With the start of Season 10 of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), a lot changes in the Battle Royale. A new NPC faction is causing chaos on the smallest map yet, “Haven,” presenting players with new challenges. In an interview with MeinMMO, Dave Curd, Creative Director of PUBG, gives us insights into the creation of Haven and what the future of the Battle Royale title looks like.
With the start of the new season on December 16, PUBG has received nasty PvE opponents and the new map “Haven.” The new map is the smallest so far at 1×1 km and up to 32 players fight for the sought-after Chicken Dinner. Intense house fights are on the agenda here and leave teams little time to catch their breath.
In an interview with MeinMMO, Dave Curd, Creative Director at PUBG, spoke about the new map, campers, and the future of Battle Royale.
Dave Curd, Creative Director at PUBG. @DaveCurd – Link leads to the Twitter account.
As Creative Director of PUBG, Dave leads a team of talented developers who work on maps, modes, and experiences for PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS.
Previously, he worked for Raven Software on several “Call of Duty” titles and has also worked as an illustrator for Disney.
He still enjoys making hot drops.
“The feedback from our community on small maps has been very positive”
MeinMMO: Haven is the smallest map in PUBG yet and promises intense battles. Could smaller maps be a trend for PUBG?
Dave Curd: Last year was about exploration and innovation. We wanted to try some new things, which is why we created smaller maps for the players. It was fun, we learned a lot, and we received a lot of positive feedback from our community.
In 2021, we will continue to be innovative, but the focus will actually be on larger worlds. For us, the essence of the PUBG experience requires both exciting gunplay and moments of calm. This works better on larger maps – 8×8 or even larger.
MeinMMO: Haven has a lot of vertical battles, meaning you play at unusual heights. Are you planning such elements for the other maps as well?
Dave Curd: PUBG is an ever-evolving title, and we like to regularly try out new types of gameplay and closely observe our community’s reactions each time.
As for verticality, this feature was first introduced to fans through Los Leones – a small town on Miramar. It was well received, and we decided to build Haven – a map that revolves entirely around tall buildings and structures.
We are currently having a lot of fun with this type of gameplay, and if we get the opportunity to create another big map, we would definitely be open to further pushing verticality.
“We are pushing the boundaries of Battle Royale”
MeinMMO: Who should definitely try the new map? For which type of player is the map best suited?
Dave Curd: PUBG stands out in the market due to the unique experiences we offer fans. We are constantly pushing the boundaries of the game and reinventing what Battle Royale looks like. Haven is the exciting next step in our development, and I think any fan of this genre will be interested in playing it.
As with any other map, there are certain features that appeal to specific players. The map is smaller, which means that fights will occur more frequently than on larger maps. Haven will also be patrolled by various AI characters that will enrich the gameplay and create new and unique storylines. We have AI guards, weapon transports, and helicopters scattered across Haven – and how to deal with these third-party challenges will have a significant impact on how successful one is.
MeinMMO: In the first reactions, players express their concerns that the new map may favor campers. Do you share these concerns, and what are you doing about it?
Dave Curd: PUBG is a survival game, and there are many different approaches and tactics that players use when trying to fight their way to the end of the match. Camping doesn’t worry us much, as it is in the nature of PUBG that you have to loot to survive, so too much camping hurts the camper’s chances on the battlefield.
However, we are constantly active in the forums, engaging with our community to gather important insights about the game. If we feel there is a problem or that gameplay is being negatively impacted in any way, we have many tools at our disposal that we can use to positively influence matches.
Tips for using the parachute
MeinMMO: The parachutes seem to be causing problems for some players. They are sometimes overlooked, or there are difficulties opening them. Do you have tips? Are there other ways to escape from the rooftops of Haven?
Dave Curd: It is important to remember that parachutes behave the same way as parachutes when jumping from the plane. That means power lines, trees, or walls can destroy the parachute when colliding with them. So make a big jump to give yourself some space, deploy it, and try not to crash!
For other escape options, many of our tall structures are deliberately placed next to smaller buildings, which means you can also find your way down in parkour style.
“In PUBG, anything is possible”
MeinMMO: The Pillar Organization is a new type of PvE enemy on the new map. Are such opponents also an option for other maps?
Dave Curd: The beauty of PUBG is that anything is possible. We currently have no plans to introduce The Pillar on other maps, but never say never.
MeinMMO: Are there plans for future events with changing PvE enemies? Or is that more of a unique feature reserved exclusively for Haven?
Dave Curd: We want each map to have its own unique atmosphere, and we believe that “The Pillar” is a really cool feature that distinguishes Haven from others. As for future maps, we have not yet made any decisions about PvE enemies.
Map rotation is a fan wish
MeinMMO: Some fans would like more options to choose the maps more accurately. Is there a feature planned for that?
Dave Curd: There is definitely a desire to offer more options, and we are discussing internally how exactly we want to do that. We want to offer matchmaking options tailored to specific regions, based on unique preferences and player counts.
MeinMMO: Thank you for the interview!
Haven is the smallest map in PUBG yet and brings fresh air to the Battle Royale. Since July 2016, players have been fighting for the virtual Chicken Dinner, so it’s no wonder that PUBG is represented in our ranking of the 10 best battle royale games.
Have you already tried Haven and how do you like the new features? Let us know in the comments.
