The patch is among the game’s biggest updates, bringing a weapon balance overhaul and map selection to PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. The update also adds a new muscle car to Miramar, and a new 7.62 DMR called the SLR. The new vehicle is exclusive to the Miramar map and can be found in downtown areas and on main city streets.
Miramar itself is also getting some expansion, with a newly added oasis region, a reduction in the number of buildings in some towns, the addition of cover in open spaces, and more.
As for map selection, the developer explains that players will be able to pick just one map on its own (either Erangel or Miramar) to ensure that they will play there, or they can select multiple maps and the game will randomly select one.
Update 12 also brings a range of new weapon attachments, each with its own pros and cons. Shotguns get the Duckbill, while assault rifles, SMGs, and DMRs get the Light Grip, Thumb Grip, and the Half Grip.
Players will also find they have two new scopes to choose from: the 3x, which is a common drop, and the 6x, which is rare. The patch lets players change the reticle style (circle, crosshair, etc.) and its color on some scopes.
Extended and quickdraw magazines for snipers have also been limited to care packages. The spawn rate of extended quickdraw mags for assault rifles has been decreased. There have also been adjustments to weapon damage and balance:
Pistol damage increased across the board Shotguns’ effective range extended but spread reduced by 25 per cent Assault rifles’ damage reduced for all except the Groza and the AKM Reload times have been increased by 30 per cent for the M16A4, M416, and the SCAR-L, but the AKM only got a 10 per cent increase Scopes that are 8x or higher can no longer be used with any assault rifle SMG damage increased for all except the Tommy Gun, and will now do more damage to limbs Vertical recoil and scope sway when ADSing decreased across the board The VSS and Mini14 were the only DMRs to get a damage buff, while the SKS actually got nerfed; DMRs will also now be harder to control because of vertical and horizontal recoil combined with a decrease in recoil recovery rate
Grenades have had their weight increased, but also do more damage now. Level three helmets have been limited to airdrops, but players are guaranteed to get one in every drop.
“It’s a game-changing item that can impact the outcome of a match - basically, it gives you an extra life in situations where a headshot would otherwise kill you,” developers said. “We don’t want luck alone to determine who gets items like this, so we’re removing it from normal loot spawn tables and limiting it to care packages only.”
There has also been an overhaul of swimming animations and the time it takes to hold your breath underwater, so no more extensive underwater swimming as a means to avoid fire.
PUBG Corp also recently provided some insight about its plans for the game’s Savage map, saying “we have months of work left to do,” but describing the map’s defining feature: an underground cave system. Unfortunately, players will have to wait a little bit longer to see this map in action, as it won’t be hitting the game in this update.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is currently available for Android and iOS devices, PC, and is in early access on Xbox One.
