PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS has introduced a sweeping update that rebalances elite weapons, revamps the recall mechanic, and expands customization options. The patch is now live on PC and console following scheduled maintenance. PC servers went down from 12 AM to 8:30 AM UTC, while console maintenance ran from 1 AM to 9 AM UTC. The update also brings a significant region merge. AS and KR/JP now form a single AS region, NA and SA are combined into AMER, OC and SEA merge into SEA, and AS plus OC become the APAC region. Players can expect the next rotations every Wednesday at 2 AM UTC on PC and every Thursday at 7 AM UTC on console.

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Care Package and Weapon Adjustments

Several important changes have been made to Care Package weapons and the Muzzle Brake. The update is designed to make elite weapons feel powerful without creating an unfair advantage. The Muzzle Brake now provides less vertical recoil control, dropping from 10 percent to 8 percent. Its horizontal recoil control also falls from 10 percent to 8 percent, while camera shake control when firing drops from 50 percent to 35 percent.

The FAMAS can now equip QuickDraw Mag, Extended Mag, and Extended QuickDraw Mag. This change gives the weapon more sustained fire capability. The MG3 receives a reload speed boost of 20 percent, a horizontal recoil reduction of approximately 5 percent, and a larger reticle size. Its damage is lowered from 61 to 60, and its rate of fire is adjusted from 667 RPM to 600 RPM. The P90 remains powerful but its 5.7mm ammo weight has been increased. Even with that change, the ammo is still the lightest type available. The Mk14 also receives a power reduction because it previously boasted the highest damage and RPM among DMRs.

The DBS has been added to Care Packages and will no longer world-spawn. Its damage rises from 26 to 28, its rate of fire increases from 375 RPM to 480 RPM, and the pump action time is shortened from 0.63 seconds to 0.45 seconds. Vertical and horizontal recoil are both reduced by approximately 20 percent, and buckshot spread is reduced by roughly 30 percent. The Lynx AMR has also been added to Care Packages on all maps. In Normal Match, the spawn rates of the DBS and Lynx AMR in special locations such as the Secret Room, Lab Camp, and Market have been adjusted. The DBS is removed from special spawns in Ranked, from the Spawn kit in Team Deathmatch, and from the Spawn tab in Custom Match.

Recall System Revamp

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The Recall system has been completely reworked based on player feedback. Recall flights now appear at regular intervals of 2 minutes and 30 seconds after the match begins instead of once per phase. However, recall flights will not fly from Phase 7 onward. The total number of recall flights per match has been slightly increased. Blue Chip Towers and Blue Chip Transmitters are deactivated once the final recall flight appears. Because the system can now be used immediately after the match starts, the notification for when Blue Chip Recall System Devices become active has been removed.

The remaining number of recall flights and their arrival times are displayed in the bottom right corner of the World Map. Players carrying friendly Blue Chips will see the remaining number of recall flights at the top of their Minimap. Teammates' Blue Chip locations are now shown on both the World Map and Minimap. The location will no longer be displayed once a teammate picks up the Blue Chip or if the Blue Chip is destroyed or removed. The 2.5-second rule for neutralizing Blue Chips has been removed to balance the increased risk of taking enemies' Blue Chips.

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Ranked Changes and Rewards

Ranked play receives a number of meaningful updates. The method for calculating RP for premade teams is shifting from a team average to a weighted average. Kills will carry more weight than assists in the RP calculation. The minimum performance expectations for each tier are being updated. Ranked weapon skins for the P90 have been added as permanent Tier Rewards for Season 32. The leaderboard will reset after live server maintenance, and players can check their final Tier from the previous season through the Career page.

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Rewards are based on each player's final Tier from the previous Ranked season. Ranked weapon skins and Medals are permanent rewards. The rest of the obtainable rewards are available for use during a single Ranked season. Top 500 rewards are awarded to players at the Master Tier and above. Rewards can be found on the Inventory or Edit Profile page once Season 32 starts. After Season 32 ends and the server undergoes maintenance, every reward except the weapon skin and Medal will be withdrawn.

Customization and Radio Message Improvements

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Customization has become more flexible. Each preset slot now allows players to save distinct appearance and gender information. A new Copy Preset feature enables quick copying and pasting of presets. Equip Random and Unequip All buttons have been added to the bottom left of the Customize - Character - Wardrobe page. The preset preview in the Inventory screen has been removed.

The Radio Message feature has also been enhanced. A new Emoji System has been added to the Radio Message Wheel. Players can set the display order for Dialogue and Emojis with the new Radio Message Display Priority option under Settings - Gameplay - Interface. A Block/Allow Emojis button has been added to the Team Management section. The UI and options for the Radio Message Wheel have been updated, and the time it takes to activate the wheel has been reduced. Radio Messages are now accessible while spectating teammates, automatically displayed when reviving and healing teammates, and text visibility has been improved.

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Screen Ping Markers have been adjusted. Placing Screen Ping Markers no longer triggers Radio Messages. A Screen Ping Marker will be placed when using the Enemy Spotted Radio Message. Screen Ping Markers can now be seen from all directions on the compass, and when markers overlap on the compass, the newest marker will be displayed first. The Quick Marker has been changed to Shot Marker, which is automatically placed when firing. The Quick Marker option has been removed, and different ping sounds will play depending on the situation. The Tactical Map Marker feature and the dual matchmaking feature have both been removed.

Additional Updates and Fixes

The Hungers that appeared with Multi Care Packages in Normal Match have vanished. Weather probabilities have been adjusted, and the Comeback BR map has been removed. The Steam Inventory database has been transferred to the PUBG Inventory database, which should improve delayed or failed item deliveries. PUBG in-game items will no longer be visible in the Steam Inventory section, but currently possessed items will not be changed.

The new Survivor Pass: Bedtime Beasts is prepared for this update. Workshop Chest animations have been updated, and item sets from Survivor Pass: Comic Chaos have been added to the Hunter's Chest and Archivist's Chest. A View Probabilities button has been added for all Workshop chests. Many bug fixes have also been applied, including issues with bots damaging players behind cover, missing fire modes in certain modes, and various clipping problems with character outfits.