PUBG Corp | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Wed, 26 Jun 2019 17:56:23 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png PUBG Corp | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Dead Space and Call of Duty veteran joins PUBG Corp to lead new studio https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/dead-space-and-call-of-duty-veteran-joins-pubg-corp-to-lead-new-studio/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/dead-space-and-call-of-duty-veteran-joins-pubg-corp-to-lead-new-studio/#respond Wed, 26 Jun 2019 16:00:28 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=416567 Glen Schofield has had quite the career up to this point. The industry veteran was instrumental to getting Dead Space off the ground at Visceral Games and later founded Sledgehammer and helped lead Call of Duty back to success with the release of COD: WWII. Back in early 2018, it was announced that Schofield would …

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Glen Schofield has had quite the career up to this point. The industry veteran was instrumental to getting Dead Space off the ground at Visceral Games and later founded Sledgehammer and helped lead Call of Duty back to success with the release of COD: WWII. Back in early 2018, it was announced that Schofield would be stepping down from his position at Sledgehammer and then he left Activision entirely by the end of last year. Now, he is joining up with PUBG Corp to build another new studio.

Earlier this year, PUBG Corp began setting up additional studios outside of South Korea to focus on other projects. PUBG creator, Brendan Greene, is heading up a new ‘special projects' studio in Amsterdam that will be experimenting and working on non Battle Royale games. Glen Schofield will be embarking on a similar journey at PUBG Corp, spearheading a new studio in California.

Schofield will be building a Triple A development team at this new studio. While the ‘PUBG universe' will still play a role in what this new studio creates, it will go “beyond the battle royale genre”.

From the sounds of it, PUBG is looking to push the series out into different genres and styles of game to expand the brand and its appeal. This is a strategy that other franchises have attempted in the past but few are truly successful. Still, Schofield has worked on some incredible games over the years, so whatever he comes up with will certainly be interesting.

KitGuru Says: This is a pretty major pickup for PUBG Corp. Now the company has three separate studios under its belt with two of them working on projects not related to the main battle royale game. It will be interesting to see where these additional teams can take things next. 

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PUBG made nearly $1 billion in 2018, despite struggles in China and India https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-made-nearly-1-billion-in-2018-despite-struggles-in-china-and-india/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-made-nearly-1-billion-in-2018-despite-struggles-in-china-and-india/#respond Wed, 24 Apr 2019 08:10:08 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=411174 PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds faced tremendous competition in 2018, particularly from free-to-play entries led by the success of Fortnite. Despite this, PUBG was an unmitigated success as its annual revenue climbed to a staggering $920 million last year. The PC version in particular was the game’s most popular platform, accounting for 81.5% of the game’s overall revenue …

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PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds faced tremendous competition in 2018, particularly from free-to-play entries led by the success of Fortnite. Despite this, PUBG was an unmitigated success as its annual revenue climbed to a staggering $920 million last year.

The PC version in particular was the game’s most popular platform, accounting for 81.5% of the game’s overall revenue at $790 million. Consoles contributed $60 million throughout the year, an unsurprisingly low figure given that its late arrival to consoles gave away its foothold to Fortnite.

PUBG Mobile influence was noticeably low at $65 million, even with more combined downloads across iOS and Android than Fortnite. This is largely because Tencent owns the licence to make and publish the mobile version, meaning the majority of profits land in the Chinese firm’s pocket.

PUBG Mobile has yet to breach the Chinese market officially given the stagnation of video game licences and might suffer more obstacles with new regulation that prevents blood and corpses from being shown. India has also had a backlash against the title, outright banning PUBG Mobile in several cities over concerns of addiction and violence. Even with these struggles, the Asian market accounted for 53% of the overall revenue throughout 2018, hitting highs of $487 million.

2019 is set to be even more difficult with the launch of Battlefield’s Firestorm and, more importantly, the rapid growth of Respawn Entertainment’s Apex Legends. Apex might be shedding viewers on Twitch, but its player base is still strong.

KitGuru Says: Developer PUBG Corp has relentlessly tried to keep its game relevant with its FIX PUBG campaign and a myriad of updates, with its latest patch today introducing Weapon Mastery, UI changes and regular rebalancing. Still, PUBG struggles to maintain its player base. Only time will tell whether PUBG Corp’s efforts will pay off.  

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Brendan ‘PlayerUnknown’ Greene is done with battle royale for now https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/brendan-playerunknown-greene-is-done-with-battle-royale-for-now/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/matthew-wilson/brendan-playerunknown-greene-is-done-with-battle-royale-for-now/#respond Tue, 02 Apr 2019 07:30:13 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=408878 A few weeks ago, we learned that Brendan ‘PlayerUnknown' Greene would be moving away from PUBG development after five years on the project. The game will continue to be supported but in the meantime, PlayerUnknown himself will be heading up a new division called ‘PUBG Special Projects'. This week, Greene spoke a bit about what …

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A few weeks ago, we learned that Brendan ‘PlayerUnknown' Greene would be moving away from PUBG development after five years on the project. The game will continue to be supported but in the meantime, PlayerUnknown himself will be heading up a new division called ‘PUBG Special Projects'. This week, Greene spoke a bit about what the special projects team will be working on, and it won't be a sequel to PUBG.

Greene's new special project team is working out of an office in Amsterdam, away from the South Korean offices of the PUBG development squad. Speaking with GI.biz, Greene made it clear that multiplayer gaming is still the focus but battle royale won't play a role this time around: “The last man standing concept is great, but I've done that. I don't really intend to make PUBG 2. I've done battle royale, it's time to try something else. There are ideas about how we connect to people and how we provide the different experiences I have.”

The Special Projects group was announced ahead of GDC, so at the show, the current members of the team got to recruiting. Thanks to the sheer amount of money PUBG brought in, this team will be free to start “exploring, experimenting and creating new technologies” without worrying about turning a profit.

“We're not doing this for profit, eventually someday, we may do, but right now it's just about having time to explore. There is no deadline here, this is us with a few years to play”.

The Special Projects group likely won't be announcing anything for a good long while. Greene turned the multiplayer gaming world on its head once with Battle Royale, it will be interesting to see what the next big multiplayer idea ends up being.

KitGuru Says: Greene began his game development career as an ARMA modder and has managed to turn that into an entire new genre of gaming that most companies currently want a piece of. It'll be a while until we see what comes next. Personally, I'd like to see more time invested in crafting a ‘killer app' for multiplayer VR. What do you guys think the Special Projects group might be working on? 

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PUBG’s global investigation into cheating has seen 16 pro players suspended https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubgs-global-investigation-into-cheating-has-seen-16-pro-players-suspended/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubgs-global-investigation-into-cheating-has-seen-16-pro-players-suspended/#respond Fri, 11 Jan 2019 09:00:21 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=400688 Continued anti-cheat efforts have seen more than 13 million accounts ousted from PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds throughout 2018, with developer PUBG Corp. capping off the year by launching an investigation into the practice on a global scale. This turned up four pro players that were banned by December 31st for using unauthorised programs, and a further 12 …

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Continued anti-cheat efforts have seen more than 13 million accounts ousted from PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds throughout 2018, with developer PUBG Corp. capping off the year by launching an investigation into the practice on a global scale. This turned up four pro players that were banned by December 31st for using unauthorised programs, and a further 12 more players have since been added to this list.

The first four consist of Christian “Cuhris” Narvaez, Liam “Liammm” Tran, Tyler “DevowR” Sti and Mark “Tefl0n” Formaro, who received personal three-year bans from competitive play. This has been decreed as the minimum sentence for being caught cheating during professional play, with a maximum ranging up to a lifetime ban. Each of their teams were also disqualified from the NPL Preseason, replaced by the next four teams that climbed up to the top spots in the Mid- December Qualifiers.

Out of a total twelve more rulings, six were similarly caught cheating during a professional game, resulting in a three-year ban for “Papaya”, “Cabecao”, “swalker”, “zuppaa”, “Houlow” and “sezk0.” A further four were caught using unauthorised software during public games, but supposedly clear during competitive matches, seeing a smaller two-year suspension for “Avalon”, “Smitty”, “TEXQS”, and “S1D” as of January 7th.

“Cheating in a professional competition is one of the least sportsmanlike behavior that a pro player can exhibit, so we are issuing one of the severest penalties we have ever issued, in order to match our zero tolerance policy on cheating,” reads the announcement. “We are also working with third-party tournament organizers to block any prize winnings from being awarded to these suspended players.”

