Hello everyone,
Today, we are excited to announce that the Public Test Server (PTS) will be making its return on May 21! Before the rendering/loading optimization mentioned in our last dev update is implemented on live servers May 28th, you will be able to test the optimized build on the PTS. The May 21 PTS update also includes the new MP5K, weapon balancing, Erangel loot balances, bug fixes, and more. The PTS will be available for one week, starting from May 20 7PM PDT / May 21 4AM CEST, and will end on May 28 with the patch going onto the live servers (time to be announced).
Dive into the patch notes below!
What is the PTS (Public Test Server)?
The PTS (Public Test Server) is a separate PUBG server that is free for anyone who already owns a copy of PUBG. The purpose of the test server is not just to provide a preview of upcoming features, but to find the issues and bugs we need to solve as soon as possible. To take part in the test, all you have to do is own a copy of PUBG.
All player data, statistics, etc from the test server will not carry over to your live server account.
For PS4:
You can find the “PUBG – Public Test Server” in the ‘Purchased’ section of your Library.
New Weapon: MP5K
The MP5K is a brand new sub-machine gun chambered for 9mm ammunition. MP5K is exclusive to Vikendi and replaces the Vector on that map.
While the firing mechanics of the MP5K are similar to those of the Vector, it boasts a higher per bullet damage, but with a lower overall firing rate and DPS. This SMG also has a higher magazine capacity than the Vector, starting at 30 rounds by default with 40 rounds in an extended magazine.
Key characteristics of the MP5K:
- High rate of fire at 900 RPM with reasonably easy to control recoil
- Accommodates all attachment slots to allow for a tactical stock, different types of magazines, muzzle attachments, grips, the laser sight and, of course, scopes
- Base damage value of 33
- Exclusive to Vikendi
Survivor Pass 3: Wild Card (NOT AVAILABLE ON THE PTS)
Survivor Pass 3: Wild Card is not available on the PTS, but will be available when Update #4 hits live servers on May 28.
Survival Title System Season 2 (NOT AVAILABLE ON THE PTS)
Survival Title System Season 2 is not available on the PTS, but will begin when Update #4 hits live servers on May 28.
Gameplay
Weapon Balance
- M16A4
- When firing using burst mode, the initial recoil has been decreased
- Increased the range before damage fall-off occurs
- This will help increase M16A4 efficiency when fighting over long distances
- Canted Sights and the Tactical Stock can now be attached to the M16A4
- The Tactical Stock will decrease recoil recovery time, animation kick and weapon sway, while also improving ADS speed and hipfire accuracy
- Vector
- Vector has been rechambered to use 9mm ammo
- Magazine capacity has been increased to 19 bullets by default and 33 with an extended mag (was 13/25)
- Damage decreased from 34 to 31 due to above changes
- Muzzle velocity changed to 380m/s (previously 300m/s)
- UMP45
- The UMP9 has been rechambered to use 45ACP ammo and is now called the UMP45.
- Magazine capacity has been adjusted to 25 bullets by default and 35 with an extended mag (was 30/40)
- Gunshot sounds have been changed to be more realistic
- Muzzle velocity changed to 300m/s (previously 400m/s)
- MK47 Mutant
- Tactical Stock can now be attached to the MK47 Mutant
- The Tactical Stock will decrease recoil recovery time, animation kick and weapon sway, while also improving ADS speed and hipfire accuracy
- Attachments Balance Modification
- SMG and Pistol attachments have been combined and can now be used on both weapon types
- Bullets Loops for Shotguns, Win94 and Kar98k have been combined into one item called Ammo Loops
- Holo Sights can now attach to pistols
- When equipped to Pistols, the size of the sight will be reduced to fit more appropriately
- Hit Area Damage Multiplier Changes
- Increased SR body shot damage from 110% of base damage to 150%
- Increased SMG limb shot damage from 120% of base damage to 125%
- Gameplay Balance
- Decreased the overall aim punch (aim sway) applied when being shot by an enemy
- First aid kits will no-longer heal instantly after use timer and will instead restore health over a 2 second period
- Vehicles now block players from receiving grenade damage with a similar mechanism used for other objects. Although, depending on grenade position and trajectory, damage can still be dealt to players hiding behind vehicles.
Item Spawn Balance Modification
Erangel Loot Changes
The overall item spawn rates on Erangel have been increased. Additionally, we’ve increased the spawn rate of some major weapon classes.
