damage and/or die when landing at certain points on the map.
• Grenades can no longer be thrown through wire (especially through barbed wire)
• Fixed screen shaking when aiming and leaning against a wall at the same time.
• Fixed a bug due to which the game mode could in some cases change when creating a team.
• Fixed a bug where some types of bullets could pass through walls when fired under certain conditions.
• Fixed incorrect display of the list of players when selecting a custom match in the list of replays.
• Fixed a bug where vehicles could skid more than intended.
• Fixed an issue where the safe zone circle could display incorrectly in some rare cases.
• Fixed a bug that caused incorrect closing of the list of changes.
• Fixed an issue where healing items could not be used while holding a weapon and playing an emote.
• Fixed an issue where some non-usable weapon types could be used while sitting in the back seat of a jet ski.
• Fixed a bug where the sound of picking up pistols could play twice.
• Fixed a bug where the animation of holding a grenade was reset when opening the inventory.
• Fixed display issue with the chocoTaco parachute skin for female characters.