The battle royale shooter PUBG plans to remain relevant in the genre in 2021 with new maps and additional features. What exactly the developers have in mind is revealed here in an exclusive interview.
What changes are coming to PUBG soon? We at MeinMMO have gained insight into the PUBG roadmap. Accordingly, the developers are planning two new maps, each featuring a new aspect. One is the map Tiger, which will have respawns, and the other is the map Kiki, which will have particularly diverse terrain. Tiger is set to be released in Q3 2021, while Kiki will be available either at the end of the year or early 2022.
Since we wanted to know more about these upcoming features and other innovations, we asked Creative Director Dave Curd a few questions in an interview.
Two new 8×8 maps – What’s inside
MeinMMO: What are the unique features of Tiger?
Dave Curd: It’s still strictly confidential at the moment, but Tiger will be the first new 8×8 battleground in three years. The map utilizes all the elements of Battlegrounds that you know and love, with one key difference: you will be able to respawn after an initial defeat. We will also be introducing many brand new features that we want to show you soon.
MeinMMO: How exactly will the respawns work?
Dave Curd: We will publish more information about this as the release of Tiger approaches.
MeinMMO: Will there be respawns in other maps as well?
Dave Curd: If you look at our previous releases, you’ll notice a trend toward map-exclusive features. Sanhok had the loot truck, Paramo the evolving battlefield, and Haven the “pillar.” Considering that, the respawning feature will be a Tiger-exclusive feature.
MeinMMO: How will the respawns likely impact eSports in PUBG?
Dave Curd: I can’t speak for our eSports team, but I can say that a lot of data is being considered and a comprehensive review process takes place before our team agrees to add new maps.
Ultimately, it is up to them whether the map and/or feature makes sense for the game, but I trust them completely to make the right decision for the fans and players.
MeinMMO: What are the unique features of Kiki?
Dave Curd: We can’t reveal everything just yet, but what we can say is that Kiki will be one of our most immersive and interactive maps to date – a mix of small areas with dense urban gameplay and the kind of wide open spaces we love about Erangel. We will also be introducing a number of exciting new vehicle and weapon updates, so stay tuned!
PUBG will focus on large maps
MeinMMO: Are the maps based on real-world locations? What was the intended flair?
Dave Curd: Absolutely! While we don’t want to recreate original locations within the PUBG universe, we certainly draw inspiration from all corners of the globe when building our maps.
Tiger is a love letter to Korea, from our developers who hail from there – it’s their way of honoring their homeland. Of course, we have a very close relationship with this country, the birthplace of Battle Royale, and we’re excited to celebrate that relationship through this new map.
Kiki is inspired by Southeast Texas, where water meets land. The theme of climate change is currently on our minds, particularly flooding in certain regions, which led us to create a swampy and flooded area.
MeinMMO: In early June 2021, the map Miramar was revamped. What role did the community feedback play in that?
Dave Curd: We work with our community to verify and test some of our assumptions about the game and ultimately ensure that the maps behave as we would expect. On our server, we receive millions of playtests, so it’s really helpful to have a clear idea of what works and what doesn’t. For example, we received feedback that the loot was a bit too low, so we decided to adjust that accordingly.
MeinMMO: The new maps will all be large 8×8 maps. Are smaller maps, like Haven, less important for the future of PUBG?
Dave Curd: I wouldn’t say they are “less important,” but they might feel a bit less “PUBG.” We spent 2020 exploring smaller maps and introducing new features – like AI and a faster pace – and we are now using those experiences to focus on building larger worlds for the PUBG universe.
We love our smaller maps, but the essence of PUBG is larger worlds, as the dynamics and slower pace allow for intense firefights, messing around between battles, and strategically working toward victory.
End of the interview
If you want more info about PUBG from Dave Curd: The developer has previously answered our questions and revealed what makes the maps in PUBG special.
