PUBG: Battlegrounds Releases Update 35.1

Summary

• PUBG: Battlegrounds Update 35.1 alters gunplay with a new aim punch system, varying effects by weapon type.
• The update expands the Recall system to all maps, adds a Contender system, and improves audio settings for reduced ear strain.
• Season 35 in Ranked mode brings permanent rewards, while Custom Matches receive quality-of-life improvements for better player experiences.

PUBG: Battlegrounds developer Krafton just released Update 35.1 for PC players, with consoles getting it on April 17. This PUBG: Battlegrounds update delivers a load of new content, plus gameplay changes and quality-of-life upgrades to improve the experience for everyone playing.

PUBG: Battlegrounds faces tougher rivals today than it did at its 2017 launch, yet it stays a top player in battle royale games. Krafton keeps it alive with constant updates and gameplay tweaks. In March, the developer laid out its 2025 content roadmap for PUBG: Battlegrounds, focusing on three big priorities: building content that keeps players hooked, sharpening up the live-service side of things, and making sure the game thrives for years to come.

PUBG: Battlegrounds Update 35.1 has just launched, changing gunplay mechanics with a new aim punch system. This setup alters aim stability when players take hits, with the effect varying by weapon type. PUBG: Battlegrounds Sniper Rifles and Shotguns feel the strongest aim punch, while Assault Rifles and DMRs get a lighter version. The system also features a distance-based reduction, making the effects of aim punch less severe at longer ranges. On the gameplay side, items like the Zipline Gun, Stun Gun, and Emergency Cover Flare now appear across all maps. Those, plus the Self-AED, see changes to keep things consistent across modes, especially Ranked, where more gear becomes available than before.

PUBG: Battlegrounds Update 35.1 Expands Recall System

The Recall system expands to every PUBG: Battlegrounds map now, even Karakin and Paramo, letting players respawn with recall flights every two minutes and thirty seconds until Phase 5 begins. Update 35.1 also adds the Contender system, a new character upgrade option in the Workshop. Each contender has a unique outfit and appearance, with more features unlockable through upgrades. Audio gets adjusted too, with firearm, vehicle, and plane sounds lowered to reduce ear strain. Erangel’s received new additions, like a Hall of Fame honoring the 2024 PUBG Global Championship winners, The Expendables.

Season 35 in Ranked mode kicks off with permanent rewards like Lynx AMR weapon skins and tiered PUBG ID emblems tied to players’ final ranks from last season. The leaderboard starts fresh, and players can now pick up their Season 34 rewards based on how they performed. Update 35.1 also makes several quality-of-life improvements to Custom Matches, such as enabling text chat in lobbies and allowing map changes after a lobby has been created. Additionally, PUBG: Battlegrounds‘ Sanhok map gets a performance boost, smoothing out frame rate drops and stuttering problems.

PUBG: Battlegrounds Update 35.1 Patch Notes

Gunplay

The new aim punch system, previously introduced in the Gunplay Labs, will be implemented in Update 35.1.

Aim Punch

New aim punch mechanics have been applied to all firearms, with varying levels depending on the weapon category.

SRs

• The highest level of aim punch is applied.

Shotguns

• A high level of aim punch is applied.

SMGs

• A high level of aim punch is applied, though slightly lower than that of Shotguns.
• The VSS has the same level of aim punch as SMGs.

ARs / LMGs / DMRs

• Feature a low level of aim punch, with 7.62mm ammo demonstrating stronger aim punch than 5.56mm ammo.

Other Weapons (Handguns, Crossbow, etc.)

• A very low level of aim punch is applied.

Misc.

Aim punch decreases with distance.

• The aim punch of SMGs and Shotguns decreases significantly with distance. At 50 meters, SMGs have similar aim punch to ARs.
• SRs also experience a distance-based reduction in aim punch, but they still have a strong aim punch at mid-range.
• ARs and DMRs have a marginally higher base aim punch than in the current game version, but beyond 100 meters, the aim punch decreases to levels comparable to the current game.

Gameplay

Spawn Changes

• The Zipline Gun, Stun Gun, and Emergency Cover Flare will now world spawn on all maps.
  • The Stun Gun and Emergency Cover Flare have also been added to Ranked.
• The Self-AED will now world spawn on all maps, but only in Solo mode.
  • Removed from Duo & Squad modes
  • Removed from special spawn locations
  • It will no longer be available as a reward for Rondo’s In-Game Challenge.
• The Blue Chip Transmitter, Decoy Grenade, Spike Trap, Thermal 4x Scope, and Battle Ready Kit have been removed from every spawn spot.
• The spawn rates of the Zipline Gun and Zipline Gun Cable have been slightly increased.
• Fixed spawn spots for the Inflatable Boat have been added to Erangel, but the total spawn quantity remains unchanged.

Zipline Gun

• The maximum range has been increased by approximately 50%.

Stun Gun

• Muzzle velocity has been slightly increased.
• Effective range has been reduced, making it more difficult to hit targets at longer distances.

Emergency Cover Flare

• Weight increased from 23 → 27.

Audio

In Update 35.1, we’re making several audio adjustments that many players have been requesting for some time.

• The sound of firearms you’re using, as well as vehicles and planes you’re currently in, has been slightly reduced.
  • This change only applies to the player performing the action. Other players will continue to hear them at their original volume.
• We’ve also improved the Mortar explosion sound to better reflect distance.

Misc.

• The kill effect of Progressive weapon skins, which was previously visible only to teammates, will now be visible to all players.

Recall System

The Recall system is now available across all maps, including Karakin and Paramo!

