PUBG Officially Releases on PC, Brings New Map and Mechanics

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has finally released on PC after about nine months in Early Access on Steam. The 1.0 update marks the game’s official launch and also adds the new desert map, some useful new mechanics, improved performance, and a free login gift for all players.

Soon after the 1.0 update released this morning, PUBG crashed for many players and gave others game-breaking glitches that necessitated some server maintenance. Thankfully all the issues seem to be fixed now, and players can enjoy the new features of the game, including the free in-game gift. For the next few weeks, players will receive a free in-game “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner” t-shirt, below, which will be dropped into your inventory after logging in.

The 1.0 update also brings the game’s second map, Miramar, out of the test servers and into the full game. Miramar is a desert map with new terrain, objects, weapons, and vehicles to shake things up a little. Several new game mechanics have also been added, including vaulting (jumping over objects) and climbing, which will definitely change the way PUBG is played.

A couple other gamechangers are the new replay function and ballistics overhaul. The replay feature will automatically save your end-of-game action up to 1km around your character to a folder accessible from the lobby. With the ballistics overhaul, bullets will now lose velocity over time, leading to greater bullet drop and longer travel time. There are plenty of other changes and additions players should know, so check out the full patch notes for PUBG‘s 1.0 release.

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds first hit Early Access in March of this year, and has enjoyed tremendous success since then, climbing the charts on Steam and Twitch alike. The game launched on Xbox One earlier this month, available for $30 via the Xbox Game Preview program. Xbox One players will have to wait a little longer for the content PC players received in the 1.0 update, but it should be coming soon.