It’s probably going to be a few more weeks before most PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds fans get a chance to explore the game’s new desert map. But anyone worried by how little we’ve seen of the arid, unreleased environment since it was announced in May, can rest assured the eponymous PlayerUnknown still expects PUBG ’s desert map to arrive “later this year.”
We’ve seen a few proofs of life in the six months since fans learned two new maps are headed to Battlegrounds. PUBG Creative Director Brendan Greene published multiple sets of images over the course of summer and fall, including the new work-in-progress screenshots he shared over the weekend. A recent PC Gamer preview featured additional images. The article also revealed new information on the desert map, including confirmation that we’ll see some of Mexico’s iconic lucha libre wrestling masks when it arrives. But we still haven’t seen the new environment in motion.
While that has some fans worried about the map’s “Late 2017” timeline, Greene says there’s no cause for concern. The game’s creative director responded to a fan inquiry over the weekend, confirming the desert maps is still slated for 2017. We don’t know exactly when the new environment will emerge, or how long the Xbox One community will be waiting for it, but PUBG ’s Steam launch build is still expected to arrive (w/ new desert map) before the end of December. It’s still possible for recent server and testing problems to force a revision of that timeline. Still, Bluehole and PUBG Corp. believe their astoundingly popular battle royale shooter will be ready to leave Early Access before the end of 2017.
For more information on the future of PUBG, circle back around to Greene’s thoughts on mod support, parity between the game’s graphics settings and the potential addition of a cinematic camera suite. We also had a chance to speak with PUBG Corp. CEO Chang Han Kim, who offered an explanation on the lack of rocket launchers in Battlegrounds and additional insight on the growing pains that follow selling 20 million copies of a competitive shooter in eight months.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is available in Early Access. The launch build is expected to hit Steam in late December and a Xbox One port is currently slated for Dec. 12.
Be sure to check back with Player.One and follow Scott on Twitter for more PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds news in 2017 and as long as PUBG Corp. supports PUBG in the years ahead.