- Increased the spawn rate of ARs (12%), DMRs (16%) and SMGs (14%)
- SRs and Handguns received a slight spawn rate increase
Due to item changes this patch, including merging some attachments together, there is naturally a gap left in spawns which needs to be filled with other items. Because of this, we have increased the spawn rate of other items evenly. This will also result in a small increase in spawns of high priority items such as ARs, meds etc.
This also means the overall loot for other maps has also increased slightly, although no changes have been made to individual item spawn ratios on other maps.
- Crosshair UI Improvement for Canted Sight and Scopes
- Added a new crosshair when using the Canted Sight to help players easily identify which scope they have equipped
- When using your main scope, you will see the standard crosshair, with an X shaped crosshair when using the Canted Sight
Movement Rustling Sound
- Weapons
- Separate rustle sounds now play when equipping weapons in your hands vs holstering on your back
- Identical rustling sound will be played regardless of weapon type
- Sidearms, melee weapons and throwables do not make rustling sounds
- Sound level balance
- Rustling sounds of backpacks, weapons are all identical in both volume and audible distance
- Even though the audible range of clothes is same as bags/weapons etc, it may sound like they’re heard at a different range due to the volume being lower.
- Audible distance and volume of the rustling sound changes dynamically based on the characters movement speed
- The faster you move, the louder the noise, which can then be heard from further away
- The audible range and the volume of the rustling sound is lower than footsteps
- Rustling sounds of backpacks, weapons are all identical in both volume and audible distance
UI/UX
- In-game lobby background and BGM has been changed
- System menu UI which can be accessed by pressing the Start button has been redesigned
- Emotes customization UI has been redesigned
- You can customize your emotes in the EMOTES tab within the CUSTOMIZATION menu.
- The maximum number of emote you can use in-game has been changed to 8 from 12
- Starting at 12 o’clock position, 4 of the emotes positioned counter-clockwise you previously equipped will be unequipped.
Performance
- Optimized level streaming and improved the loading speed of proximate buildings by 30~40%.
- Material data structure has been optimized.
- Streaming priority has been optimized based on the prediction of the player’s movement direction.
- Level LOD data has been optimized.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed an issue where footsteps on a steel surface made sound of incorrect material in Sanhok
- Fixed an issue where characters got stuck on the ceiling when vaulting on certain objects in Sanhok
- Fixed an issue where vines over the wires in Camp Bravo blocked bullets in Sanhok
- Fixed an issue where players were able to see past walls by abusing the emote mechanism
- Fixed an issue where players were able to open or close doors, despite a vehicle blocking it
- Fixed an issue where players were briefly able to see through a thin wall when leaning against it
- Fixed an issue where when a player was damaged by two Molotov Cocktails, the player who threw the first will be credited with the kill.
- Fixed an issue where the smoke coming from a grenade explosion outlines players inside the smoke grenade
- Fixed an issue where players are unable to lean while standing on a crossbow
- Fixed an issue where players with poor network connectivity take no damage when exiting moving vehicles
- Fixed an issue where characters hands move abnormally when switching firing mode on the Bizon
- Fixed an issue where the Inventory UI displays incorrectly when equipping certain attachments on the QBZ
- Fixed an issue where a specific object prevents Care Packages from landing on the ground
- Fixed an issue where players are unable to be revived after the game client is forcibly closed or has crashed
- Fixed an issue where certain object appear in different locations to other players
- Fixed an issue which caused heavy FPS drops momentarily using hotkeys to mute or change audio channels.
- Fixed an issue where automatic mini-map zoom wasn’t being activated while inside the plane or parachuting
- Fixed an issue where using L1 or R1 while observing would sometimes only cycle between two players
- Fixed an issue where the canted sight increased ADS speed of other scopes attached
- Fixed an issue where attaching a specific magazine on the Beryl would display the incorrect magazine model
- Fixed an issue where switching from the main sight to canted sight would reset reticle brightness
- Fixed an issue where the camera momentarily moves up and down when vaulting inside of a building
- Fixed an issue where a character model shakes when moving to prone
- Fixed an issue which players could drive through a window on a motorbike without breaking the glass
- Fixed an issue where the reload animation was played twice when you pressing firing key multiple times while reloading Kar98k
- Fixed an issue where the care package would penetrate a character when a character is on the landing spot
- Fixed an issue where items get stuck on the floor and are unable to be picked up in certain location
Known Issues
- Teammate’s icons and health bar sometimes don’t appear.
- If you experience this issue, please submit a bug report and include any relevant information explaining how it occurred.
