PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Update 42.3 is bringing some extra firepower to the battleground, alongside a new home for community-made chaos.
KRAFTON has announced that the update adds the new RPD light machine gun, wider balance changes for the LMG weapon class and PUBG: Playgrounds, a new PC creative mode hub built around community-created content.
The RPD joins PUBG’s LMG line-up
The headline addition in PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Update 42.3 is the RPD, a new fully automatic light machine gun using 7.62mm ammunition.
It can be found across all maps and deals 43 damage, with a fire rate of 750 rounds per minute. Players can also equip the RPD with scopes up to 6x magnification, alongside magazines and stocks.
However, KRAFTON isn’t simply dropping another big gun into PUBG and calling it a day.
As per the press release, reload times across all LMGs have been reduced by 25%. Vertical recoil has also been adjusted to smooth out sustained fire, while maximum horizontal recoil variance has been reduced by around 30%.
In other words, LMGs should feel a little less determined to wrestle themselves out of your hands.
There is a catch for anyone planning some drive-by bullet spraying. When firing from a vehicle, bullet spread and recoil will now increase depending on how quickly the vehicle is moving.
PUBG: Playgrounds brings community modes into the game
Update 42.3 also introduces PUBG: Playgrounds on PC, giving players a dedicated hub for discovering community-created game modes.
Previously, accessing these experiences could require external websites or manually setting up custom matches. With PUBG: Playgrounds, players can instead browse modes directly through the PUBG Play menu and jump into recommended creations through matchmaking.
Featured PUBG: Playgrounds modes will come from several sources. These include selections from the UGC operations team and official contests, with new modes planned on a monthly basis.
KRAFTON will also add 30 winning entries from its global creative mode contest with CurseForge, which was announced on 5 August.
The aim is to put more community-made modes in front of players while creating stronger links between PUBG creators and the wider player base.
More quality-of-life changes and POBG
Elsewhere, Update 42.3 includes several smaller improvements.
A dedicated team selection UI should make it easier for hosts and players to choose or switch teams. Meanwhile, the results screen will now show the winning team, round-by-round results and final match results together.
Device icons have also received an update to improve readability and consistency.
Finally, PC players are getting POBG, a minigame designed to be played during server maintenance. It keeps track of each player’s best score, and ongoing sessions can continue even after maintenance has finished.
So, if PUBG itself temporarily shuts the doors, apparently the answer is simply more PUBG.