'PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' Is Getting a New Map!

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is getting a new map, codenamed Savage. It is one quarter of the size of the current maps (Erangel and Miramar) and will be a fast-paced, meat-mincer of a map.

The new map enters testing this week on PC – it will be 4 km x 4 km, smaller than the game's existing two maps and will have a distinctly different feel. Get ready for a melee-inciting experience that is full of CQC, inducing firefights and frantic pre-match looting.

It would seem that in an effort to keep up to date and on top of Epic and their increasingly popular Fortnite franchise, the new map will combat PUBG’s biggest criticism of being too slow. With the addition of a fast-paced map like Savage, it provides the game with that fast-paced gameplay players are looking for.

PUBG creator Brendan "PlayerUnknown" Greene said the smaller, island map is coming this year, and "should give you all a much more intense and faster paced Battle Royale experience."

It will be a closed testing phase but players can apply for access here. PUBG Corps have stated that there will be more ways to enter and players are to "keep an eye on [PUBG's] social channels to maximize your chances of getting a key."

Testing on Savage will be limited. It begins Monday (April 2) at 7 PM PT / 10 PM ET / 3 AM GMT and will run until Thursday (April 5) at 4 AM PT / 7 AM ET / 12 PM GMT.

“We haven’t released content so early in its development since our alpha testing stage. We’re doing this because we want to start getting your feedback as soon as possible and drive the development in the right direction.”

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds or PUBG as it is most commonly known is the online (PvP) multiplayer-shooter that has spawned the birth of the battle royale phenomenon.

The game is now owned by the PUBG Corporation which has built on the original game created by Brendan "PlayerUnknown" (gamer name). Players can choose to play the game out in third or first person perspective.

The basic premise sees 100 players drop into a map, scavenge weapons and equipment and engage in a last man standing (battle royale) style combat sequence. The map decreases in size as the game goes on which slowly forces the players together. The last player (or duo, team) left alive wins the game. Players earn in-game currency based on differing stats (time alive, health points gained/taken, enemies killed, team revives, hit accuracy and more). Players can use this in-game currency to buy crates with randomized loot inside.

Outside of taking in weapons and equipment. Players can customise their characters with a rage of clothes. PUBG Corp. has just launched their latest PC update which adds a new weapons skin system (and a few other things) to the game.

Greene said, with this latest update, that PUBG will be staying relevant and up to date with the genre and will be incorporating many more fun and engaging additions over the coming months.

PUBG is also available on mobile devices. Tencent has published PUBG on mobile and have re-created the battle royale sensation on handheld devices. It is currently available for free on iOS and android in the U.S (other regions will become available).

The game on mobile devices is, actually, just as compelling and exciting as it is on PC and Xbox One and One X. The first few games are tailored toward integration but it soon ramps up to a seriously competitive mobile shooter. This is highly recommended, it’s free and a great laugh.

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