Developer Note: Ranked Redesign

We alluded to big changes to Ranked in the PUBG 2024 Roadmap and the Dev Letter: Ranked Points that were released in March and April. We’re thrilled to share additional information in this Dev Letter regarding the particular adjustments planned for Season 30, as well as our team’s goals, long-term strategies, and general course.

Revamp in Ranked Order
Our development team worked to improve the Ranked base ruleset in 2022 and 2023, establishing the foundation for the “vibrant Ranked experience” that we have been emphasizing. Though RP structures and incentives hold significance, our main objective was to reassess and improve the entire Ranked experience. We actively added new features and maps to the Ranked experience to keep it from getting boring and to entice players of Normal Match to check it out. We also aimed to allow users to benefit from the knowledge of Esports players and have a variety of experiences with Ranked by combining the regulations for both Esports and Ranked.

We hope to expand on that basis in 2024 by adding prestige and challenge to Ranked. We’ve improved our prizes based on your comments as the first step towards accomplishing this. In order to encourage players to define, pursue, and accomplish goals in Ranked, we have created a range of awards that also serve as genuine status symbols.

Graded Incentives
Season 30 will see the introduction of two different kinds of Ranked prizes. Tier Rewards are the first, and they are awarded according to skill level. The second is the recently introduced Ranked Play Point Rewards, which players can obtain by taking part in Ranked games. We hope that this update will enable even novice gamers to experience the joy of goal-setting and accomplishment.

Level Ups

We are adding weapon skins as Tier Rewards beginning in Season 30 in response to comments that the current Tier Rewards weren’t giving players enough of a reason to play.

We think that exclusive weapon skins that are exclusively available through Ranked can act as a clear indicator of expertise. Every player who has reached Gold Tier and higher will receive these weapon skins. To help players plan their objectives, a sneak peek at every Tier Reward is also provided at the start of the season.

Its role as a true badge of honor is further cemented by the fact that the Top 500 Bonus Rewards, which were previously given to all Top 500 players, will now only be given to those at the Master Tier and above.

Rewards for Ranked Play Points Players of all skill levels may establish and accomplish their own goals using the Ranked Play Point Rewards, which are obtained by accruing points during Ranked play. Players of all skill levels are urged to give it their all in every match since their performance determines how many Ranked Play Points they receive, and they will be rewarded for it.

Level Defense
To help reduce the tiredness that comes with Ranked play, we’re also adding the Tier Protection system in addition to the revamp of prizes. Since PUBG is a battle royale game and survival depends on luck, it’s possible that you’ve played a match or two when luck took precedence over talent. In order to solve this, Tier Protection offers you a second opportunity and serves as a safety measure to save you from being demoted right away after achieving your ideal tier. With the help of this function, you should find reaching higher stages less daunting and more inspiring when you challenge yourself.

In other words, Tier Protection guards against tier demotions by keeping your RP from falling below the minimum for your current tier in the case that match outcomes cause your RP to vary.

RP Framework
More has to be done to make Ranked a demanding and esteemed competition. The 30.1 update will not contain the RP system changes that we piloted in April because the trial period has finished. We’ll carefully review the last two months’ worth of data, make the required corrections, and relaunch them in August.

In other words, Tier Protection guards against tier demotions by keeping your RP from falling below the minimum for your current tier in the case that match outcomes cause your RP to vary.

RP Framework
More has to be done to make Ranked a demanding and esteemed competition. The 30.1 update will not contain the RP system changes that we piloted in April because the trial period has finished. We’ll carefully review the last two months’ worth of data, make the required corrections, and relaunch them in August.

Bringing Down the Wall
Since Ranked, as previously said, better captures the essence of PUBG’s gameplay, we are redesigning it and fortifying the bond between Ranked, Normal Match, and Esports. In order to guarantee efficient skill-based matching for Ranked, a sufficiently enough player base is required.
In order to decrease the entrance barrier, we are thus providing BATTLEGROUNDS Plus at a discounted price during Update 30.1. The next June Store Update 2024 will have further information. Since this change isn’t meant to be a sales pitch, it will initially only be applicable to PC platforms. Talks are now on to expand its application to console platforms as well.

We think that Ranked should be compelling enough to encourage you to upgrade to Battlegrounds Plus and raise your Survival Mastery Level, therefore we will keep working to make it better.