Publisher KRAFTON have announced that their latest update to their hit battle royale ‘PUBG: Battlegrounds’, update 27.1 is now available on PC and will be available on consoles on the 14th of December. This update adds the city-based map “RONDO” to the game’s war room of maps—and along with this update comes a short film from Extraction and Extraction 2 Director Sam Hargrave. Featuring Daniel Wu (Alpha) and Lee Jung-Jae (Beta) of Squid Game fame, where this short film vividly depicts the essence of the new map through an intense showdown between two formidable adversaries.
The short film will be linked below as well as the latest patch notes for PUBG: Battlegrounds. PUBG is a free-to-play game and you can pick it up on Xbox consoles right over here, tonnes of content in tow.
Live Maintenance Schedule
※ The times shown below are subject to change.
PC: December 6, 12:00 AM – 8:30 AM (UTC)
Console: December 14, 1 AM – 10 AM (UTC)
Map Service
Dev’s comment: We’ve decided to introduce a new rotation strategy after careful consideration of player feedback regarding our map rotation system. Rotations will now vary between map selection and random map regions.
In regards to the new rotation for random map regions, Sanhok will no longer be a permanent fixture and instead, Rondo will now be available for selection within the Normal Match rotation pool. Through this update, we aim to offer players the flexibility to play the new map at their convenience – and what’s important, we’ve reduced split queues by implementing a new feature that’ll match players who select Rondo along with those who select random map selection in a single pool.
Recognizing that player preferences differ across regions, we believe implementing two distinct rotations could be more effective than our current single one. And to address some regular community thoughts that we receive, completely eliminating the rotation system or enabling all servers to choose their preferred maps will ultimately lead to affecting essential factors such as matchmaking times, which brings more challenges.
The updated system below has been shaped largely by your feedback and the preference data we’ve gathered so far – we’re eager to hear your thoughts on this new system, so please share your feedback after giving it a try!
※ Please note that PC players can anticipate map changes every Wednesday at 2 AM UTC, while Console players can expect the same every Thursday at 7 AM UTC.
※ In Random Map regions, larger maps have a 22.2% probability of being selected, while smaller maps have a 11.1% probability.
Live Server – Featured Map (Map Select Regions ONLY)
The map service for Ranked is updated on a season-by-season basis.
※ Please note that the features and updates described below are subject to change or removal due to issues such as bugs, in-game problems, and community feedback. The images used are intended as visual references only; the actual game may look different as the builds are continually developed and refined before release.
New Map: Rondo
※ The following updates apply to Normal Match and Custom Match.
Key Details
Map Size: 8×8 km
Number of Players: 100 maximum
Weather: Sunny and Sunset
Ascenders, Fuel Pumps, and the Recall System are available.
Prepare to be amazed by our tenth Battleground, Rondo. The long-awaited Rondo has finally arrived with Update 27.1! Boasting the most extensive playable area of any map so far, Rondo seamlessly combines traditional elements with a contemporary aesthetic.
Rondo is divided into two distinct regions, each presenting a unique atmosphere that offers either familiar gameplay or new strategic approaches.
Dive into vibrant metropolises, a floating restaurant, serene lakes, a bamboo groove, and more.
Injecting a twist into the core elements of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS – LAND, LOOT, SURVIVE – Rondo unfolds a fresh narrative with increased choices every time you embark on a new playthrough.
※ Even more Rondo features are soon to come in future updates, starting from December 6!
Main Areas
※ Please note, the following descriptions of each region are intended to depict each visual aesthetic and may not have a direct connection to the gameplay elements of Rondo.
Jadena City
This metropolis southeast of Rondo has it all: soaring skyscrapers, colorful neon signs, vibrant nightlife, and bridges that span the city. What’s more, in Jadena City, you won’t find yourself traversing the city with sore feet—utilize the new escalators for even swifter transitions between buildings!
