PUBG: Battlegrounds, the game that kicked off the rise of the battle royale genre, is officially going free-to-play on January 12, 2022. This means that anyone who has ever wanted to shout out, “Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner,” can now do so without so much as pulling out their wallet. This is obviously a big change for PUBG, and we’re here to break down what exactly this means for new and existing players.From pre-registration rewards to what exactly the BATTLEGROUNDS Plus account offers players, here are six things you need to know about PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Free-to-Play.The BATTLEGROUNDS Plus Account Unlocks XP Boosts, Ranked Mode, and MoreEveryone who starts playing PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Free-to-Play will have a Basic account, which will give access to most of the game’s features. However, those who wish to upgrade for a one-time $12.99 fee will unlock even more, including Survival Mastery XP + 100% Boost, Career – Medal Tab, Ranked Mode, and the ability to create and play in a Custom Match. Additionally, players will be given Captain’s Camo Hat, Captain’s Camo Mask, Captain’s Camo Gloves, and Bonus 1300 G-COIN.Existing PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Player Will Be Rewarded With a BATTLEGROUNDS Plus Account and Other GiftsThose existing PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS players worried about this transition to free-to-play will be happy to know they will be rewarded with a bounty of gifts in the PUBG – SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE PACK that include a free BATTLEGROUNDS Plus account upgrade. Additionally, all players will automatically unlock the Costume Skin Set (Battle-hardened Legacy Corset, Jacket, Gloves, Pants, and Boots), the Shackle and Shanks Legacy – Pan, and the Nameplate – Battle-hardened Legacy.Have you played PUBG: Battlegrounds?YESNOTo become eligible for the PUBG – SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE PACK, players will need to have purchased the game before the free-to-play transition period ends. This is as follows, according to PUBG:● Steam: Players who purchased or acquired the game through a redeem code before the free-to-play transition on January 10, 2022, at 10am PT/1pm ET/6pm GMT● Xbox/Stadia: Players who have created and setup the in-game nickname after purchase of the game before the free-to-play transition on January 10, 2022, at 10am PT/1pm ET/6pm GMT● PlayStation: Players who purchased {PUBG – SPECIAL FREE TO PLAY TRANSITION PACK} for free on PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS in-game store from December 12, 2021, at 11pm PT to January 10, 2022, at 11am PT. This translates to December 13, 2021, at 2am PT/7am GMT – January 10, 2022, at 2pm PT/7pm GMT.Due to local laws and platform policies, Japanese PlayStation accounts will need to purchase the “PUBG – SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE PACK” for ¥100 from the in-game store as the team is unable to provide free products in that region.Prepare for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Free-to-Play with the Pre-Registration EventTo prepare for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS’ transition to free-to-play, it is holding a pre-registration event that will help players get ready for the big change on January 12, 2022. It’s as simple as creating a KRAFTON ID or signing into the KRAFTON’s pre-registration website.By doing so by January 11, 2022, at 3:59pm PT/6:59pm ET/11:59pm GMT, players will earn a Highside Slick Lv. 1 Backpack Item, a Highside Slick T-Shirt Item, and one Preset Slot Coupon (7 Days).Why Have a Chicken Dinner By Yourself When You Can Invite a Friend and Win Prizes While Doing So?In addition to pre-registering yourself, players are also encouraged to invite their friends too. Not only will this help you get that coveted Chicken Dinner when teaming up with your most trusted allies, but you’ll also earn rewards in the process.Once you pre-register, you will get an invite link to forward to your friends. If you get three friends to pre-register, you will unlock a Highside Slick Lv. 1 Helmet Item, an Iron G-Coin Box Item, and 1 Bonus Reward Entry. The Bonus Reward Entry puts players into a raffle where they have a random chance to win such great prizes as an Alienware gaming laptop, Xbox Series X, PS5, Razer Kraken V3 HyperSense, or 10,000 G-Coin. The Invite-a-Friend event ends on January 11, 2022, at 3:59pm PT/6:59pm ET/11:59pm GMT.Learn Your PUBG Play Style and Receive Special Items in ReturnThe last of the pre-registration events is the My PUBG Play Style event that will let players learn what type of PUBG player they are by taking a quiz while also receiving rewards, including a PUBG BATTLEGROUNDS Spray and 10 Contraband Coupons. It’s as easy as that, and all players can participate by taking the quiz on the pre-registration website by January 11, 2022 3:59pm PT/6:59 pm ET/11:59 pm GMT.PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS’ Free-to-Play Transition Also Comes With a Increased Focus on Anti-Cheat MeasuresIn anticipation of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS’ transition to free-to-play, the PUBG Anti-Cheat Team has been “quietly, yet fiercely, preparing a number of countermeasures to combat cheat programs.”As described in PUBG’s Anti-Cheat Dev Letter, Zakynthos is the team’s proprietary anti-cheat solution that was implemented in January 2021 and it has helped the team “remove an additional 28% of cheaters from the previous year.” While that is great to see, the team is focused on an even more successful 2022. To achieve this goal, it will also be adding the following:● Automatic analysis of cheat software based on machine learning techniques● 24-hour monitoring of Ranked matches in upper ranks● Implementation of kernel drivers● Preventing tampering of client● Hardware ban system improvementsAnother way the team is hoping to combat cheating is through its BATTLEGROUNDS Plus account system. The reason Ranked Mode is only included in the paid BATTLEGROUNDS Plus account is that, “If anyone can play in a Ranked match without any restrictions, there are concerns about the possibility of an increase in potential cheaters as well as the possibility of banned players returning to the game easily.” This philosophy also extends to Custom Games, which are also only available to BATTLEGROUNDS Plus account holders.-January 12, 2022 is only the beginning of this new, free-to-play chapter of PUBG: Battlegrounds. As the team works to perfect this new way to play PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, it will also be hard at work on the Codename “Kiki” map in mid-2022 and the next Survivor Pass in March 2022.
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