Krafton has announced that its new spinoff, PUBG: Black Budget, will enter closed Alpha testing next month exclusively on PC. Will this new extraction shooter have what it takes to overcome the current champ, Arc Raiders? Who knows, and it probably won’t matter since each game is different enough from each other that fans of the genre will ultimately be the winners in having something else to switch over to.
Folks wanting to join in playtesting can register on Steam to request access, and it will officially be available in North America, Europe, and Asia, but folks outside those regions might be able to join as well; however Steam indicates that it cannot guarantee network connections or stable conditions for them. Keys for joining will also be available beginning on December 10 via random Twitch and Chzzk drops, but those interested can also get keys by registering with Krafton via the KID Link webpage.
Description (via Steam):
“Designed as an FPP-first experience, PUBG: Black Budget is a tactical extraction shooter built around tension, survival, and the unknown.
You are a Contractor, a hardened veteran hired for a classified operation on an island at the edge of the world. Your mission is to recover top-secret technology from an abandoned research facility. But there’s a catch: the island is trapped in a time loop, consumed by a supernatural phenomenon known as the Anomaly. Extract artifacts, research your findings, and uncover the truth behind the black-budget initiative, SAPIENS.
In between missions, you’ll expand your personal Base, craft new equipment, and improve your character’s skills and proficiencies. Prepare to face PvPvE threats in an environment that grows more unpredictable with every loop – and the longer you stay, the harder it is to make it out alive.”
Closed Alpha Details:
- Main Test Sessions:
- Week 1: 12/12(Fri) 01:00 ~ 12/14(Sun) 23:59 PST
- Week 2: 12/19(Fri) 01:00 ~ 12/21(Sun) 23:59 PST
- Regions: North America, Europe, and Asia
- Supported Languages: English, Korean, Chinese, Russian
- Mode: FPP only
Krafton has said that the main objectives for the Alpha testing are: testing early-game systems and combat pacing, examining extraction balance, and player progression. Interestingly enough, participants will not be under NDA and are allowed to stream their gaming sessions. Meanwhile, the popularity of extraction shooters has been on the rise with titles such as Helldivers 2, Arc Raiders, and Escape From Tarkov, giving fans a variety of settings so there’s a chance that even an aging franchise such as PUBG, which maintains a large playerbase, might be able to join the fray with this spinoff.