PUBG Season 4 brings Erangel update, rebalanced weapons and vehicles

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is entering its fourth season and things are set to be shaken up in a big way.

The version 4.1 patch notes are now published on the official PUBG website. While a number of new features have already been teased, the list of changes set to arrive is an extensive one.

The big highlight of the next update is the long-awaited launch of the new Erangel. The PUBG team has repeatedly teased players with glimpses of the updated version of the popular map, which sports improved visuals, various terrain changes, and a number of tweaks to the layout of heavily trafficked areas. Though many were expecting the map to be the clear centerpiece of the update, it actually has a considerable amount of competition.

The arsenal of weapons is receiving a shakeup in the form of a massive rebalancing effort.

All four shotguns in the game received damage upgrades, while SMGs had their ranged damage drop-off reduced to make them more effective from a distance. Alongside this change were nerfs to most of the game’s assault rifles. The changes seem to be focused on creating a flatter hierarchy of weapons in PUBG, which has long struggled to make more than a handful of guns viable.

Weapons weren’t the only things getting changed. Vehicles received their first ever rebalancing in the new patch. Most of PUBG’s quicker vehicles including scooters, motorcycles, and snowmobiles were upgraded with improved handling. Cars like the Dacia and Mirado were tweaked to have reduced speed when driving off-road. The Buggy was given a massive upgrade that includes better handling, greater speed, and higher wheel durability.

The previously discussed changes to matchmaking will also be introduced. Different queue options based on region will be introduced alongside a new ability to change game mode mid-search.

A number of UI improvements are also being introduced, including changes to the menus and a more user-friendly chat wheel. A new survivor pass will be rolled out, offering new challenges and rewards to players. Finally, a number of bug fixes and performance improvements will be a part of patch 4.1.

A specific date was not given for the update, but Season 4 is expected to launch on July 23. The full patch notes can be found on the official PUBG website.