Due to this very same zero-tolerance policy, “THZ” and “Fr_Steph” have also received a three-year ban from competitive play for knowingly allowing Sans Domicile Fixe teammates “Houlow” and “sezk0” to cheat without intervention. This has resulted in the team losing all of its players to suspensions, however the company will be permitted from continuing in various tournaments should it acquire an entirely new roster. Other teams are simply required to replace the suspended members with legitimate players.

“In the future, before any official esports competition, all participating players will go through a comprehensive background check on all their accounts, and any player with incriminating evidence of having used an unauthorized program will be suspended and prevented from competing,” concludes PUBG Corp.

KitGuru Says: It’s a little sad that so many cheaters could slip through the cracks when PUBG Corp is trying to make its battle royale a serious contender in the esports ring. Still, this is good progress on what is still one of the biggest games out there despite its downfall to Fortnite. How do you feel about PUBG’s anti-cheat efforts?

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PUBG claws its way back to 1 million concurrent players on Steam https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-claws-its-way-back-to-1-million-concurrent-players-on-steam/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-claws-its-way-back-to-1-million-concurrent-players-on-steam/#respond Mon, 24 Dec 2018 10:58:59 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=399258 Back in February, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds began to fall from grace, unable to maintain its consistent 1 million concurrent player base on Steam. It looks like PUBG has since been given a second chance, passing the barrier once again with 1.08 million players at the time of writing. PUBG capped off 2017 on a high, reaching …

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Back in February, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds began to fall from grace, unable to maintain its consistent 1 million concurrent player base on Steam. It looks like PUBG has since been given a second chance, passing the barrier once again with 1.08 million players at the time of writing.

PUBG capped off 2017 on a high, reaching the previously untouched heights of 3 million concurrent players on Steam. Since then, the game has continually struggled to maintain above 1 million concurrent players, peaking once again during October before hitting a new low of 895,650 peak concurrent players last month.

Renewed interest has been attributed to PUBG Corp’s determined updates ushering in Vikendi, a new snow-clad map that offers a contrasted terrain and palette then the grassy Erangel, desert plains of Miramar and the tropical Sanhok. Alongside a new map to explore, PUBG players have also been treated to a slew of improvements and bug fixes over the past couple of months that are explained to change how the game plays.

Firstly comes the new parachute system, handing controls over to the player. Now, players are able to dive and glide while heading to their destination, going as far to cut their parachute before landing. This is a small tweak that enables player to more precisely coordinate themselves.

Second is the Survivor Pass, which rewards players for jumping into Vikendi. This is offered to players for free, which has proven popular, however a paid Premium Pass for £7.49 grants access to “more missions, faster leveling, and exclusive rewards.”

Much of PUBG’s downfall is believed to be at the hands of rival Fortnite: Battle Royale, which continues to achieve staggering heights. Still, PUBG’s console and mobile presence, which isn’t accounted for here, is proving to withstand the competition a little better and the Steam version maintains its position at the top of the concurrent player chart.

KitGuru Says: It’s always sad to see a popular game lose Steam, particularly after following its rise to prominence. Have you gone back to PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds since the introduction of Vikendi or do you think the game’s time has already passed?

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‘FIX PUBG’ campaign officially ends, and fans don’t seem happy https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/fix-pubg-campaign-officially-ends-and-fans-dont-seem-happy/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/fix-pubg-campaign-officially-ends-and-fans-dont-seem-happy/#respond Mon, 19 Nov 2018 14:24:30 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=395468 PUBG Corp launched a campaign to fix PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds back in August, releasing a roadmap built to improve the battle royale’s quality of life. FIX PUBG has officially come to an end last week, however it doesn’t seem like everyone is best pleased. During the campaign, the developers managed to implement a variety of bug …

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PUBG Corp launched a campaign to fix PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds back in August, releasing a roadmap built to improve the battle royale’s quality of life. FIX PUBG has officially come to an end last week, however it doesn’t seem like everyone is best pleased.

During the campaign, the developers managed to implement a variety of bug fixes, as well as region locking and a fully-fledged rank system. Unfortunately, this couldn’t stop PUBG’s player base from declining, dropping below a peak concurrent of 1 million players on Steam for the first time in over a year. This number has continued to dwindle since, sitting at a current peak of 828,575 concurrent players.

The campaign ran over its planned October deadline, which executive producer Taeseok Jang explains is the fault of “several new stability issues that arose apart from FIX PUBG.” These issues seem to have subsided with the most recent patch, as Jang declares FIX PUBG completed and outlines what to expect throughout 2019.

“Throughout our game’s journey, our main goal was to provide you new content quickly, while supplementing Battle Royale gameplay. We acknowledge that in this process, we have overlooked issues that matter to you and we have reflected a lot on our mistakes. Something like this requires not only considerable effort, but extra care to ensure that bugs remain fixed and do not impact anything else.”

This has made an impact on the 2019 PUBG Roadmap, which now focuses on “build stability and quality” first and foremost. New content will still be arriving, but on top of this new base provided by the FIX PUBG campaign and at a slowed pace. “While we cannot say how long this will take, we promise you that we will give our best efforts to reach this stage as quickly as possible,” continues Jang.

“Three months have passed since the announcement of the FIX PUBG. We know there are many things to improve upon, but we do have a sense that we more accurately feel what you, the players want and need. While this is the end of the FIX PUBG campaign, we will go forward in our development, improve our processes, and redouble our efforts with the lessons learned.”

Sadly, not everyone is happy with PUBG Corp’s efforts as the Steam post is filled with disgruntled players claiming that the game is worse off than it was before. Despite holding an overall “Mixed” review average on the platform, its recent reviews dips below into “Mostly Negative” with many criticising the amount of paid content entering the game and more bugs supposedly debuting than are fixed.

PUBG will finally launch on PlayStation 4 on December 7th. Although each has its own development team, development of the PS4 version will run “parallel with PC” and Xbox One, “continuing to focus on providing our console players a more refined game service to give the best experience.”

KitGuru Says: Over 800,000 concurrent players still tops Steam’s charts even if it is a notable loss. Do you think it’s possible for PUBG to climb back to the heights it once achieved, or has the game already past its peak?

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PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds delays the return of Event Mode to fix a critical bug https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-delays-the-return-of-event-mode-to-fix-a-critical-bug/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-delays-the-return-of-event-mode-to-fix-a-critical-bug/#respond Fri, 19 Oct 2018 09:55:12 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=391480 Earlier this year, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds was blessed with an Event Mode to test out new game modes for a limited time on PC. Sadly, this has since fallen under its ‘FIX PUBG’ campaign, being temporarily removed due to a “critical error.” PUBG Help, publisher Bluehole’s official Twitter support channel for the game, announced that Event …

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Earlier this year, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds was blessed with an Event Mode to test out new game modes for a limited time on PC. Sadly, this has since fallen under its ‘FIX PUBG’ campaign, being temporarily removed due to a “critical error.”

PUBG Help, publisher Bluehole’s official Twitter support channel for the game, announced that Event Mode would be taking a momentary hiatus in order for the team to fix major bugs that have consistently been causing issues for players. This has caused a delay to the return of Platoon, PUBG’s brand new 50 versus 50 mode comprised of 10-person squads, that will now “return at a later date.”

This is just the latest bug to fall under PUBG Corp’s FIX PUBG campaign, dedicated to quell the various problems continually breaking the game and improve its quality-of-life. It remains to be seen whether or not the developer can reach its goals in time for the campaign’s end in October, or if it will instead be extended due to the overwhelming nature of each issue.

It seems that compensation in the form of free in-game currency and items can only take the company so far, as players are increasingly expressing their disappointment within Twitter replies and Reddit threads. 50 v 50 is “something Fortnite threw together as an experiment and kept iterating on. PUBG tries and falls on its face,” says one user.

Other users pointed out how PUBG is panicking following Call of Duty IIII’s entry into the battle royale space, introducing the incredibly popular Blackout mode. It seems that there’s a difficult amount of competition to keep up with that could potentially see PUBG slip behind if the developers aren’t careful.

KitGuru Says: Even if the bugs were ideally ironed out, there’s plenty of people that seem to be increasingly displeased with the game in comparison to its rivals. Have you found yourself moving to another battle royale game over the past year?

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PUBG’s ongoing anti-cheat efforts have seen 13 million accounts banned to date https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubgs-ongoing-anti-cheat-efforts-have-seen-13-million-accounts-banned-to-date/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubgs-ongoing-anti-cheat-efforts-have-seen-13-million-accounts-banned-to-date/#respond Wed, 03 Oct 2018 14:30:03 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=389370 As a part of its ongoing FIX PUBG campaign, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds finally received its in-house anti-cheat technology last month. Working alongside BattlEye’s defence against hackers, it’s now been revealed that 13 million cheaters have been banned so far. PUBG has struggled with hackers since it gained popularity, with complaints reaching an all-time high in November …

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As a part of its ongoing FIX PUBG campaign, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds finally received its in-house anti-cheat technology last month. Working alongside BattlEye’s defence against hackers, it’s now been revealed that 13 million cheaters have been banned so far.