※ Jadena City buildings are accessible up to the third floor.
Stadium
This dynamic stadium once mirrored the intensity of the Battleground, playing host to a diverse array of sporting events and occasional concerts.
Jao Tin
Surely, everyone’s got a minute or two for an opera before plunging back into the fierce chicken battle.
Rin Jiang
In Rin Jiang, located in the southern region of Rondo, you’ll discover a floating restaurant, lavish residences, and a harbor accommodating sizable ships.
Tin Long Garden
Straight from the pages of a martial arts novel, Tin Long Garden exudes a nostalgic charm, featuring stunning waterfalls and massive stone mountains.
Yu Lin
Immerse yourself in the timeless beauty emanating from Eastern classical structures, embraced by verdant trees and a serene, picturesque pond.
NEOX Factory
This is the automotive factory that brought Rondo’s new vehicle into existence! Interestingly, they also manufacture electric vehicles.
Test Track
Introducing the testing ground where vehicles from the NEOX Factory undergo road tests. Our new vehicle also enjoyed some thrilling moments on this track.
Mey Ran
We want more than mud wrestling. Navigate yourself into lotus-filled waterways for a battle of life or death.
Bamboo
There are many ways to relieve stress on the Battleground. Consider taking a break or engaging in some destruction.
Lo Hua Xing
Perched on a sheer cliff, Lo Hua Xing is guarded by formidable statues that seem poised to compel confessions of every sin at the mere sight.
Bei Li
Nowhere surpasses Bei Li when it comes to relaxation, with bamboo and tranquil waterways winding through the village.
Hung Shan
It’s time to exercise wisdom in our necessities within a vast market and warehouse!
Fong Tun
Farming may look all fun and good, but make sure to remind yourself why you’re on this Battleground.
New Features
※ Features below are available only in Rondo.
Additional Starting Planes
Enjoy even more landing options and tactical possibilities in Rondo with two starting planes slicing through the sky!
Multiple starting planes will be activated at a certain probability at the beginning of the match.
Players will be assigned to one of the two planes at random.
Parties will be grouped together on the same plane.
The airplane path of your assigned plane will be marked on the map with a red-and-white indicator.
Destructible Bamboos
Venture into the heart of the lush forest… and demolish some bamboo! Why? Because you can.
Destructible bamboos are placed throughout Rondo.
Destroy bamboos using throwables, vehicles, or specific melee weapons.
Certain bamboos, such as the very thin ones, are indestructible.
Escalators
A new transportation solution that’ll help further swift transit over short spans like passages between buildings. Navigate and strategize within urban landscapes – make a quick escape or try to get the jump on your opponents. Get ready to “escalate” your urban combats to new heights.
Escalators are installed at various locations in Jadena City.
Each escalator moves in a single direction.
Deployable items can not be deployed on escalators
Turntable
Add a classical touch to Rondo with our Turntables, or leave the music on to flaunt an elegant yet spooky presence.
Turntables are placed throughout Rondo.
Turntables are interactable with the interaction key.
Once activated, they will play a random selection of music. A Turntable will turn off automatically after playing a single song.
Turntables are destructible, but once destroyed, they can no longer play music.
Fireworks
Ignite some spark and vibrancy in the skies of Rondo!
Fireworks are available on the starting island and across the map.
Fireworks on the starting island will vanish as soon as you board the plane.
Fireworks can be launched into the sky using the interaction key.
Each crate of fireworks allows a maximum of five interactions, and upon each ignition, it will randomly launch fireworks a variable number of times.
Firework crates can not be destroyed.
New Weapons
JS9
Introducing the JS9, a sleek and powerful submachine gun joining the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS arsenal. Chambered for 9mm ammunition, this modern bullpup-style firearm delivers outstanding damage and higher weapon stability, all while being accessible to players with varying levels of experience. Serving as a fresh addition to the pool of Submachine Guns, the JS9 is set to redefine your PUBG experience with its cutting-edge design and reliable performance. Gear up and embrace the versatility of the JS9 in your quest for chicken dinners!
