PUBG update Xbox #6, PS4 #3 patch notes – new vehicles and performance improvements
The latest PUBG update is available on console now. Xbox update #6 and PS4 update #3 bring new vehicles, a new item, bug fixes and performance enhancements.
New vehicles – snowbike and zima
PC players will be familiar with the snow map vehicles, the snowbike and zima. Understandably so, they are both exclusive to Vikendi.
The snowbike actually replaces the traditional PUBG motorcycle, providing more grip. It also appears to offer slightly more speed than the snowmobile as well.
Elsewhere, the zima provides more protection. The four person vehicle is slower than the snowmobile or snowbike, but is definitely more adept for the snowy conditions of Vikendi.
Flare gun finally comes to console
The flare gun has been rumored to appear on Xbox and PS4 for months now. The latest update finally makes it a reality.
For those who don’t know, the flare gun allows you to call in a care package. They will bring you the usual care package special items or when used outside of the blue zone an armored UAZ.
Flare guns are ultra rare items due to the advantage they bring. Consequently, they will only spawn three times across the whole map. Moreover, because of the benefit they bring, the flare gun will only call in a care package if used after the first blue zone phase. Additionally, only two item based care packages can be called in per game.
The flare gun could be a game-changer on PUBG…
Changes to prone
The most significant gameplay change is how prone will work going forward. From this update, PUBG players will no longer be able to go prone on rugged terrain. When moving into rugged terrain while in the prone position, the player will change to the crouch position.
Xbox #6, PS4 #3 patch notes
On top of these changes, there are an array of bug fixes and perhaps more notably performance improvements. They should provide greater stability with the latter improving FPS.
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These changes, along with the above additions, are listed in the full patch notes below.
New Vehicle: Snowbike
- Added a new Vikendi exclusive vehicle, Snowbike.
- The Snowbike replaces motorbikes on Vikendi.
- What the Snowbike lacks in durability, it makes up for with high speed and great maneuverability.
New Vehicle: Zima
- The Zima replaces UAZs on Vikendi.
- It won’t have perfect control on Vikendi’s snowy plains. However, the 4×4 Zima is much easier to maneuver compared to other vehicles.
- While the Zima is relatively slow, it has high durability making it ideal for combat situations.
New Item: Flare Gun
- Added a new item, Flare Gun.
- Flare Guns can be rarely found on the map, with an average spawn rate of 3 Flare Guns per game for all maps
- When firing the Flare Gun inside the current safe zone, you’ll call in a special care package with valuable gear, or an armored UAZ when fired while outside the current safe zone.
- Flare Guns used in the early phase of the game often give a great advantage with little risk, therefore, the Flare Gun will only deliver a care package when used after the first blue zone phase.
- 2 special care packages and 2 armored UAZ can be called in per game total
- Care Package contents will include 1 set of item, regardless of the mode you’re playing (Solo/Duo/Squad)
Gameplay
- Improved reflective effects on the lens of scopes.
- Vehicle tires will now be destroyed immediately when a vehicle explodes.
- Modified conditions to prone, to prevent going prone on very rugged terrain.
- While prone and moving into a position where the character shouldn’t be able to prone, the character will automatically change to crouched position.
Performance
- Optimized character animations to improve performance.
- Completed AnimNode LOD optimization, which we previously introduced in Console Dev Report #3.
- When a character is very far away and takes up a small portion of the whole screen to the point where animations wouldn’t be visually noticeable, the animations are disabled, improving game performance.
- The more character models in an area which can have AnimNode LOD disabled, the higher performance gain compared to having AnimNode LOD enabled.
- For more insight, please take a look at our Console Dev Report #3.
- Improved FPS by optimizing the in-game tree and foliage rendering process.
- We improved the way similarly shaped trees and foliage render by further optimizing GPU Instance Culling, which we previously introduced in Console Dev Report #2.
- Trees with similar shapes are rendered using “instancing” and draw multiple trees at the cost of drawing a single tree, this heavily reduces GPU load.
- With GPU Instance Culling, only the objects that must be drawn on-screen are rendered, which dramatically decreases the GPU processing time and improves FPS.
- For more insight, please take a look at our Console Dev Report #2.
- Improved the game loading speed by optimizing the character loading process.
- Optimized the game server to improve performance.
- Optimized the hit criteria for Molotov when calculating character’s damage.
- Optimized certain elements of the HUD UI which were causing decreased performance.
Custom Match (XBOX ONLY)
- Fixed grammatical errors of certain texts within Custom Match UI
- System improvement: The result screen of a match has been separated from the session.
- When a custom match finishes, players will now be able to review the results screen for 10 minutes. The next custom match can be launched 1 minute after exiting the previous match.
Bug Fixes
- Fixed the issue where the S686 could sometimes be fired 3 times in a row due when a player had poor network connectivity.
- Fixed the issue of the loading screen image occasionally remaining in the lobby.
- Fixed the issue with character travelling certain distance with falling motion after landing.
- Fixed the issue of an abnormal character animation being shown when grabbing a Flare Gun in a specific position.
- Fixed the issue where swimming animation incorrectly displaying under certain circumstances.
- Fixed the issue of interaction highlight and button being shown for destroyed motorbikes and scooters.
- Fixed the issue of throwables becoming invisible after being thrown and switching to a different weapon.
- Fixed the issue of reticle brightness getting reset when switching scopes or picking up dropped weapons.
- Fixed the issue with moving to the mode selection screen instead of session list when entering or leaving a custom match session.
- Fixed the issue of raining effects being shown indoors.
- Fixed the issue of dead bodies making footstep sounds.
- Fixed the issue which could cause the remaining number of rounds in a magazine to be displayed incorrectly when reloading.
- Fixed the issue where you’d sometimes see a flickering afterimage when coming out of ADS mode with a scope attached in FPP
- Fixed the issue of an animation being displayed backwards when the character is armed with melee weapons and walking backwards.
- Fixed the issue of a character and its shadow not displaying some swimming animations in FPP mode.
- Fixed the issue which prevented switching helmets, vests and weapons when the inventory is full.
- Fixed the issue where a smoke grenade’s fuse starts to go off when touching the ground instead of when the pin is pulled out.
- Fixed the issue of being unable to switch weapons when pulling out the safety pin of a grenade.
- Fixed the issue with the name of two skins being identical.
- Fixed the issue where Molotov’s flame sound could be heard over a 1km radius.
- Fixed the issue of care package being stuck in an abnormal motion when obstructed from landing.
- Fixed the issue with characters attacking with fists instead of throwing throwables when a player had poor network connectivity.
- Fixed the issue where shadow intermittently appears to the door in Vikendi
- Fixed the issue which could cause grenades to deal damage through walls of certain buildings.