PUBG has struggled with hackers since it gained popularity, with complaints reaching an all-time high in November 2017. Fortunately, Bluehole began to frequently update fans of ban waves, reassuring players that it was taking action against “unauthorised use of illegal programs.” Not only was Reddit user sjk045 able to determine that 13 million players had been banned after collecting all 69 data entries, they were also able to construct a graph to showcase the trend of ban waves as they happened.

Although these stats show separate accounts being banned, it doesn’t consider individual players returning to the title under a different in-game name. Still, there is a noticeable peak where BattlEye had previously stated it managed to ban over 1 million cheaters in January alone.

This trend has crept downwards in the following months, prompting thoughts of success in PUBG's ongoing anti-cheat efforts, however a notable portion of this might come from the dwindling player base. PUBG dipped below 1 million concurrent players on PC last month, for the first time since it broke that barrier. Still, a peak of 961,139 concurrent players at the time of writing is certainly nothing to scoff at.

KitGuru Says: It seems that many players have moved on to other games like Fortnite, however it's much more difficult to determine how the current numbers stack against Epic Games' rival battle royale. Are you still enjoying PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds?

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Xbox is strangely keeping its “Greaseproof” controller limited edition https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-announcement/damien-cox/xbox-is-strangely-keeping-its-greaseproof-controller-limited-edition/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-announcement/damien-cox/xbox-is-strangely-keeping-its-greaseproof-controller-limited-edition/#respond Thu, 06 Sep 2018 09:26:08 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=385967 It’s 2018 and we’ve finally got a certified Greaseproof controller. Sadly, Xbox will be keeping its availability rather limited.

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Earlier this week, PUBG Corp released its full 1.0 Update to PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds on the Xbox One, marking an end to its time within Xbox Preview’s early access. In celebration, Xbox Australia commissioned a special, highly limited edition controller built to withstand grease and scuffs.

Introducing the Greaseproof 1.0, PUBG players will finally be able to indulge in that chicken dinner without worrying about their grubby mits hindering their attempts at an in-game chicken dinner, all thanks to a special urethane coating. Applied by hand, this gives the pad resistance to grease, water and scratches but isn’t an IP rating, so it’s advised that players don’t go dropping it in a bucket full any time soon.

Sporting a unique, yellow and grey industrial design with the PUBG logo on its battery pack, the Greaseproof 1.0 is incredibly limited edition. Only 200 controllers will be made worldwide, each showcasing what number it is when it came out of the factory. Microsoft hasn’t yet revealed how players can get their hands on one, aside from 10 which will be given away via the Xbox ANZ Facebook page, which caters to Australia and New Zealand.

Game Informer's David Milner points out that the coating of the controller ironically makes it look greasy, prompting concerns of the Greaseproof 1.0 slipping right out of the player's hands. Freelance reviewer Addie managed to get her hands on one, revealing that it does have a greasy feel, but it's difficult to know to what extent without our own hands-on here at KitGuru.

It seems that Xbox Australia hasn’t held back with its PUBG promotions, with the team orchestrating a real-life supply drop to celebrate its launch on Xbox Preview. Given that it’s covered two major milestones in PUBG’s console life, it isn’t certain whether it has any more gimmicks and events up its sleeve.

KitGuru Says: Honestly, I can’t believe that it’s taken so long for someone to introduce a greaseproof controller, despite it looking inherently greasy itself. It’s just a shame that this isn’t a standard feature that players can easily get their hands on. What do you think of the Greaseproof 1.0? Would you buy one if it was on sale?

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PUBG PS4 rumours are back in full force thanks to its Gamescom 2018 documentary https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-ps4-rumours-are-back-in-full-force-thanks-to-its-gamescom-2018-documentary/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-ps4-rumours-are-back-in-full-force-thanks-to-its-gamescom-2018-documentary/#respond Thu, 23 Aug 2018 11:45:34 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=384339 The transition from PC to Xbox hasn’t been the smoothest ride for PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, with PUBG Corp releasing a documentary on the journey to both enlighten and to celebrate the game’s impending full release onto Xbox One. Curiously, however, a large PlayStation-sized Easter egg has been spotted, renewing rumours of PUBG potentially coming to PS4. …

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The transition from PC to Xbox hasn’t been the smoothest ride for PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, with PUBG Corp releasing a documentary on the journey to both enlighten and to celebrate the game’s impending full release onto Xbox One. Curiously, however, a large PlayStation-sized Easter egg has been spotted, renewing rumours of PUBG potentially coming to PS4.

PUBG’s Xbox exclusivity has acted as a double-edged sword for publisher Bluehole. Microsoft’s dedicated funding did help developer PUBG Corp focus on optimisation for the one console, however its noticeable omission from PlayStation 4 allowed its rival, Fortnite, to skyrocket in popularity uncontested. It was always believed that PUBG would eventually play catch-up, although there has never been an official comment on the future of the game beyond its full release on Xbox One.

Eventually, rumours of a PS4 release died down, leaving PUBG Corp to focus on Xbox One without the distraction of constantly having to address fan questions. Until now, that is, as a PlayStation 4 Pro and controller can be seen in the background during 0:54 of the video below.

Perhaps even more interesting is that the documentary is live on Microsoft’s official Xbox YouTube channel rather than PUBG Corp or Bluehole, making this seem like less of a quiet teaser and more of an oversight. That being said, it could still act as an unintentional reveal of what’s to come, if PUBG Corp is keeping the console so close to its workstations.

Others believe that the PS4 Pro is simply used by employees for downtime between long periods of development, which is fairly common in the industry. After all, most if not all developers are gamers themselves when they get the time. As open minded as head of Xbox, Phil Spencer is on cross-platform gaming, it seems unlikely that direct competitors would advertise their rival’s platform on such a big exclusive.

KitGuru Says: Even if PUBG Corp is planning to bring PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds to PS4, it’s unlikely that we would see anything intentionally stealing the thunder from its Xbox One release. It’ll be interesting to see what the company does beyond its upcoming September 4th launch. Would you like to see PUBG reach PS4 or is it too little, too late?

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PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds now has a release date on Xbox One https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-now-has-a-release-date-on-xbox-one/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-now-has-a-release-date-on-xbox-one/#respond Wed, 22 Aug 2018 09:22:54 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=384156 PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) will finally be making its way out of Microsoft’s Xbox One Game Preview into full release on September 4th. The smaller 4km×4km Sanhok map that arrived on PC in June will debut on Xbox alongside the 1.0 update, alongside new modes, cosmetics and a stylised controller. Announced at E3 2017, PUBG launched …

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PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) will finally be making its way out of Microsoft’s Xbox One Game Preview into full release on September 4th. The smaller 4km×4km Sanhok map that arrived on PC in June will debut on Xbox alongside the 1.0 update, alongside new modes, cosmetics and a stylised controller.

Announced at E3 2017, PUBG launched on Xbox One at the end of the year in the form of Early Access using the Xbox Game Preview for testing. It’s taken roughly the same amount of time as its PC counterpart to complete its development, without as many of the hitches in the road along the way.

Joining Sanhok will be PUBG’s celebrated War Mode, a score-based deathmatch that allows for respawns and the reviving of teammates after they’ve been killed. Cosmetic items will hit the platform in full force, together with in-game currency in order to purchase them. Xbox One users will be able to get their hands on Event Pass: Sanhok for $9.99, presumably opening up more missions and its own levelling system in order to provide the player with rewards. More details are set to be revealed closer to the time.

Achievements will carry over from the Game Preview, allowing for completionists to continue their progress. Those getting their hands on a physical copy of PUBG will also receive exclusive DLC with Xbox-themed clothing and equipment. Those with digital copies can get their hands on the Xbox #1.0/99 DLC separately for a limited time after launch.

Lastly, Microsoft will be launching a PUBG-themed Xbox One controller, hitting stores a little later on October 30th. The black digital camouflage isn’t worlds apart from what we’ve seen in the past, but would make a sleek addition to any collection, or a good replacement, for $69.99. No UK pricing has been announced, leaving it unknown whether or not the limited edition controller will see a UK, or even European release.

KitGuru Says: Although there have been some hiccups, it seems as though Xbox One players haven’t had half as much to complain about over the course of PUBG’s console development, which is refreshing to see. Hopefully this continues moving forward into full release. How do you feel about PUBG on Xbox One?

