KRAFTON, Inc. has released Update 42.1 for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, introducing improvements to the Ranked system.
Ranked Season 42 will run for three months, longer than usual, as part of preparations for the upcoming Ranked revamp. The update introduces adjustments to the Rank Point (RP) system with a greater emphasis on survival, one of the core elements of Battle Royale gameplay.
Final placement now carries greater weight in RP calculations, and additional RP can be earned by achieving high placements in consecutive matches. Secret Rooms have also been added to Ranked and Custom Matches – Esports Mode. Other updates include:
- Black Market 2026 has arrived. As previously outlined in the 2026 Roadmap, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS has removed the previous two-step probability structure involving Loot Caches and Prime Parcels. Players can now obtain Progressive weapon skins and other rewards directly from a single Cargo.
- A new Workshop page, Supply Bay, has also been introduced, bringing together the entire process—from opening Cargo and viewing results to claiming milestone rewards—into one streamlined experience. Returning Progressive weapon skins include Demon’s Touch – ACE32, Rest in Pink – Dragunov, Yule Sleigh – Mini14, and Neon Dream – AUG, alongside newly released Chromas.
- The Blue Zone system has also been updated. In Normal Match, the Blue Zone has been adjusted to create more space for late-game engagements while maintaining the overall match duration.
- In Ranked, selected phase timings have been shortened to improve overall match pacing, while Safe Zone placement adjustments have been reduced to increase unpredictability. In addition, Blue Zone damage now scales based on the amount of time spent inside the Blue Zone rather than distance from the Safe Zone.
Additional updates include the introduction of Interactive Smoke, the new PUBG Nations Cup (PNC) Fantasy League, SLR balance adjustments, and the limited-time Ally Duo mode in Arcade.
