PUBG PC Update #21 is a whopper, brings a load of additions and fixes
Published , by Chris Jarrard
You would be justified in having a chuckle at the idea of the #FIXPUBG button that has seen prominent placement on the game’s main menu for several weeks now. Developer Bluehole began a public campaign to win hearts and minds back in the first week of August that promised to fix PUBG’s lingering bugs, quirks, and performance woes. While PUBG became an international phenomenon back in 2017, it certainly had and continues to have a sizeable amount of jank. After more than a year of promises to fix the game up, players were understandably skeptical of this new campaign, but based on the content of today’s PUBG Update #21, the mission to #FIXPUBG may be legit after all.
Headlining the update is the inclusion of a training map, a new assault rifle, a rail-mounted laser sight, a Sanhok-exclusive vehicle, and a reworking of the in-game rewards system. Additionally, a host of new quality of life changes and performance improvements will be a welcome sight to longtime players. The full list of additions and changes is as follows:
QOL
MIC TEST UI/UX: Added the ability to test your MIC input within the game
Bug Fixes
UI/UX #02: Fixed the issue where, after connecting the XBOX controller to the PC, the drop-down menu would not appear to select the reason for reporting on the results screen.
CHARACTER POSITION #01: Fixed the issue where the position of the character who boarded a car is fixed at a very strange spot
CHARACTER POSITION #02: Fixed the issue of the character being shown in a different location.
CLONING: Fixed the issue when a character is moving by vehicle, the character is created in a unspecific location
WEAPON RENDERING #01: Fixed the issue where the weapon is shown in a different position than where the character is holding it
WEAPON RENDERING #02: Fixed issue where the weapon of the person being spectated is not rendered, causing a problem when this weapon goes into ADS mode.
CAMERA #02: Fixed the issue where the camera zooms in when approaching a corpse while lying down
CAMERA #03: Fixed the issue where the camera temporarily zooms in and out when approaching a window with glass and throwing a throwable.
SANHOK FIX #04: Fixed the issue where, on the Sanhok map, the character occasionally falls from the sky when situated at the very end of the sea.
BLUEZONE UI: Fixed the issue where the Bluezone timer UI occasionally decreased by 2 seconds
UNDERWATER ANIMATION: Fixed the issue where the character is shown choppy from top to bottom when underwater and unable to move to dry land because of the terrain.
UAZ DAMAGE TAKEN: Fixed the issue where you sometimes received more damage comparatively to other vehicles when driving a UAZ and colliding with a landmark.
Training Mode
Added a Training Mode where you can practice all aspects of PUBG gameplay
The Training Mode map is 2x2 in size
You can join through matchmaking by clicking on the “Training Mode” button in the lobby.
When there are more than 5 players in the matchmaking queue, the session will start immediately. Players will continue to join open sessions for up to 5 minutes after they start. (Up to 20 per session)
If there are less than 5 players in the matchmaking queue, matchmaking will continue for 5 minutes
If there are still less than 5 players after 5 minutes, the session will start with the original number of players present and other players cannot join the session.
Total play time is 30 minutes (e.g. in case of number 2, where you immediately enter a session, you have 5 minutes where other players can join the session + regular training mode playing time of 25 minutes)
Players cannot drop below 1hp in Training mode
New Weapon: MK 47 Mutant
Added a new AR weapon: the MK47 Mutant
MK47 Mutant can be acquired on all maps (Erangel, Miramar, Sanhok) through world spawn
MK47 Mutant is an AR weapon using 7.62mm bullets and has a 20 round capacity, which can be upgraded to 30 rounds with an extended magazine.
The Mutant has 2 firing modes: single shot and 2-round burst
Almost all types of attachments can be used with the MK47, but it has no stock slot
New Vehicle: Tukshai
Added a new vehicle that will be exclusive to the Sanhok map
The Tukshai is a 3 person vehicle that substitutes the UAZ, Dacia and Minibus
The Tukshai is slower compared to the previous vehicles, but fits perfectly with Sahnok’s environment
New Supply System / BP Changes
Added the supply system which grants you a reward based on completed missions and play time
You can level up and get rewards when you fill the Survival gauge with survival XP
Missions will be refreshed daily and weekly.
You earn a reward every time you gain a survival level
Previously, we offered BP rewards based only on your ranking. Now, we’ve restructured the system to take into account both play time and ranking.
Rewards have been restructured to equalize the differences in BP efficiency based on playing time for each Map and Mode.
We’ve changed team rewards to be shared
You will no longer receive 4 times the BP because you were playing alone in a squad game
Gameplay
Added a new attachment: the Laser Sight
Bullet spread is reduced when hip firing and soft-aiming
The Laser Sight fits on weapons with a lower rail slot available, taking up the grip slot.
Currently, there is a known issue that the laser effect is not displayed in the death cam or replay. This issue will be resolved soon.
