The “charmingly tacky” aspects of the original Erangel are combined with more contemporary gameplay features in Erangel Classic.
Somehow, PUBG: Battlegrounds is old enough to make you feel nostalgic. Taking a cue from Fortnite, the groundbreaking battle royale game that launched in 2017 will pay tribute to its debut map. For just two weeks in May and June, Erangel Classic will re-create the classic battleground from the game’s beginning.
The Erangel Classic map, according to developer and publisher Krafton, will mimic the original’s ideas, visuals, ambiance, and user interface. To provide “the enjoyable gameplay experiences that players have grown accustomed to,” it will combine those with “modern tweaks.” Put another way, the objective is to feel as near to the original as possible while keeping all of the game’s small quality-of-life enhancements from its evolution, much like remasters of other old games.
If the redesigned map concept seems familiar, it should because late last year Fortnite broke player records by bringing back its original 2018 island map. (It reached its highest player count of 44.7 million on its peak day.) Why Krafton would want a cut of that action is understandable.
Rainy and foggy conditions are deliberate homages to the original map, which adds to its sense of unpredictability. Additionally, all weapons will have decreased recoil to match the original, and bench weapons will be available on the starting island. Prepare to scurry for your favourite. Along with a vintage map user interface, a Tommy Gun, and “charmingly tacky font and graphics,” it will also come with a care package.
The game will be released in stages on PCs and consoles at various dates, giving players who own it on multiple platforms more time to play (and maybe even helping Krafton sell a few more in-game things). In PUBG: Battlegrounds, Erangel Classic will be playable on PC from May 14 to May 28 and on consoles from May 23 to June 6, taking the place of the current Erangel map. Keep a look out for Krafton’s May 14 patch notes, which will go into further detail regarding every change made to the map.