Earlier today, in celebration of PUBG’s 8th year anniversary, KRAFTON released Title Update 34.2, in which they added so much to the game, from festive decorations, Arcade mode enhancements, a new Survivor Pass, and so much more.
It’s hard to believe it’s been eight years since the release of PUBG, which sparked a tidal wave of popularity for the battle royale genre and paved the way for Fortnite’s dominance of multiplayer games. But although Fortnite has long surpassed it, PUBG has still maintained a loyal following over the last 8 years, and with this new update, the players have shot up to a 859,416 24 hour peak.
Title Update 34.2
This PUBG update celebrates the game’s 8th anniversary with a plethora of festive additions. Players can enjoy interactive “Bobble Bot” events, enhanced fireworks, themed decorations across multiple maps, and new lobby music from M83. Gameplay adjustments include Gunplay Labs: Aim Punch 2, which refines the aim punch system based on player feedback, and various Arcade mode updates, such as new Team Deathmatch maps and changes to Intense Battle Royale and Hot Drop modes. Matchmaking improvements include a “Same Language Team” option for Ranked on PC, and bot behavior has been refined for a more natural experience.
Furthermore, the update brings significant UX/UI enhancements, including improved killfeed visibility, new kill icons, preview images for Random Crate items, and various quality-of-life improvements. Numerous bug fixes address gameplay, world, UX/UI, and item/skin issues, ensuring a smoother and more polished experience. Overall, this update delivers a blend of celebratory content, gameplay refinements, and technical improvements, enhancing the PUBG experience for both new and veteran players.
If you want to read the full patch notes, you can below, but be warned, there are so many which is understandable considering the magnitude of the celebrations.
Update 34.2 Patch Notes
Party on the Battlegrounds
The following updates apply to Normal Match and Ranked.
To celebrate our 8th anniversary, something massive and wobbly has appeared on the starting island… Before the match begins, try tossing a Golden Grenade at the Bobble Bot! When the total hits reach special milestones, the names of players who landed hits will be displayed on the billboard.
- Both the Bobble Bot and Golden Grenade are available on the starting island of every map.
No celebration is complete without a spectacle! For the 8th anniversary, an even more dazzling fireworks display will light up the skies.
- Fireworks will go off before the option to drop from the plane becomes available.
- Starting planes will also bear anniversary banners.
Erangel’s ferry transforms into the festive 8th Anniversary Party Ferry, while two bridges and the docks are decorated in an 8th Anniversary theme.
In lookout towers, once used to catch your breath or covertly scout enemies, anniversary decorations and birthday cakes have been placed so you can celebrate the 8th anniversary with your teammates. Host celebration parties all across Erangel!
You can also find gift boxes hanging from eight balloons, commemorative containers, and newly revamped lampposts throughout Erangel.
The 8th Anniversary Gift Box appears only in Normal Matches.
- Energy Drinks and Care Packages are also wrapped in the spirit of celebration.
- Erangel, Miramar, Sanhok, Vikendi, and Rondo are adorned with an array of anniversary decorations. Billboards and digital screens light up, among other celebratory additions.
New Lobby Music
For PUBG’s 8th anniversary, we teamed up with M83 to bring a special touch to our lobby music. Led by Anthony Gonzalez, M83 is renowned for their atmospheric, cinematic sound, with hits like Midnight City and acclaimed film scores. Get ready to drop in with an immersive soundtrack that sets the perfect mood for battle!
Gunplay Labs: Aim Punch 2
Introducing the second round of Gunplay Labs: Aim Punch, featuring a refined aim punch system based on player feedback from Update 33.2.
Schedule (UTC)
- PC
- March 12, after live server maintenance – March 26, 00:00
- Console
- March 20, after live server maintenance – April 3, 01:00
Details
- Mode: Intense Battle Royale
- Perspective: TPP Only
- Party type: Squad Only
- The types of Random Weapon Crates given at the start of the match are the following:
- AR, SMG, DMR/SR, SG
Arcade Points will be granted for Gunplay Labs: Aim Punch 2 play sessions.
Aim Punch Adjustments
The aim punch system you experienced in Gunplay Labs: Aim Punch has been adjusted in Gunplay Labs: Aim Punch 2 as follows.
- We have reduced the dizziness caused by significant screen movement in the previous Gunplay Labs.
- For Aim Punch 2, we will implement a system where aim punch decreases with distance.
- The aim punch of SMGs and shotguns decreases significantly with distance. At 50 meters, SMGs have similar aim punch to ARs.
- SRs also experience a distance-based reduction in aim punch, but they still have a strong aim punch at mid-range.
- ARs and DMRs have a marginally higher base aim punch than in the current game version, but beyond 100 meters, the aim punch decreases to levels comparable to the current game.
- In Gunplay Labs: Aim Punch 2, the VSS now has the same level of aim punch as SMGs.
World: Sanhok
- Improved the interior lighting of buildings across the map.
Arcade
The following updates apply to Custom Match as well.
Team Deathmatch
- The following three maps have been added.
- Deston – Arena
- Vikendi – Train Station
- Sanhok – Camp Bravo
- Map selection probabilities have been readjusted in alignment with these changes.
- Destruction features have been added to Sanhok maps.
- Spawn Kit Changes
- Ammo provided for SMGs: 150 → 180
- The Secondary Weapon for SMGs has been changed from Deagle → P92.