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PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has launched its ‘FIX PUBG’ campaign to quell bugs https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-has-launched-its-fix-pubg-campaign-to-quell-bugs/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-has-launched-its-fix-pubg-campaign-to-quell-bugs/#respond Wed, 08 Aug 2018 10:18:28 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=382407 If it’s not cheaters bringing PUBG players down, it’s a plethora of bugs according to the game’s community. It seems that developer PUBG Corp agrees with this assessment, pledging its latest efforts to improving Battlegrounds’ quality-of-life under a new campaign called “FIX PUBG.” “For the duration of the campaign, we’ll be entirely focused on addressing …

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If it’s not cheaters bringing PUBG players down, it’s a plethora of bugs according to the game’s community. It seems that developer PUBG Corp agrees with this assessment, pledging its latest efforts to improving Battlegrounds’ quality-of-life under a new campaign called “FIX PUBG.”

“For the duration of the campaign, we’ll be entirely focused on addressing problems with the game, including bugs, long-needed quality-of-life improvements, and fundamental performance improvements,” explains PUBG Corp’s post. To do this, the team has unveiled a brand new dedicated website to track bug-fixing progress, sharing “specifics” about the fixes in question and the “time it’ll take to address the issues.”

This is “a months-long campaign to deliver the changes and improvements that you've been asking for,” complete with a roadmap that the developer will be wading through as it promises to deliver. This will last at least three months, according to the website, with character optimisation, server performance profiling optimisation, PUBG’s combined anti-cheat solution, smarter matchmaking and quality-of-life being the primary headlines lasting until October.

While the campaign officially started with Update 19 last week, PUBG Corp already kicked things off with a smaller patch to the live server today introducing limb penetration, the ability to customise graphical sharpness, in-game FPS cap and menu FPS cap and toggling each teammate’s mute button individually. Quality-of-life improvements have also been added to those utilising the game’s colourblind mode and loot stack splitting, while dampening vehicle sounds for the driver while in first-person perspective.

PUBG Corp’s announcement has the player base divided. While invested and returning players are thankful that their voice has been heard, many others are disturbed by the developer’s use of acknowledging problems as a marketing tool. Still, it’s imperative to the survival of the game that PUBG Corp works on these issues sooner rather than later.

KitGuru Says: Although I certainly think that PUBG Corp could have been quicker to the mark rather than taking a whole year to get to this stage, it’s always difficult for a developer to be open about its problems without further backlash. It looks like the team is set to fix these issues once and for all. How do you feel about the FIX PUBG campaign?

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PUBG Corp has inexplicably dropped its lawsuit against Fortnite creator Epic Games https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-corp-has-inexplicably-dropped-its-lawsuit-against-fortnite-creator-epic-games/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-corp-has-inexplicably-dropped-its-lawsuit-against-fortnite-creator-epic-games/#respond Wed, 27 Jun 2018 11:36:33 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=377916 Last month, PUBG Corp sought legal action against Epic Games in an attempt to clarify whether Fortnite: Battle Royale violated copyright laws when compared with PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. In a bizarre turn of events, PUBG Corp has now sent a letter of withdrawal to its rival, dropping the lawsuit entirely. Publisher Bluehole, and now developer PUBG …

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Last month, PUBG Corp sought legal action against Epic Games in an attempt to clarify whether Fortnite: Battle Royale violated copyright laws when compared with PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. In a bizarre turn of events, PUBG Corp has now sent a letter of withdrawal to its rival, dropping the lawsuit entirely.

Publisher Bluehole, and now developer PUBG Corp have not been known to pull their punches towards the neighbouring battle royale title, claiming that Fortnite: Battle Royale was a ‘carbon copy’ of PUBG when it released. Its concern was later clarified, explaining that Epic Games has a conflict of interest by providing the engine that PUBG relies on, Unreal Engine 4, leading to a large sum of royalties.

Despite seeking damages for capitalising on the battle royale formula that PUBG debatably cemented as an entire genre, PUBG Corp has inexplicably backed out of the lawsuit. Neither company has issued a comment on the matter, according to Bloomberg, leaving it down to speculation as to whether a settlement has been reached outside of court. It has been suggested that Tencent Holdings Ltd could have impacted on the case, in part, as it owns a large portion of both Bluehole and Epic Games.

It is believed that PUBG Corp is still pursuing its lawsuit against China’s Netease Inc, maker of Rules of Survival and Knives Out. The developer alleges that these two mobile battle royale titles infringe on PUBG in at least 25 different ways, including “PUBG’s expressive depictions of the pre-play area,” the iconic ‘Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner’ victory prompt.

Epic Games also has its own lawsuits going on, with the latest target being a former quality assurance tester that broke a non-disclosure agreement. This led to leaks spoiling the surprise that the developer had in store for Season 4 of its popular battle royale title.

KitGuru Says: It was inevitable that a case between two huge companies would be resolved outside of court, but why the lawsuit has been dropped now in the way it has is still the million-dollar question. At the very least, we will hopefully hear a lot less squabbling moving forward.

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PUBG Corp offers in-game compensation to wrongfully banned players during anti-cheat tests https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-corp-offers-in-game-compensation-to-wrongfully-banned-players-during-anti-cheat-tests/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-corp-offers-in-game-compensation-to-wrongfully-banned-players-during-anti-cheat-tests/#respond Thu, 21 Jun 2018 09:48:06 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=377431 PUBG Corp has been testing its new anti-cheat measures over the past year, accidentally banning a plethora of innocent players in the process. While the developer has already corrected the mistake, it has now offered a “small compensation” of 20,000 Battle Points (BP), the in-game currency, to all who were wrongfully punished. “As you know, …

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PUBG Corp has been testing its new anti-cheat measures over the past year, accidentally banning a plethora of innocent players in the process. While the developer has already corrected the mistake, it has now offered a “small compensation” of 20,000 Battle Points (BP), the in-game currency, to all who were wrongfully punished.

“As you know, one of our highest priorities is working towards eliminating hackers and cheaters from PUBG,” the developer explains in a Steam Community post. “We’ve made great strides in this area recently, but unfortunately sometimes we get it wrong, which was the case recently when a number of players were improperly banned and were unable to access the game for a period of time.”

Cheat detection and prevention is an important part of PUBG’s development, as it listens to the continued outcry of fans suffering from its hacker issue. Despite the wrongful bans, PUBG Corp ensures that it will be pushing ahead with further tests and asks the player base to be patient where possible.

Many of the bans came from apparent bugs during PUBG’s 3.8.38.15 version, with anyone logged in “between June 16, 11am—1:30pm PDT / June 16, 8pm—10:30pm CEST / June 17, 3am—5:30am KST” being eligible for the compensation. Similarly, those affected by botched internal ban detection logic can also claim.

“For those players who were affected, we will be granting a small compensation of 20,000 BP to your accounts,” continues PUBG Corp. “Compensation should already be showing up in affected players accounts. Please check below for full details on which accounts are eligible to receive this compensation. We apologize for anyone who missed out on game time due to this error and hope that this compensation helps make up for that lost time.”

KitGuru Says: While unfortunate, it’s a necessity in order to stomp out the underhanded practice of cheating. At the very least, the added compensation is a nice touch from the developer. Were you affected by a wrongful ban? Are you okay with being wrongfully banned given that it’ll help against cheater in the future?

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PUBG set to remove map selection, while teasing a snowy new addition this winter https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-set-to-remove-map-selection-while-teasing-a-snowy-new-addition-this-winter/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-set-to-remove-map-selection-while-teasing-a-snowy-new-addition-this-winter/#respond Fri, 15 Jun 2018 11:01:53 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=376948 PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is getting quite the roster of maps under its belt, capping off last week with a teaser towards an impending snowy map that slots in between the sizes of exiting maps. Just ahead of releasing its compact Sanhok map, however, the team behind the battle royale has opted to remove map selection entirely. …

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PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is getting quite the roster of maps under its belt, capping off last week with a teaser towards an impending snowy map that slots in between the sizes of exiting maps. Just ahead of releasing its compact Sanhok map, however, the team behind the battle royale has opted to remove map selection entirely.

Map selection is a relatively new feature, having been announced and introduced mid-April, affording players the opportunity to choose which maps they search for. Despite housing just two maps, the original Erangel and its sandy counterpart, Miramar, the developer emphasised that it needed to “keep a close eye on it, since it could become problematic as new maps continue to be added.”

Sanhok, PUBG’s new 4x4km map, has currently seen multiple rounds of testing before it launches on July 22nd. During these tests, it’s become clear to PUBG Corp that the current ability to customise the map pool on a per-map basis fragments the matchmaking to the point that it becomes “nearly impossible to put together a match in at least some of those queues.”