Weapon type: Submachine Guns (SMG)
Ammo: 9mm
Fire mode: Single, Full-auto
Damage: 34
Effective range: 200m
Muzzle velocity: 400m/s
Rate of fire: 900 RPM
Muzzle attachment: All SMG muzzle attachments.
Magazine attachment: All SMG magazine attachments.
Can attach up to the 6x Scope.
Cannot equip Foregrip/Stock attachments.
World spawns.
Available only in Rondo.
Dev’s Comment: We’re thrilled to officially unveil the JS9, with the launch of our new map, Rondo. The JS9 shares mechanics with other submachine guns but stands out for its remarkable versatility, thanks to its high damage output and relatively low difficulty.
As a world spawn weapon, the JS9 has the potential to change your perspective on SMGs, catering to both newcomers and seasoned veterans.
Stun Gun
When cornered by an enemy or unable to evade a confrontation, the Stun Gun may be your hero.
A Stun Gun temporarily disorients the enemy by impairing movement and vision.
Weapon slot: Secondary weapon
Fire mode: Single
Each Stun Gun can be used up to 3 times.
If a teammate is hit by the Stun Gun, their status will be displayed on the team status bar.
World spawns.
Available only in Rondo.
New Vehicle: Blanc
Drive in style with the new sleek and classy SUV, exclusively for the roads of Rondo!
Matches similar stats of other SUVs.
Health: 1200
Max speed: Approximately 95km/h
Max speed using boost: Approximately 115km/h
Equipped with the trunk system.
Special vehicle skins can be equipped.
Available only in Rondo.
New Creatures: Birds and Fishes
Birds
Precious birds have made their homes in lofty cages scattered throughout Rondo.
Birds will cry when in the presence of nearby players.
If their cages are damaged, they’ll be destroyed, allowing the birds to fly to freedom.
Birds themselves cannot be damaged.
Birds are exclusive to Rondo.
Fishes
The tranquil ponds of Yu Lin and Tin Long Garden are home to aquatic life.
These fishes will swiftly flee if they sense any threat.
Fishes cannot be damaged.
Fishes are exclusive to Rondo.
New Item: Ghillie Suit (Forest)
Introducing the latest addition to Care Packages: the new Ghillie Suit, designed to help you almost indistinguishable from Rondo’s lush greenery.
Can be obtained through Care Packages with a specific probability.
Available only in Rondo.
Recall System
A 2.5-second casting time has been added when looting an enemy’s Blue Chip.
The spawn rate of Blue Chip Towers has been changed to 100%, and quantity has decreased.
The quantity of Blue Chip Transmitters has increased.
Dev’s comment: Adding a casting time to acquire enemy Blue Chips is to add a risk element to the game, making each action more strategic. At the same time, we’ve adjusted several aspects of Blue Chip Towers and Blue Chip Transmitters to improve the recall process. As we acknowledge various community preference regarding this system, we are committed to engage in thorough communication and proceeding comprehensive evaluations to refine the Recall System moving forward.
World
2023 PUBG Global Championship-themed decorations have been removed from maps.
Ranked – Season 27
The leaderboard will reset after the Live Server maintenance.
Check out your final Tier from the previous season through your Career page.
Season 26 Rewards
Below are the rewards you’ll be receiving based on your final Tier from the previous Ranked season.
Tier
Rewards
Bronze
Bronze PUBG ID Emblem
Silver
Silver PUBG ID Emblem
Gold
Gold PUBG ID EmblemRanked Parachute Skin
Platinum
Animated Platinum PUBG ID EmblemRanked Parachute SkinPlatinum Medal
Diamond
Animated Diamond PUBG ID EmblemRanked Parachute SkinPlatinum, Diamond Medal
Master
Animated Master PUBG ID EmblemAnimated Master NameplateRanked Parachute SkinPlatinum, Diamond, Master Medal
Top 500
Bonus rewards for Top 500 players:Animated Top 500 PUBG ID EmblemAnimated Top 500 Nameplate
TheParachute skin and Medals are permanent rewards. The rest of the obtainable rewards are available for use during a single Ranked season.