- Laser Sight has been added to attachments for SMGs.
Intense Battle Royale
- Previously, existing maps and random maps each made up 50% of total map appearances. Now, this will change to 100% random maps.
- Destruction features have been added to Sanhok maps.
- The attachments for weapons obtained from Random Weapon Crates have been changed.
- ARs: Flash Hider → Muzzle Brake
- SMGs: Flash Hider → Compensator
- DMRs/SRs: Flash Hider → Suppressor
- Random LMG Crate has been added.
- Can obtain M249 or DP-28.
- The red Supply Drops now contain attachments.
- The default Throwable equipped at the start of the match has been changed from the Molotov Cocktail to the Frag Grenade.
- The maximum player count in Custom Match has increased from 24 -> 100.
Hot Drop
- Maximum number of starting players
- PC: 48 → 64
- Spawns
- The overall item spawn rate has been reduced by approximately 15%.
Dev’s comment: In this Hot Drop mode update, we’re reverting the changes that were applied when the mode became permanent. By restoring the maximum player count, we aim to amplify the intense battles that define Hot Drop mode. Additionally, spawn rates have been reverted to their original levels, aiming to provide a gameplay experience similar to what you encountered when the mode first launched. Furthermore, we’ve optimized performance to deliver a smoother gameplay experience.
Gameplay
Bot Refinement
- Bots have been enhanced to behave more naturally.
- The difficulty of fighting bots remains similar to before.
Matchmaking
(PC) Same Language Team
The Same Language Team feature will be available for Ranked starting from Update 34.2.
- In Squad mode, enable the “Same Language Team” option located above the Select Game Mode panel in the Play – Ranked tab to be matched with teammates who use the same language as the party leader.
- Unlike Normal Match, matchmaking will not be canceled even after a certain period of time.
UX/UI
The following updates apply to Normal Match and Ranked.
- Kill/knockdowns by teammates will now be displayed in the center-bottom kill message area.
- Teammates’ kill messages will now be shown while spectating them.
- Killfeed visibility has been improved, and a new kill icon with an overlapping X on the knockdown icon has been added:
- White X: Standard kill/death icon
- Red X: Indicates your or a teammate’s death
- Blue X: Indicates your or a teammate’s kill
- The kill/knockdown icons on the Career – Match History – Match Report – Overview page have been updated to reflect the recent changes.
- The match join UI displayed in the top-right corner on the starting island has been replaced with a new match join notification message.
- Preview images for Random Crate items have been added.
- In the Random Crate preview screen, you can check item details by selecting the crate and clicking the ‘View More’ button on the right.
- Battlestat weapon skins’ total kills and headshot kills can now be viewed in a tooltip when hovering over the skin on the Customize – Weapons page.
- Clicking the preview button for Progressive weapon skins on the Customize – Weapons page will now take you to the Hideout.
- A preview button has been added to most items on the Crafter Pass and Survivor Pass pages, except for a few exclusions.
Lobby
- (PC) Left and right buttons have been added to the top-right lobby banner, allowing you to browse through banners as desired.
Bug Fixes
Gameplay
- Fixed an issue in Team Deathmatch where, on maps with Ascenders, ending a round while riding an Ascender prevents it from being used in the next round.
- Fixed an issue where using a certain Emote allows players to see beyond walls.
- Fixed an issue where, in certain situations during 1v1 Arena, ammo fails to be provided at the start of a round.
- Fixed an issue where, in FPP mode, rotating 360 degrees while riding the Motorbike causes the screen to flip abnormally.
World
- Fixed collision, texture, performance, and some other general Sanhok and Vikendi issues.
- Fixed an issue where bumps on the road near Tat Mok in the Sanhok map obstruct character movement.
- Fixed an issue where Smoke Grenades fail to deploy on a certain structure in the Rondo map.
UX/UI
- Fixed an issue where the item count UI on the Observer’s screen fails to update when players drop healing items or Throwables.
- Fixed an issue where the Blue Zone icon in the killfeed displays abnormally on the Observer’s screen.
- Fixed an issue where, in Sandbox Mode, using Sandbox features to revive after a full team wipe while in spectator mode causes the team UI to disappear.
- Fixed an issue where a player’s death marker UI fails to appear on the World Map and Minimap when spectating a teammate after death.
- (PC) Fixed an issue where the scrollbar in the Career – Weapons page fails to function in certain areas.
Items & Skins
- Clipping issue: Graphics that are shown outside the visible part of an image/object.
- Fixed an issue where, when driving a vehicle with the “Countach LPI 800-4” Sports Car skin equipped, steering while looking back causes the character’s steering animation to play in the opposite direction.
- Fixed an issue where the ankles become transparent when wearing the Cerberus’ Pants with certain boots.
- Fixed the clipping issue when the female character wears the Vigilante Shoes and certain pants together.
- Fixed an issue where the texture of the Lemon Drops – Helmet (Level 2) item displays abnormally.
- Fixed an issue where equipping the [CHROMA] Cyber Threat – Mk12 (Khaki Burgundy) skin causes the 6x Scope to appear broken.
- Fixed an issue where, upon respawning after death in Team Deathmatch, the Rare Skin Cosmetics effects of Progressive weapon skins occasionally fail to display.