Added the improved Marker/Ping System first introduced for testing on the 8/1 test server update
Using ALT + Mouse wheel click, you can create a marker where you are aiming on the compass at the top of the screen (not visible in the world)
You may change the key bindings freely in options
All team members can see this marker on the compass
After setting the marker, there is a 2 second cooldown before you can mark again
The marker on the compass will automatically disappear after 5 seconds
When the ping markers overlap, the closest located marker will be shown on top.
Improved the visuals for blue zone effects
Bluezone effects are now shown more clearly.
While the Bluezone is closing in, it will be easier to see from a longer distance than before
Bluezone effects looked differently depending on the map and weather. We’ve improved this so that the Bluezone effect is visually similar in all conditions.
UI/UX
Added an option to check state of Voice Chat input in settings
You can check it at: Settings > Sound > Voice Chat category
Added a Network Information function that can display Ping, connection speed, packets, and packet loss.
This will be located in the top left of the screen.
You can change the settings to On/Off at Settings > Gameplay > UI > Network debug statistics
Improved the UI menu for Appearance > Wardrobe, Weapons, Gear
Improvements made to make various items more visible.
Added a filter function at the left of screen, so that you can filter by certain categories
Added a colored rarity background in order to recognize item rarities better
UI menu for the Store has been improved
You can now see more items by categories and tags in the main page
Added a preview page for each item
You can access it by clicking the question icon
You can check current promotional item details in “Featured” page
Performance
Improved performance by optimizing client memory use
Improved performance by adjusting on-hit effects for various materials
Improved shadow rendering performance
Partially improved the frame hitch that is caused by texture streaming when moving on the map
Improved the rendering performance of burning vehicles
Replay
Improved control methods for the Camera (Free Camera / Follow Camera)
Made improvements to enable separation of click and drag when the replay UI appears on the screen.
When a click is maintained under 0.3 seconds this will be perceived as a “click”, if it is held longer then the click is perceived as a “drag”.
Replay version has been updated, replays from previous updates are no longer playable.
Custom Match
Added 4 types of presets for Custom Matches.
Normal mode
45ACP Mode (Forty-Fivers)
Crossbow Mode (Ghillie Crossing)
War mode
OverpowerKit (Desert Knights)
SniperKit (One Shot One Kill)
In the standard settings, adjusted the standard value to “movable” for moving the player location in the waiting room
Added a function to save/call in the preset settings for match options
Can call or save 10 presets at maximum.
Added functionality to set passwords for match spectating.
Added the option of setting the scale for combat (team combat/platoon combat) in Regular mode and War mode in Settings
Improved the usability of the Flaregun
When obtaining the Flaregun, the number of care packages left will be displayed in the HUD - on top of the minimap.
When using the Flaregun, the UI displays whether it is possible to successfully fire the Flaregun
Adjusted the display indicating the scope of area for the Flaregun drop
Removed “War Royale” option in War mode - blue zone option
We’ll improve upon this option and bring it back soon.
Bug Fixes
Fixed the issue where, after connecting the XBOX controller to the PC, the drop-down menu would not appear to select the reason for reporting on the results screen.
Fixed the issue where a character on board a vehicle would sometimes be shown as immobile in a very different location.
Fixed the issue where a character is sometimes shown in a different location
Fixed the issue where a character who is driving in a vehicle is created in an unspecified location.
Fixed the issue where weapons are sometimes shown in locations different from where the character is holding them.
Fixed the issue where the gun of the person you are spectating is sometimes not rendered, causing problems when the gun goes into ADS mode.
Fixed the issue where approaching a corpse while lying down could sometimes cause the camera to zoom in.
Fixed the issue where approaching a window with glass and throwing a throwable could sometimes cause the camera to temporarily zoom in and out.
Fixed the issue where sometimes a character standing at the very edge of the sea would be shown as falling out of the sky.
Fixed the issue where the Bluezone UI timer occasionally decreases by 2 seconds.
Fixed the issue where an underwater character is unable to move to land because the terrain is shown as stuttering.
Fixed the issue where colliding with an object while driving in a UAZ deals comparatively more damage than other vehicles.
Fixed the issue where the firing mode of a gun that has been dropped and picked up again is reset to default settings.
Fixed the issue where the AR compensator on the SLR was not reducing the horizontal recoil.
Fixed the issue where a character cannot peek while over a gas can.
Fixed the issue where frame drop occured when the weather was rainy and the character was swimming in the water when the perspective changed from under to above water.
Fixed the issue where the suppressed AKM and Beryl M762 sounded the same.
Fixed the issue where characters could pass through a wooden door while riding the scooter.
Fixed the issue where players sometimes couldn’t loot items when the item was dropped on stairs or a slope.
Fixed the issue where the vaulting action was not working properly with certain building windows in Sanhok.
Fixed the issue where the HP gauge was displayed red in certain conditions.
Fixed the issue where an afterimage sometimes remains on other players' screen when repeatedly arming/unarming.
This exhaustive list of additions and changes is sure to excite PUBG fans and those who may have stepped away from the game. If the #FIXPUBG campaign continues to deliver changes like what we see in Update #21, the future of PUBG is looking pretty bright.