Rewards can be found in your Inventory/Edit Profile page once Season 27 starts.
Once Season 27 is over and the server undergoes maintenance, every reward but the Parachute and Medal will be withdrawn.
Clan System
New Feature: Clan Training
Boost your Clan’s teamwork and skills with the new Clan Training feature!
This private training arena is accessible directly from the Clan page.
Clan Training inherits all features of the standard Training Mode.
Starting from Clan Level 3, any Clan member can create a dedicated space where only your Clan members can join.
Up to 32 players can participate in a single session.
Only one active training session can be created at once.
Clan members can join the session anytime during its 1-hour duration, except for the last 1 minute.
Clan Training cannot be accessed while matchmaking.
QoL
During matchmaking, players will now be able to change equipped skins and use items/currencies through Customize, Edit Profile, and the Hideout.
In a ready state, players will now be able to access more lobby features such as Social, Clan, team-related features, etc.
A message will now encourage party members to switch to a ready state when at least one party member is ready.
Party members will retain their ready status even after adjustments are made to the perspective, team mode, or map settings within the same mode.
Now only the party member who cancels matchmaking will have their ready state canceled.
If a party member goes offline during matchmaking, only their ready state will be canceled.
In cases where server issues cause matchmaking to be canceled, only the party leader’s ready state will be canceled.
(PC) You can now use a hotkey (F) to get ready or begin matchmaking.
Survivor Pass: Rondo
Enhance your Rondo experience with our new Survivor Pass: Rondo! Big changes have also been made to the Survivor Pass system, so make sure to check out Survivor Pass: Rondo and New System Rundown for all the details.
Workshop
New item sets have been added to the Hunter’s Chest and Archivist’s Chest.
Deadly Dollhouse
Survivor Pass: Splash Royale
Nightmare Carnage
Two new costume sets have been added to Artisan Crafting.
Sandstorm Sentinel Set – 100 Artisan Tokens
Cyber Survivor Set – 100 Artisan Tokens
Custom Match
The ‘Carry Limits’ setting has been removed from the Rules tab.
UX/UI
When the language setting is set to Simplified Chinese, simplified Chinese characters are now displayed in designated areas.
Performance
Optimized the spawning of throwables, resulting in improved performance – this is particularly noticeable in scenarios where various throwables, such as grenades, stun grenades, smoke grenades, and molotovs are extensively used.
Bug Fixes
Gameplay
Fixed an issue where characters seemed to shake when being carried.
Fixed the issue where the sound of a smoke grenade played longer than the actual smoke effect.
Fixed an issue where characters, upon experiencing a crash while moving, continue to move and become invulnerable – and once they reconnect, the character would return to the location before the crash.
UX/UI
Fixed a typo in the English kill message displayed in Bluebomb Rush mode, when a player is eliminated by the Bluebomb explosion.
Items & Skins
※ Clipping issue: Graphics that are shown outside the visible part of an image/object.
Fixed the ankle area turning transparent when a female character equips both the Smoke Stalker Shorts with Ripped Leggings and the Mad Nurse’s Boots.
Fixed the ankle area turning transparent when a female character equips both the Skinny Jeans and Spurdogs Basketball Shoes.
Fixed the waist turning transparent when a female characters equips both the Badlands Royalty Shirt and the Lipovka Slacks.
Fixed the clipping issue at the ankles when a female character equips the Jiscar Jumpsuit.
(PC) Fixed the waist turning transparent when a female character equips both the Long Sleeved Turtleneck and the PGC 2019 Gen.G Championship Leggings.
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