PUBG Update 7.2 has arrived and it's bringing with it the debut of two oft-requested features. Ranked Mode and Bots. Don't worry, though, PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS won't be allowing any bots in their brand-new ranked mode — that would be awfully silly.
Massive changes are coming to PUBG today with Update 7.2. The addition of ranked mode and bots is sure to change up the game some, and that's not all that's coming, either. Several weapons changes (including some nice shotgun buffs), an update to the replay system, and more are also coming!
Let's kick things off with checking out the PUBG Update 7.2 Patch Report
How Does PUBG Ranked Mode Work?
Right off the bat, you should know that Survival Title is being discontinued. Instead, Ranked Mode will be replacing it entirely.
Ranked Mode will pretty much work exactly how you'd expect. Your Rank will go up or down depending on your performance in a Ranked game. Unlike the depreciated Survival Title game mode, your Rank will only change based on your experience in Ranked matches — no more worrying about playing well when you're out for a bit of Unranked fun.
Games in Ranked Mode will be randomly played on either Erangel, Miramar, or Sanhok. It will have its own game settings which will include no Crossbow spawns, no Red zone, no Motor glider, and an adjustment to the timing and speed of the Blue Zone. These settings may change throughout the season and are more likely to change at the start of a new season; any changes made will be announced.
Also noted in the PUBG Update 7.2 patch notes is that there will be several special requirements for playing Ranked Mode. All players must meet these requirements or they won't be able to queue for matchmaking:
- A squad cannot enter the queue if two players (who have completed placements) are too far apart in rank from each other (10 divisions maximum).
- Depending on their platform and region, players may need to reach a minimal level of Survival Mastery before they qualify for ranked.
- Depending on their platform and region, players may need to verify their account using SMS before they qualify for Ranked mode.If an SMS verified account is banned, the device connected to it will also be permanently blocked.
- Players who have received ranked matchmaking penalties for actions such as repeatedly ‘dodging’ games after loading onto the island will need to wait out a matchmaking penalty timer before they can play ranked again.
What Else is New in PUBG Update 7.2?
The addition of Ranked Mode is pretty cool, but what else is on the way? Bots are one of the cool new features that are coming, and it's not going to work exactly as you might thing.
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS has been around for quite a while now, and some players have gotten really good. In fact, some of the higher-skill players are eliminating newbies pretty easily, and these new players often don't get any kills (or even do any damage) before being taken out.
As such, bots are being introduced for lower skill levels of play. As you get better at the game, you'll notice fewer and fewer bots in your matches. This is ultimately aiming for a more balanced skill progression for new players. You can read more about bots in this dev letter.
Some weapons are also getting changes in PUBG Update 7.2. The devs feel that shotguns have been neglected as of late, and that's why they're getting bonuses in accuracy and reload speed for certain shotguns.
The Gas Can is also getting some improvements. Now, it can be equipped in a melee slot. An equipped Gas Can has the ability to dump fuel on the ground over 7 seconds. This fuel trail can then be ignited for a total of 20 seconds and it does the same amount of damage as a Molotov's fire. If you just want to shoot it, you should also know that the initial explosion will now do less damage, but the area around it will also be set ablaze.
These are far from the only changes coming to the game; you can read the full PUBG Update 7.2 patch notes to see what else is on the way. Update 7.2 is now live on the Test Server, so go ahead and check it out! If you don't yet already own PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS, you can get it on Steam or the Humble Store for $29.99 or your regional equivalent.
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What do you think of the changes coming to PUBG in Update 7.2? Do you think you'll make use of the new and improved Gas Cans? Let us know in the comments below!
