Krafton has announced that its recent spinoff, PUBG: Black Budget, will enter closed Alpha testing next month exclusively on PC. Will this recent extraction shooter have what it takes to beat the present champ, Arc Raiders? Who knows, and it probably won’t matter since each game is different enough from one another that fans of the genre will ultimately be the winners in having something else to change over to.
Folks wanting to affix in playtesting can register on Steam to request access, and it’s going to officially be available in North America, Europe, and Asia, but folks outside those regions might have the option to affix as well; nevertheless Steam indicates that it cannot guarantee network connections or stable conditions for them. Keys for joining may also be available starting on December 10 via random Twitch and Chzzk drops, but those interested can even 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 might be a Contractor, a hardened veteran hired for a classified operation on an island at the sting of the world. Your mission is to get better 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 generally known as the Anomaly. Extract artifacts, research your findings, and uncover the reality behind the black-budget initiative, SAPIENS.
In between missions, you’ll expand your personal Base, craft recent 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’s to make it out alive.”
Closed Alpha Details:
- Fundamental 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 essential objectives for the Alpha testing are: testing early-game systems and combat pacing, examining extraction balance, and player progression. Interestingly enough, participants won’t be under NDA and are allowed to stream their gaming sessions. Meanwhile, the recognition of extraction shooters has been on the rise with titles corresponding to Helldivers 2, Arc Raiders, and Escape From Tarkov, giving fans a wide range of settings so there’s a likelihood that even an aging franchise corresponding to PUBG, which maintains a big playerbase, might have the option to affix the fray with this spinoff.