As of July 22nd, PUBG Corp will be removing the map selection and introducing Sanhok in its own queue, at least temporarily, so that people can get an exclusive taste of the new map in its “Mini Royale” mode. To play Erangel or Miramar, however, players will have to enter a queue that contains all three maps, dubbed traditional “Battle Royale”.

PUBG Corp will continue to add new maps, either placing them with existing map playlists or creating a standalone mode. “It’s possible we’ll change our plans as we learn more,” states the blog post.

One addition that the team currently has in the works is a winter map, covered in snow. Planned for “Winter 2018,” the new map will fit somewhere between the existing 8x8km standard map size and the smaller 4x4km Sanhok. As seen in the teaser trailer, a planned feature for the new map is footprints, that should enable players to track and chase enemies, however Brendan “Player Unknown” Greene downplays excitement by stating that the team “can't promise anything now. It's very early.”

KitGuru Says: So long as PUBG Corp keeps its ear to the ground on fan feedback, I can’t see the change to map rotation being a particularly bad thing. That being said, this is sure to annoy players who were never really fond of Miramar’s flat terrain in comparison to the more dynamic hills of Erangel. How do you feel about map selection being removed?

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PUBG takes legal action against Fortnite dev Epic Games for copyright infringement https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-takes-legal-action-against-fortnite-dev-epic-games-for-copyright-infringement/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-takes-legal-action-against-fortnite-dev-epic-games-for-copyright-infringement/#respond Tue, 29 May 2018 09:14:28 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=374637 Publisher Bluehole and PUBG Corp have harboured a growing concern over rival supermassive hit Fortnite: Battle Royale. Believing it to be replicating PlayerUnknown’s signature experience and even infringing on copyright, PUBG Corp has filed a lawsuit against its developer, Epic Games. The lawsuit was filed in January according to official representatives for the company, via …

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Publisher Bluehole and PUBG Corp have harboured a growing concern over rival supermassive hit Fortnite: Battle Royale. Believing it to be replicating PlayerUnknown’s signature experience and even infringing on copyright, PUBG Corp has filed a lawsuit against its developer, Epic Games.

The lawsuit was filed in January according to official representatives for the company, via The Korea Times, asking the court to determine whether Fortnite is in violation of copyright. Beyond this, neither company has spoken up about the legal action as investigations are under way.

Considering Fortnite: Battle Royale was specifically made to capitalise on PUBG’s success approximately 6 months after PlayerUnknown debuted his shooter, it’s easy to see how Epic Games poses a threat. It isn’t the monumental growth that bothers PUBG Corp, however, but rather Epic’s access to sensitive backend data surrounding its title as the developer of the engine both games use.

“We use Unreal Engine to develop PUBG, and we pay a large amount of royalties based on the size of our success to Epic Games, and Epic Games always promoted their licensing models saying “We want to support the success indie developers”, and Bluehole is this indie developer that has been the most successful one using the Unreal Engine this year, and that’s the problem that I see,” explains Bluehole’s C.H. Kim.

Fortnite’s free-to-play model and release on almost every platform including mobile has resulted in over 40 million players embracing the title as of January this year. The count is expected to be significantly higher as the year has progressed.

Currently, both companies are embroiled in a number of lawsuits, with PUBG Corp taking aim at copyright infringing mobile clones and Epic Games controversially tackling cheaters.

KitGuru Says: PlayerUnknown and co. were criticised for their want to take legal action back in September, making the lawsuit all the more unexpected. Fortnite retains enough of its own flavour to stand on its own two feet, and if Epic can prove it hasn’t used backend data, this could result in a backlash against PUBG Corp.

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PUBG Corp highlights its shortcomings on performance optimisation https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-corp-highlights-its-shortcomings-on-performance-optimisation/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-corp-highlights-its-shortcomings-on-performance-optimisation/#respond Mon, 28 May 2018 09:11:04 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=374569 Developer PUBG Corp. has apologised to fans in its latest blog post, stating that it has “fallen short” with performance optimisation, instead opting for “meaningful improvements” in the form of new content. This is set to change, however, as PUBG Corp. has outlined a three-pronged road map on how it plans to proceed. Starting with …

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Developer PUBG Corp. has apologised to fans in its latest blog post, stating that it has “fallen short” with performance optimisation, instead opting for “meaningful improvements” in the form of new content. This is set to change, however, as PUBG Corp. has outlined a three-pronged road map on how it plans to proceed.

Starting with client-side performance, PUBG Corp. has identified a handful of causes of GPU overloading and frame rate issues. Fixes are currently in the works, ensuring that lighting effect processes are changed, as is the way vehicles move over different terrain too fast, reducing the amount of effects. Player movement, animations and character models will all be receiving an overhaul, aiming to improve staggered frame rate and stuttering.

Of course, PUBG Corp. hasn’t forgotten about server-side optimisation, with plans to brush up on its network code and reducing latency. Sever-to-client data transfer will also see a boost to its speed, helping to prevent items spawning in later than players land. Vehicles will also get some attention, after multiple reports of odd physics, which is apparently thanks to the server rapidly updates certain frames.

The last area that the developer will be addressing is cheating. While PUBG Corp. has been putting measure in place to quell the issue in recent months, it will be doubling down on its efforts. The team has already introduced a variety of encryption based solutions to prevent hackers from exploiting vulnerabilities, banned cheaters in the hundreds of thousands and refined its identification process, reducing the time frame of banning to mere hours of the first exploit used.

It looks as though PUBG. Corp and publisher Bluehole might be following in the footsteps of its rival Epic Games, considering serious legal action against the people responsible for creating hacks and cheats.

“Obviously these are a lot of changes,” explains PUBG Corp regarding the many more changes in its blog post. “Even once we implement every single one of the optimization opportunities listed above, we will keep looking for more chances to improve the game.”

Previously, players would only see performance enhancements during major updates, but with the new model, patches will be release as and when they’re ready to be deployed in the game. This won’t reduce the amount of new content that players will get their hands on, with the new 4×4km map Sanhok just around the corner, but it will help preserve the experience that PUBG Corp and Bluehole wants to give its fans.

KitGuru Says: PUBG has suffered from performance issues since it first landed in early access, so it’s difficult to see an end to the title’s optimisation woes any time soon. Still, with the developer having addressed the issue head on with a plan of action, players might finally get the experience they deserve.  

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PUBG Corp officially names its third map Sanhok ahead of next beta test https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-corp-officially-names-its-third-map-sanhok-ahead-of-next-beta-test/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-corp-officially-names-its-third-map-sanhok-ahead-of-next-beta-test/#respond Wed, 09 May 2018 09:08:49 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=372895 PUBG Corp is gearing for the launch of its third map in a couple of months, shedding its working title of Codename: Savage and taking on the official name of Sanhok. Following on from its second beta test three weeks ago, Sanhok is due for another public test later this week. The developer announced the …

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PUBG Corp is gearing for the launch of its third map in a couple of months, shedding its working title of Codename: Savage and taking on the official name of Sanhok. Following on from its second beta test three weeks ago, Sanhok is due for another public test later this week.

The developer announced the tropical-themed arena back in March, changing the dynamic of traditional PUBG matches by halving the size of the launch map, Erangel and Miramar. At just 4km×4km, Sanhok is PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds’ smallest map to date.

Sanhok’s second round of beta testing, when it was previously still known as Codename: Savage, introduced a lot of changes from the initial design. This included additional areas, such as Banyan Grove and Abandoned Quarry within the centre of the island, alongside a south-eastern Dock and a brand new dynamic weather system.

Given the smaller map’s purpose to condense match times, a number of changes were also made to the gameplay, such as the deadly Bluezone adjust the time it takes to close in on areas based on how many players left alive and the Redzone having its radius and duration trimmed.

It hasn’t yet been revealed what changes the third portion of testing will usher in, meaning that players will simply have to jump in blind on Thursday, 7pm PDT, which equates to Friday, at 3am for UK residents and 4am for those throughout Europe.

The testing period is available to anyone that owns PUBG on Steam and will last until Monday at 4am PDT / 12pm BST / 1pm CEST, giving players the entire weekend to explore the changes and hunt for bugs.

KitGuru Says: The third tropical-themed map seems to be shaping up nicely, prompting thoughts towards what the developer might have in store for the theme of its inevitable fourth map. Personally, something snow-based might be interesting to see. What would you like to come after Sanhok? Will you be delving into the third round of testing this weekend?