• On these maps, Recall flights are available every 2 minutes and 30 seconds but will not appear from Phase 5 onwards.
• Also applies to Custom Match.

Arcade

• Hot Drop mode has been removed and may return as a limited-time event mode in the future.

Team Deathmatch

• Kill messages will no longer display kills or knockdowns made by teammates.

Ranked

Season 35

• Ranked weapon skins for the Lynx AMR have been added as Tier Rewards (permanent) for Season 35.
• The Stun Gun and Emergency Cover Flare have been added.
• The leaderboard will reset after the live server maintenance.
• Check out your final Tier from the previous season through your Career page.

Workshop

New Feature: Contender

Introducing Contender, a new character upgrade system that lets you express your unique style on the Battlegrounds! Contenders are available in the Workshop, and full details on the first Contender can be found in the April Store Update announcement.

• Each Contender includes both appearance and outfit as a set. Additional features unlock through upgrades.
• Contender materials can be obtained at a certain probability from Contender Prime Parcels, which are available through Archivist’s Chests.
• Required Materials for Collecting and Upgrading Contenders:
  • Record Files
    • Can be crafted in the Workshop – Special Crafting, using Artisan Tokens.
    • Each Record File is tied to a specific Contender.
    • Record Files can be repurposed or disassembled. When repurposed, they yield a random item of the same tier, just like Imprints.
  • Credits
• A Contender page has been added to the Workshop, where you can view all available Contenders and manage them — including collecting, upgrading, and previewing.
• A Contender tab has been added to the Customize – Character page, where you can view your collected Contenders.

Special Crafting

New Contender-related items have been added to Artisan Crafting. Further details can be found in the April Store Update announcement.

Custom Match

Update 35.1 brings a variety of long-awaited improvements to our beloved Custom Match!

• (PC) You can now use text chat in Custom Match lobbies.
  • Two chat channels are available: Custom Match and Team. You can access the Custom Match channel by entering the new commands /cm or /custom.
• A System Menu button has been added to the bottom of the lobby screen.
• Lobbies will now remain even after a match ends.
• You can now change the map in Match Settings even after the lobby has been created.
  • Applies Custom Match – Normal, Esports, Intense Battle Royale, and Hot Drop modes.
  • Changing the map will reset all settings to the default values of the newly selected map.
• A “Match Start Standby Time” setting has been added under Match Settings – Basic – Game Settings, allowing you to adjust the waiting time before the match begins.
• A “Blue Zone Activation” option has been added under Match Settings – Rules – Blue Zone.
  • This option is available only to players with Partner or Clan Master privileges.
  • If the match doesn’t end when deactivating the Blue Zone, the match will automatically end after a certain period of time.
• Two new AI-related settings have been added under Match Settings – Rules – Gameplay.
  • These settings allow you to enable AI and adjust AI damage.
  • Available only in Custom Match – Normal Mode.
  • These options are available only to players with Partner or Clan Master privileges.
  • AI Damage settings do not apply to Throwables.
  • When AI is added, bots will fill the lobby up to the max player count, but will not be placed on the same team as players.
  • Matches can now start even if there is only one team, when AI is added.
  • Matches will continue even when only bots remain.
• The maximum player count has been increased to 100 in all modes except Team Deathmatch and 1v1 Arena.
  • (Console) Due to performance issues, the Hot Drop mode’s max player count has been reduced from 100 to 32.
• After a match ends, the Match Results screen will now be displayed to all players.
  • Applies to Custom Match – Normal, Esports, and Intense Battle Royale modes.
• The Spike Trap, Decoy Grenade, and Blue Chip Transmitter have been removed from the Spawn tab.
• Match setting presets saved before 2020 can no longer be loaded.

Training Mode

• The Hall of Fame decorations have been removed.

Performance

• Optimized the Sanhok map to improve average frame rates and reduce stuttering.
• Improved hitching issues that occurred when players were near building destruction or destroyed buildings in Sanhok.

Bug Fixes

Gameplay

• Fixed an issue where items outside of the spectated player’s Inventory area are not displayed when opening their Inventory.
• Fixed an issue where the Emergency Pickup plane sound plays incorrectly.
• Fixed an issue where the observer gets disconnected several minutes after a bear dies while observing a match on Vikendi.
• Fixed an issue where the Blanc’s left and right wheels rotate abnormally when braking.

World

• Fixed collision, texture, performance, and some other general Karakin issues.

UX/UI

• Fixed spacing errors in certain interaction-related UI elements in the Korean language setting.
• Fixed an issue where kill messages do not display the Mastery Tier icons for Throwables or Miscellaneous weapons.
• Fixed an issue where the Clan rejoin cooldown message is displayed abnormally in the Russian language setting.
• (PC) Fixed an issue where the Clan chat channel is visible while not being a member of a Clan.
• (PC) Fixed an issue where the error popup does not appear when clicking the ‘Add G-COIN’ button with the Steam Overlay disabled.

Items & SkinsClipping issue: Graphics that are shown outside the visible part of an image/object.

• Fixed an issue where textures appear abnormally when the male character wears the Cerberus’ Boots.
• Fixed an issue where part of the outfit becomes transparent when the female character wears the Baby It’s Cold Outside Shorts with certain tops.
• Fixed an issue where the back of the NieR:Automata Combat Goggles is missing when worn with certain hoodies.
• Fixed an issue where the necklace is missing when the female character wears the Bloody Tank Top (White).
• Fixed an issue where the hood of the Leather Hoodie (White) disappears when lowered by certain item combinations.
• (PC) Fixed an issue where the number on the tablet is not clearly visible when using the Roll the Dice emote in certain lobby skins.