PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS :: Dev Letter: A New Way To Unlock Rewards
Hi everyone,
Today we want to tell you about something new we’ve prepared just in time for Sanhok’s release:
a new way to unlock new content in PUBG. We’ll reveal all the details very soon, but first we want to share some context and information about how we think about premium content.
Since the beginning, we’ve thought a lot about ways to allow you to unlock content in meaningful ways. To start, we tried to establish a cosmetic market based on scarcity by introducing crate and key system. This model allows all players to get reward items regardless of whether they made a purchase or not, resell unwanted crates/items back to the marketplace and acquire items or add funds to your Steam Wallet without ever using cash payment methods.
The goal was to provide a fun system outside of the main game experience through item trading. We also designed the system to be useful for you whether you’re willing or unwilling to make a purchase. We especially liked that the crate and key system can feel extremely satisfying whenever you unlock rare items. However, to make certain items really rare and valuable, we’ve had to regulate the supply of items, making high tier items very rare. As a result, many of you can’t get the items you want instantly, and even though you’ve invested more money into the system, it can be pretty difficult to get the items you want.
This type of market model still has its own values. However, our team’s goal is to not stop here, but to keep experimenting with new systems and new content. To this end, around the release of the PC 1.0 version last year, we had a lot on our mind.
At one point, we actually considered the option of releasing new content in paid DLC format, including new maps. However, we came to understand that this method has some critical drawbacks. Mainly, it divides the entire player base into separate groups depending on whether they’ve purchased map DLC. It would also keep a huge portion of players from enjoying the biggest additions to the game. As such, at The Game Awards 2017, we promised that all battle royale maps will be provided to all of our players for free, not as DLC.
Then, while designing and developing Sanhok, we began to explore how to offer premium content in new ways, without limiting it to DLC. We wanted to create a whole new gameplay and reward experience.
Ultimately, we decided to go with a new system: the “Event Pass.” It’ll be made available on June 22, the same day Sanhok hits live servers.
The Event Pass is designed to reflect the opinions of players who wanted a trackable progression-related system, and at the same time allows you to unlock new content in PUBG in a way that is different from the crate and key system.
Just like the crate and key system, you’ll be able to get rewards in the Event Pass system regardless of whether you made a purchase. If you haven’t paid for the pass, you can temporarily unlock many of the items (and earn one special item permanently). However, you can also permanently unlock a ton of exclusive reward items by paying to unlock the pass and completing certain missions to “level up” your pass. If you’re hesitant about buying the Pass, but want to play the missions, you’re free to do that. And your mission progress is always tracked, so you can buy the Event Pass late in the event and still get all the rewards you’ve earned.
This first Event Pass is all about celebrating the launch of Sanhok, so it includes an item set that fits the map Sanhok thematically. The Event Pass will last for about four weeks, and it includes dozens of missions, including daily missions, weekly missions, and Sanhok-specific missions. By completing missions and leveling up, you’ll unlock rewards. These rewards won’t be tradable or marketable, so only those of you who really earn them will get to show them off in-game.
One more thing: simply by playing and completing missions while they’re available, you’ll be able to unlock
one free chance to change your in-game PUBG name.
We’ll share more about missions and level-up rewards before Sanhok hits the live servers.
Please give us your feedback on the Event Season and Pass so we can keep improving PUBG. Our top priorities will continue to be optimizing performance, fixing bugs, and eradicating cheat programs.While our Platform, Engineering, and Anti-Cheat teams are focusing on these areas, we’ll keep meeting players’ needs for new experiences, rewards, and surprising new features.
As always, thanks for playing.
Love,
Your friends at PUBG Corp.
