Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) launched as an early access title on PC in March 2017. Whilst not the first title within the Battle Royale genre, it quickly rose to become one of the most popular titles of 2017, kicking DOTA 2 out the top spot on Steam in just five months.
PUBG’s first venture outside of PC began with an early access launch on Xbox One in December 2017. PUBG Mobile then entered the market in March 2018.
From the free to play H1Z1, the Blackout mode within Black Ops 4 and the now pop culture icon Fortnite, PlayStation users now have a vast selection of Battle Royale titles to choose from. Even Battlefield V and Red Dead Redemption 2 are soon to be releasing Battle Royale modes.
With the PUBG PlayStation launch now upon us in December 2018, how does PUBG stack up within the increasingly saturated Battle Royale genre?
PUBGs charm translates across platforms, thanks to the nail biting action that is Battle Royale.
PUBGs Battle Royale experience drops 100 combatants onto a range of diverse locales. Players start with no weapons or inventory and must scurry to loot their surroundings.
The last player standing is the ultimate winner. It’s a brutally rewarding multiplayer experience. There can be only one winner, leaving 99 defeated combatants behind them.
The original PUBG began as an Arma 3 mod. These origins have ensured a slower, more strategic Battle Royale experience. Situational awareness and strategy are a must.
Unlike the Xbox One early access release, PUBG on PlayStation is a full 1.0 launch. The PlayStation 4 version launches with three iconic maps – Erangel, Miramar, and Sanhok. The highly anticipated snow-themed map, Vikendi will come to PlayStation this winter.
To celebrate the launch on PlayStation, PUBG has included in-game skins from two of the platforms most renowned games; Uncharted and The Last of Us. Players are able to equip Nathan Drake’s iconic outfit and store loot within Ellie’s backpack.
Both skins are pre-order bonuses.
PUBG on PlayStation is a surprisingly comfortable experience. Inventory management from the Xbox One early access days has improved considerably. The player is left to battle other combatants and not the user interface.
PUBG has been optimized for the PlayStation 4 Pro, with enhanced graphics and technical fidelity. PUBG maintained a steady 30 frames per second during our review period.
Matchmaking appeared to be instantaneous within the asia/oceania servers. Third Person Perspective was the only game mode on offer at launch, with First Person Perspective launching shortly.
Our extensive time with the PC and Mobile version of PUBG served us well, as our first ever game on PlayStation resulted in a convincing win!
With a slower, more strategic focus than its peers and an overall performance and fidelity provided by a full launch, PUBG is a must play for any Battle Royale fans on PlayStation.