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PUBG’s latest limited-time event was taken offline due to server issues https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubgs-latest-limited-time-event-was-taken-offline-due-to-server-issues/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubgs-latest-limited-time-event-was-taken-offline-due-to-server-issues/#respond Mon, 07 May 2018 08:55:44 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=372717 Last week, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds introduced a new time-limited game mode called Desert Knights, a 50-player deathmatch comprised of ten five-person teams in the wastelands of Miramar. Unfortunately, players had less than 24 hours to jump into the event before it was pulled from the servers thanks to stability issues. Developer PUBG Corp. entered emergency maintenance …

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Last week, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds introduced a new time-limited game mode called Desert Knights, a 50-player deathmatch comprised of ten five-person teams in the wastelands of Miramar. Unfortunately, players had less than 24 hours to jump into the event before it was pulled from the servers thanks to stability issues.

Developer PUBG Corp. entered emergency maintenance on Friday afternoon due to regular server instability causing numerous issues for players across the board including consecutive disconnects. It turns out that this was the result of its newly launched Desert Knights mode, which has been pulled to conduct further testing, preventing this from happening again in the future.

Desert Knights was the successor to PUBG’s first limited-time deathmatch mode, War, which debuted last month in a much smoother launch. War was popular among the community, pitting three ten-person teams against one another in the original map, Erangel.

The new game mode was meant to last throughout the weekend before being taken offline entirely, with many speculating that PUBG Corp. and publisher Bluehole will bring the game mode back for those that missed it.

Discuss on our Facebook page, or over on Twitter.

KitGuru Says: Hopefully this remains a one-off and doesn’t become a bad habit for PUBG Corp. and Bluehole, as all other limited-time events have come and gone with almost no hitches. Did you manage to catch Desert Knights while it was live? How was your experience?

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PUBG Corp axes personal trading due to the use of third-party gaming sites https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-corp-axes-personal-trading-due-to-the-use-of-third-party-gaming-sites/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-corp-axes-personal-trading-due-to-the-use-of-third-party-gaming-sites/#respond Fri, 04 May 2018 16:57:18 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=372621 While EA helped popularise the debate over gambling in video games, the original title to bring forward the discussion was Valve with third-party gambling sites abusing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s trading system. It seems that history is repeating itself as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has its personal trading temporarily suspended on Windows PC while PUBG Corp. works on …

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While EA helped popularise the debate over gambling in video games, the original title to bring forward the discussion was Valve with third-party gambling sites abusing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s trading system. It seems that history is repeating itself as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has its personal trading temporarily suspended on Windows PC while PUBG Corp. works on a solution.

For now, Steam’s Marketplace is still active for the game, as everything is based within Valve’s ecosystem. The “Personal trade” feature, usually allowing players to trade using the in-game friends list, is the target of the temporary suspension after investigations turned up that players had been using third-party sites to flog items using the functionality.

“We’ve seen a few cases of players using the personal trade function to sell items using third-party sites,” PUBG Corp. explained in a statement. “This is essentially an abuse of the system. To prevent this, we’re temporarily turning off personal trades while we search for a better solution. Once we figure out a way to prevent abuse, the restriction will be lifted.

Third-party sites are often used due to their lack of regulation and circumvention of the 3 percent fee that Valve takes from each trade made on its own platform. This has caused numerous problems for titles in the past for CS:GO, as well as Dota 2 and Team Fortress 2, with many facing legal action for facilitating unregulated and underage gambling.

KitGuru Says: It’s understandable that PUBG is sure to suffer the same fate if it doesn’t quell the issue early on, particularly with the rising prices of its rarer cosmetic items. Hopefully the team over at PUBG Corp. gets it under wraps soon, but at least players still have a means of swapping items in the meantime. Does this change make a difference to you?

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Tencent reportedly investing 500bn won into PUBG’s Bluehole https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-news/damien-cox/tencent-reportedly-investing-500bn-won-into-pubgs-bluehole/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-news/damien-cox/tencent-reportedly-investing-500bn-won-into-pubgs-bluehole/#respond Thu, 03 May 2018 10:12:34 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=372450 While Tencent has previously been speculated to be a minority shareholder in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds publisher Bluehole, it is reportedly in talks for a much larger invest in the video game company. If there is truth in the report, the 500-billion-won payment will be Tencent’s largest ever investment in a Korean video game company. Rumours began …

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While Tencent has previously been speculated to be a minority shareholder in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds publisher Bluehole, it is reportedly in talks for a much larger invest in the video game company. If there is truth in the report, the 500-billion-won payment will be Tencent’s largest ever investment in a Korean video game company.

Rumours began circulating in August 2017, when Tencent secured the exclusive rights to publish the game in China. Whispers stated that the Chinese company had acquired a 70bn won stake in Bluehole, netting it somewhere between 1.5 percent and 5 percent of shares. Bluehole has adamantly denied this, while Tencent hasn’t been seen to comment on the matter.

The latest reports of the whopping 500bn-won-investment come from The Koran Herald, which would secure an 11.5 percent hold in Bluehole, which would come second only to Bluehole founder Chang Byung-gyu who holds a 20.4% stake. Altos Ventures, IMM Investment, and Premier Partners among other venture capital firms are said to hold a combined 15 stake in the company.

Being one of the world’s biggest investment corporations, it is believed that Tencent is looking to bulk up its $10.9bn net profits with a sizeable investment in a company that it’s been reportedly eyeing up for the past year. Bluehole has confirmed that it has had requested investor talks but did not specify the companies involved in the discussion or the amount.

This supposedly puts to rest an ongoing bidding war between monumental companies such as Microsoft, IMM Investment, Sequioa Capital, and Japan’s SoftBank, as well as giving Bluehole means to seek a merger or acquisition in the process.

KitGuru Says: Whether Tencent is looking to invest in the company or otherwise, it’s no surprise that Bluehole is sought after considering it hold the rights to one of the biggest games of the decade. Have you been racking up the hours in PUBG?  

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PUBG players will soon be able to select their map preference https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-players-will-soon-be-able-to-select-their-map-preference/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-players-will-soon-be-able-to-select-their-map-preference/#respond Fri, 20 Apr 2018 10:22:54 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=371013 Since the launch of PUBG’s second map, players have voiced their want for the choice between Miramar and original map Erangel. This want has only increased in recent weeks, as its third map is in testing but it looks like players won’t have to wait too much longer for the feature as map selection will …

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Since the launch of PUBG’s second map, players have voiced their want for the choice between Miramar and original map Erangel. This want has only increased in recent weeks, as its third map is in testing but it looks like players won’t have to wait too much longer for the feature as map selection will soon be rolling out to the test servers.

Initially, while Codename: Savage is locked behind its pre-determined test periods, the option will offer players the ability to choose between Erangel or Miramar as their preference. Ticking them both results in a randomised selection, similar to the current matchmaking system.

As PUBG Corp came to learn, player preference is a powerful thing. After taking a disliking to the open spaced deserts of Miramar, many players went to great lengths to remove the map from their rotation. With map selection, players will no longer have to delve into their game’s files to delete the map from their system, or utilise third-party software.

This feature has been missing since the launch of Miramar last December. PUBG Corp attributes the absence towards its concerns of matchmaking suffering through a fragmented player base, according to its blog update, but is pushing forward now that it believes matchmaking won’t be overly impacted.

KitGuru Says: It’s good that PUBG Corp and publisher Bluehole are still keeping their ears to the ground and listening to fan wants. So long as the developer itself crafts interesting maps that play well, it won't affect matchmaking too harshly. What map is your preference? Do you like it being randomised or would you solely play one over the other?

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PUBG Corp introduces changes to Savage map ahead of second beta test https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-corp-introduces-changes-to-savage-map-ahead-of-second-beta-test/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-corp-introduces-changes-to-savage-map-ahead-of-second-beta-test/#respond Tue, 17 Apr 2018 09:49:04 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=370424 After the first round of testing, PUBG’s smaller Codename: Savage map has undergone some changes, introducing three new areas, adjusting the red zone and adding a new feature to the blue zone that allows it to adjust its speed via number of players alive. Codename: Savage has returned for more testing, as round two has …

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After the first round of testing, PUBG’s smaller Codename: Savage map has undergone some changes, introducing three new areas, adjusting the red zone and adding a new feature to the blue zone that allows it to adjust its speed via number of players alive. Codename: Savage has returned for more testing, as round two has already kicked off, ending on April 19th in the UK.

Codename: Savage is still PUBG’s smallest map at just 4km by 4km, however the three new areas make it significantly denser. Banyan Grove and Abandoned Quarry have been placed in the centre of the island, while Dock has been added to the southeast section, complete with ships and a large crane.

Considering the new map is built for faster games, one of the most interesting additions is the tweaks to the Bluezone, which will now “calculate and adjust its waiting time based on the number of players left alive.” Presumably this means it will speed up if there are less players by a certain amount of time into the match, keeping survivors on their toes.

The Redzone is also getting a slight makeover, with its radius being trimmed down and lasting for less time. The spawning of grenades has been increased while boats have decreased, but improved in consistency of spawn. The remaining patch notes are general fixes, which include the real-time changing of weather during the match and footstep sound effects that have been smoothed over.

Those that were a part of the first round of testing will already have a beta key to take part in the Closed Experimental Server, and sign-ups for further keys will end in just over 2 hours from publishing, at 5 AM PT / 8 AM ET / 1 PM BST.

Codename: Savage is still quite a way away from release, according to PUBG Corp, which will continue its smaller, condensed rounds of testing until it’s polished enough to reach the live server.

Discuss on our Facebook page, or over on our Twitter.

KitGuru Says: As usual, it’s good to see PUBG Corp regularly testing new additions before plonking it into the live server. It seems feedback for Codename: Savage has been warmer than that of Miramar, which ended up being avoided on numerous occasions by a selection of players. Have you tested Savage? What do you think of the map?

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Dell apologises for marketing its laptops towards cheaters in China https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/damien-cox/dell-apologises-for-marketing-its-laptops-towards-cheaters-in-china/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/damien-cox/dell-apologises-for-marketing-its-laptops-towards-cheaters-in-china/#respond Thu, 12 Apr 2018 14:15:01 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=370047 Dell took a strange turn at the unveiling of its 8th generation gaming laptops in China last week, as the company placed a rather large focus on how the laptops allowed players to cheat more easily than other products by allowing for more plug-ins to be running simultaneously. Dell Australia has since gotten wind of …

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Dell took a strange turn at the unveiling of its 8th generation gaming laptops in China last week, as the company placed a rather large focus on how the laptops allowed players to cheat more easily than other products by allowing for more plug-ins to be running simultaneously. Dell Australia has since gotten wind of the controversy, enforcing the company’s policy on supporting fair gameplay and chastising its Chinese arm for the comments made.

PC Authority was the first outlet on the case, highlighting Dell’s unusual focus on the use of “plug-ins” within games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Dell’s Account Director and spokesperson Sally Zhang reportedly praised the Chinese gaming community for being innovative and dominant for using third-party programs to give themselves an unfair advantage, promising that the new line of laptops can “run more plug-ins to win more at Chicken Dinner.”

This was accompanied by a video that showcased the various cheats within PUBG, from more commonplace wallhacks and aimbots to players running significantly faster, reloading and reviving at an increased speed and generally causing havoc in an otherwise competitive title. Of course, the new laptops were also placed in cutaways as the true focus of the presentation.

Sister site PC PowerPlay ended up getting a response from Dell Australia, stating that the company is “fully committed to supporting fair play in online gaming” and does “not encourage nor endorse any behavior that undermines fair gaming practices.”

There’s no doubt that this has caused damage to Dell’s otherwise prolific appearance in the eSports scene, with the company often appearing as a high-profile sponsor. Keen to remind people of the hard work it has done in helping the platform grow, Dell states that it “has a strong track record in partnering with gaming teams, aiming at providing world-class gamers with the ultimate experience.”

“In an attempt to communicate the power of the new Dell G Series, inappropriate modification examples were used in Dell’s product launch event in China last week,” concludes the statement. “This does not reflect our global gaming culture or strategy. We condemn any modifications misused in gaming.”

China doesn’t have a particularly wonderful reputation within the PUBG community as it is, given that it has been publicised as the region most responsible for the game’s plethora of cheaters. Luckily for international PUBG players, PUBG Corp is finally toying with the idea of a region locking its servers, which, alongside the ping limiter and anti-cheat, should quell most instances of problems crossing regions.

Discuss on our Facebook and Twitter.

KitGuru Says: With more power from the 8th generation chips, it goes without saying that it will be able to run more plug-ins, but using it as a marketing scheme was a poor move. The comprehensive response from Dell, however, makes it pretty clear where the company stands on the use of its devices and cheating. What do you think of Dell’s blunder?

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PUBG adds in Fortnite-style Killer Spectate mode https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-adds-in-fortnite-style-killer-spectate-mode/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-adds-in-fortnite-style-killer-spectate-mode/#respond Thu, 05 Apr 2018 10:01:36 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=369443 It seems that PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has been keeping a close eye on its competitor, as Update 9 takes inspiration directly from Fortnite: Battle Royale. PUBG is set to introduce a new kind of spectator mode that originally debuted in Fortnite, allowing players to watch the enemy that killed them instead of your teammates. This is …

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It seems that PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has been keeping a close eye on its competitor, as Update 9 takes inspiration directly from Fortnite: Battle Royale. PUBG is set to introduce a new kind of spectator mode that originally debuted in Fortnite, allowing players to watch the enemy that killed them instead of your teammates.

This is popular within PUBG’s competitor, allowing players to learn from those that are potentially better than them. Of course, this should translate well from Victory Royale to Chicken Dinners, but will it be accepted among the more purist of PUBG players?

Developer PUBG Corp explains that players can access this new type of killcam via the ‘watch’ button located on the match result screen. Those that died to the environment, such as falling or perhaps the Blue or Red Zone will be able to spectate the nearest enemy player to that location instead.

This acts as a chain, with players spectating their killer’s killer once their initial enemy has died. Spectating the enemy will only be available once all of the original party is dead, meaning those playing in duos and squads can’t give away the enemy position to their surviving teammates. Lastly, if players click Death Cam, they lose the ability to use Killer Spectate mode.

Of course, that’s not all Update 9 has to offer, as developer PUBG Corp ushers in a range of fixes and updates the recently introduced 4×4 map. Despite the already-increased spawn rates for weapons, PUBG Corp has increased this further inside of small cabins and residential buildings to improve looting experience outside of core towns and cities.

The first Blue Zone circle will be shown at the match commences to give players time to strategise, while the timing of the Zone has been adjusted to speed up the initial portion of gameplay. The Red Zone frequency has been lowered and the explosions have been lessened, although the radius of the blast zone remains the same.

KitGuru Says: It’s only natural that competitors would take inspiration from one another, especially so as to not fall behind in such a prevalent market at the moment. Do you think the new type of killcam is a good addition to the game?

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PUBG Corp is finally testing region locking in Battlegrounds https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-corp-is-finally-testing-region-locking-in-battlegrounds/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-corp-is-finally-testing-region-locking-in-battlegrounds/#respond Mon, 26 Mar 2018 16:23:42 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=368428 PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has been suffering from a hacker problem since it grew immensely in its popularity, with reports connecting the majority or perpetrators to the Chinese region. After initially rebutting the cries out for region locking, it seems than Brendan Greene has doubled back and region locking might be coming to PUBG after all. When …

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PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has been suffering from a hacker problem since it grew immensely in its popularity, with reports connecting the majority or perpetrators to the Chinese region. After initially rebutting the cries out for region locking, it seems than Brendan Greene has doubled back and region locking might be coming to PUBG after all.

When the wave of cheaters first gained prominence, players flocked to all facets of social media including that of the Steam Community updates, demanding that PUBG Corp region lock the title to prevent those from other regions ruining their fun. Greene stated in an interview with Polygon that this was “kind of a xenophobic attitude” and that the developers instead wanted to “create a great space for everyone to enjoy across the globe.”

PUBG Corp has instead invested an incredible amount of effort into quelling cheaters from its game in other ways, implementing ping-based matchmaking and trialing a new anti-cheat measure alongside that of BattlEye. Still, players consistently ask for region locking.

Now, it seems that these players have finally been heard, as the latest update on PC is “considering operating servers so that only those players who reside in that region can connect and play,” according to the Steam Community update.

“These servers will be made invisible to players residing in other regions. But, at the same time, if a player in an exclusive server region forms a team with a player from another region, they can connect to and play on any of the servers available to either of them.”

Overall, the team is hoping that this helps with “network issues and help with linguistic barriers” but it will inevitably help with cheating across regions if the accusations against China hold weight.

This will initially roll out on the test servers for a limited time, as the team wishes to conduct research before implementing the system fully. A timeline will be established thereafter as to when the build will reach the live servers.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: This has been a problem for quite some time, so it’s nice for the team to finally trial something that has worked on so many other games. Of course, it won’t fix the problem entirely but it will act as another preventative measure in its arsenal. Are you happy with the testing of region locking?

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PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is getting an Event Mode to test unusual game settings https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-is-getting-an-event-mode-to-test-unusual-game-settings/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/playerunknowns-battlegrounds-is-getting-an-event-mode-to-test-unusual-game-settings/#respond Fri, 23 Mar 2018 14:58:24 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=368213 PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds will be getting a new Event Mode, offering timed experiences that shake up the ordinary gameplay. During these testing periods, players will be introduced to new content and parameters not seen in the ordinary game mode, with the first event ushering in 8-person teams. PUBG Corp broke the news in a Steam community …

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PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds will be getting a new Event Mode, offering timed experiences that shake up the ordinary gameplay. During these testing periods, players will be introduced to new content and parameters not seen in the ordinary game mode, with the first event ushering in 8-person teams.

PUBG Corp broke the news in a Steam community post earlier this week, stating that Event Mode will debut on the test servers in the coming weeks and migrate over to the live servers soon after testing has been successfully completed. Each event will last a limited time only, acting as a chance for the developers to stretch their legs and test more daring and unusual content.

The initial 8-person team will act as a test for the new mode, with plans to rotate content that deviates more from the norm as one event ends and another begins. Of course, rifle drop rate will be doubled within this initial test to try and balance everyone on the team having a fair chance at loot.

8-person teams will only be available in third-person perspective mode and only include the original map, Erangel, to “ensure effective matchmaking.” Anyone who owns a copy of PUBG can opt in by selecting “Event” on the bottom left of the main menu and ensuring “Squad” and “TPP” are also selected.

Unfortunately, Event Mode will not be ranked, but will offer sufficient Battle Points (BP), PUBG’s in-game currency, at the end of each match.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

 KitGuru Says: It’s interesting that while other developers are scrambling to join the battle royale craze within their respective titles, PUBG Corp is already well under way to potentially setting a new trend. This opens up a lot of possibilities, but what type of game modes and parameters would you like to see in Battlegrounds?

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Anti-cheat delay hasn’t slowed down PUBG development as new update adds emotes https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/anti-cheat-delay-hasnt-slowed-down-pubg-development-as-new-update-adds-emotes/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/anti-cheat-delay-hasnt-slowed-down-pubg-development-as-new-update-adds-emotes/#respond Tue, 13 Mar 2018 12:58:56 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=366916 While it seems that PUBG Corp has faltered in its last update, that hasn’t stopped the developer from rolling out new content with PC Update #7. Abiding by its roadmap, players of Battlegrounds will now have access to emotes, Steam achievements and an in-game friends list. Emotes mostly act as taunts, build from the ground …

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While it seems that PUBG Corp has faltered in its last update, that hasn’t stopped the developer from rolling out new content with PC Update #7. Abiding by its roadmap, players of Battlegrounds will now have access to emotes, Steam achievements and an in-game friends list.

Emotes mostly act as taunts, build from the ground up to annoy your enemy after they’ve been downed or outright killed. 12 emotes are currently on offer, with more to be “added in the future.” As PUBG superbly showcases on its announcement video over on Twitter, it is also a huge hindrance to the player, who might just get themselves killed if they use an emote too early.

There are a total of 37 Steam Achievements, with the possibility of more appearing in the form of events or as new maps are introduced. Of the easier bunch to get are the likes of “Blood on My Hands” which requires players to kill one person by any means, or “Guardian Angel” which is awarded to those that revive a downed teammate.

Achievement hunters will have to invest in long-term goals to unlock them all, however, killing 1,000 players to unlock the “Long and Winding Road” achievement or kill 200 players specifically with a shotgun, a submachine gun, and/or a pistol for the “CQB Master.” My favourite of the lot is perhaps “Cruising with the Enemy,” which encourages players to hop in a car that an enemy player is already in.

The in-game friends list houses up to 50 people across any platform that PUBG is currently officially out for and acts as a one-way follower system rather than a friend that has to accept the other player’s request. This is independent from the Steam friends list and is likely intended as a way to showcase all that a player has achieved.

PUBG Corp has updated its patch notes from last week, which can be found here.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: It’s great news that the team hasn’t slowed down on its roadmap despite having to postpone the anti-cheat measures earlier this week. Hopefully that still goes live again sometime soon, as it does seem important for the longevity of the game. Are you happy with the new features? What is your favourite emote? More to the point, what emotes would you like to see come to the title in the future?

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PUBG rolls back anti-cheat update after players experience issues https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-rolls-back-anti-cheat-update-after-players-experience-issues/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubg-rolls-back-anti-cheat-update-after-players-experience-issues/#respond Mon, 12 Mar 2018 14:51:46 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=366793 PUBG Corp’s latest attempt at quelling cheaters has caused quite the stir, with its initial testing having caused legitimate players to receive a temporary ban. This issue was quickly ironed out, however more cropped up over the weekend as many players began reporting a series of crashing and stuttering. Ultimately, the developer has now double …

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PUBG Corp’s latest attempt at quelling cheaters has caused quite the stir, with its initial testing having caused legitimate players to receive a temporary ban. This issue was quickly ironed out, however more cropped up over the weekend as many players began reporting a series of crashing and stuttering. Ultimately, the developer has now double backed on itself, rolling back to a previous update for the time being.

The anti-cheat update hit the live servers on Friday, with one arm of PUBG’s official Twitter boasting the good news that it has been fairly effective in blocking cheats. Unfortunately, the technology wasn’t quite as refined as the developer had hoped, with many reports cropping up about users experiencing difficulty running the game.

Although the update remained live throughout the weekend, the problem was spotted promptly as the team began to figure out what was causing the problems. PUBG Corp has determined that the main cause of the issue is the anti-cheat software clashing with other programs, causing strange interactions.

“Some of us in the office have experienced the same problems ourselves, and after some troubleshooting we’ve determined that various programs are interfering with our anti-cheat solution, and that there’s a lot of tweaking we need to do on our end to fix that,” explains the lead community manager on Reddit.

It was explained that a Text Expansion app was the cause of the problem in the office, with reports of anti-virus software also threatening the stability of the game and even recording software such as OBS.

While closing these programs did solve the issue for the few that could determine what program was causing the problem, the issue was widespread enough for PUBG Corp to pull the patch completely and revert back to its previous state.

The developers are now hard at work trying to fix these issues to get the patch back out there, believing it to be one of the better solutions to PUBG’s rampant hacker problem. No time frame has been given, but it’s likely to be back in full force soon.

Discuss on our Facebook page, HERE.

KitGuru Says: At the very least, if what PUBG Corp is saying about the anti-cheat’s effectiveness is true, then it’s certainly something to look forward to. Did you experience issues throughout this weekend? Did you notice less cheaters?

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PUBG’s next map is tropical and half the size of Erangel and Miramar https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubgs-next-map-is-tropical-and-half-the-size-of-erangel-and-miramar/ https://www.kitguru.net/gaming/damien-cox/pubgs-next-map-is-tropical-and-half-the-size-of-erangel-and-miramar/#respond Fri, 09 Mar 2018 12:47:00 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=366393 Miramar released in December, marking the PC version’s transition from Early Access to full release. The desert setting provided quite the departure from the grassy setting of the original map and it looks like the next map is to do the same once again, introducing a jungle environment in a much smaller arena. PlayerUnknown himself, …

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Miramar released in December, marking the PC version’s transition from Early Access to full release. The desert setting provided quite the departure from the grassy setting of the original map and it looks like the next map is to do the same once again, introducing a jungle environment in a much smaller arena.

PlayerUnknown himself, Brendan Greene took to a blog post to outline his plans for 2018, showing off concept art for PUBG’s third map. Marked in the top left as a 4x4km concept, it is half the size of the previous two maps, seemingly without sacrificing the 100 player count, from what Greene says.

“It’s a much smaller map and should give you all a much more intense and faster paced Battle Royale experience. It will offer a higher player density and shorter matches and we want to get it into your hands early this time around so we can use your input to make it a great experience for everyone,” explains Greene.

The artwork shows that the majority will be packed with dense vegetation, with some aquatic zones. It looks to return to the bumpy terrain more akin to original map, Erangel than the flat desert environment throughout Miramar, giving plenty of vantage spots.

Previously, loot has always spawned indoors, prompting conversation as to what is to happen with the system with just six complexes detailed on the map, and nothing accounted for near the centre. This could mark the first time that weapons and items have spawned outside, or it’s entirely possible that smaller buildings simply aren’t outlined in the concept art.

The artwork is entirely subject to change until final release, with Miramar’s having changed a few times throughout development. The yet-unnamed tropical map is set to go live on PUBG’s test server next month, however, giving a deeper look into what to expect.

KitGuru Says: Many favoured the idea of snow instead of jungle, but this is still different enough from the previous two to warrant player attention. It’s an added bonus that the team over at PUBG Corp is playing about with player density and map sizing too, keeping players on their toes. Do you like the look of the new concept art?

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