PUBG is getting itself a spinoff in the form of PUBG: Blindspot—an upcoming tactical shooter with a top-down twist. Krafton's latest take on the PUBG universe has the potential to breathe new life into the franchise, with a demo available now for players to checkout.
Introduced to the world as Project ARC, PUBG: Blindspot is a spinoff from the original PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, one that takes place in the same universe but with an entirely different gameplay direction. Blindspot will be a top-down, tactical shooter (which will also feature hero shooter elements), and it has the potential to bring mainstream attention back to the IP that kicked off the battle royale craze. The Best War Games sat down with BLINDSPOT's production director, Seungmyeong Yang, who spoke more about what fans can expect from the title's development and full release.
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How PUBG: Blindspot Ties Into PUBG
Q: What went into the decision to make PUBG: Blindspot a PUBG spinoff? Has this always been the plan, or was Project ARC originally intended to be a new IP?
A: PUBG: BLINDSPOT was developed through KRAFTON’s gaming incubation program. We discovered an interesting cooperative gunplay model where teammates share a vision in a top-down view, and through the process of refining the best way to implement this concept, the game took its current shape.
The core gunplay mechanics originated from PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, and since PUBG STUDIOS has expertise in PvP shooters, we officially began development under PUBG STUDIOS. After open discussions, we decided to include "PUBG" in the title to clearly communicate that it is a shooter developed by PUBG STUDIOS. Ultimately, this project was not originally conceived with a specific original IP in mind.
Q: How closely is PUBG: BLINDSPOT tied to the original PUBG: Battlegrounds? How does it relate to that game’s lore?
A: PUBG: BLINDSPOT’s setting is based on a dystopian future that is slightly ahead of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS. In this world, the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS tournament serves as a means of social mobility, while Tythonic wields power through Blue Chip technology. While this is the central premise, the story is not yet fully finalized, and aspects of it may be adjusted in the future.
Blindspot's Development After Its Demos
Q: Fans were able to try out a demo of PUBG: Blindspot back in February. How does that demo compare to the version of the game shown off back in November? How much has changed?
A: The biggest change is the introduction of faster matchmaking, making the game more accessible to a wider audience. Additionally, two new characters have been added, bringing the total number of playable characters to 10, along with new gadgets tailored to them. A new map for Team Deathmatch Mode has been introduced, as well as two new maps for Demolition Mode. In this mode, two teams of five face off in attack and defense roles. The attacking team must place a "Decrypter" on a device called the "Crypt" to initiate hacking and defend it until the process is complete. The defending team must prevent the Decrypter from being installed or stop the attackers before they can successfully activate it.
Q: Can you speak on any long-term plans for PUBG: Blindspot?
A: Until now, our focus has been on rapidly implementing and showcasing gameplay, so many aspects outside the core gameplay loop are still incomplete. There is still a lot of work to be done to enhance graphics quality, immersion, and in-game communication. Many players expected the game to be a casual experience due to its top-down perspective, but found it to be different from their initial expectations. As a result, one of our key goals is to refine onboarding systems to help new players adapt more smoothly. That being said, PUBG: BLINDSPOT’s core gameplay remains a hardcore PvP shooter where tactics and action are tightly intertwined, and this core identity will not change.
Q: Can you discuss the customization options that will be available for players?
A: Currently, customization options are very limited, but we plan to expand them in the future. During the Steam Next Fest, we received a lot of feedback requesting features such as character skins, weapon modding, and crosshair customization. We are positively considering these suggestions.
Q: What game modes will PUBG: Blindspot launch with?
A: At this stage, we are not developing PUBG: BLINDSPOT with the goal of supporting a wide variety of game modes. Instead, our focus is on refining and polishing the existing modes. As a result, the game will likely launch with the two current modes. We have received a lot of requests for additional modes, and while there are many great ideas, we must carefully consider potential drawbacks, such as splitting the matchmaking queue.
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PUBG: BLINDSPOT Will Take On Some Hero Shooter Elements
Q: PUBG: Blindspot’s different characters grant it some hero shooter elements. How much impact will this aspect have on gameplay and the title’s future?
A: PUBG: BLINDSPOT incorporates hero shooter elements, so every new character must be carefully designed to ensure unique appeal and gameplay differentiation. We need to consider how each character’s weapons and gadgets contribute to the game, as well as whether their silhouettes remain visually distinct in combat.
As more characters are added, designing new ones becomes increasingly challenging. However, I personally believe that the PUBG IP’s identity lies in ordinary people wielding firearms. That’s why we want the characters to be regular individuals from this world who each have their own preferred weapons and gadgets, rather than superheroes with supernatural abilities. This is the direction we are taking in development.
Q: Following on from that, what part of this format made it appealing for PUBG: Blindspot' s top-down tactical shooting? Were options outside of 5v5 considered?
A: Our development approach is not based on assumptions about what format might be fun. Instead, we prototype multiple possibilities and select the one that feels the most enjoyable. We confirmed that playing a high-action, top-down shooter with a shared vision among teammates was engaging, so we experimented with various gameplay rules. Through this process, we found that combat in destructible indoor environments was the most enjoyable, which led us to refine team size, map scale, and destruction mechanics—eventually shaping the current format. As a result, we have tested other formats beyond 5v5, but at present, we believe that the current 5v5 format is the most enjoyable.
Q: What inspired the top-down perspective?
A: First-person shooters create a highly immersive experience, but they can also be mentally demanding and make it harder to maintain full awareness of the battlefield. Success in a shooter isn’t just about fast reflexes—it also comes from understanding the battlefield, working effectively with teammates, and executing well-planned strategies. A top-down perspective naturally enhances these elements, providing greater tactical depth, more cohesive teamwork, and quicker decision-making. That said, many top-down military shooters have struggled to capture the intensity and impact of gunplay. We wanted to design a system where players could still rely on precise aiming and shooting skills to win engagements, ensuring that tactics and action complement each other seamlessly. This led to the development of PUBG: BLINDSPOT’s unique 3D aiming system, tailored for a top-down perspective. While the mechanics may feel a bit unconventional at first, with some practice, players will quickly gain a clear sense of battlefield awareness while still enjoying the distinct, satisfying gunplay that defines the game.
Q: The messaging around PUBG: Blindspot has really leaned into the ‘realism’ of its gunplay. What was the research process like when it came to refining this element of the game?
A: The gunplay in PUBG: BLINDSPOT draws on insights and expertise from PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS. Given the limited access to real firearm training in Korea, we’ve worked closely with developers who have hands-on experience with PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS to refine our approach.
That said, the top-down perspective makes it difficult to replicate the full realism of handling firearms. Instead, we’ve fine-tuned various factors—such as horizontal and vertical recoil, weapon sway intensity, and firing mechanics—to ensure that shooting retains its impact even from a top-down view. Right now, our focus is on enhancing the distinct feel and impact of each weapon. If weapon modding is introduced in the future, we plan to explore how different attachments affect recoil, sound design, and visual effects to further refine the experience.
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- Developer(s)
- ARC Team, PUBG Corporation
- Publisher(s)
- Krafton
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Franchise
- PUBG
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Shooter, Action, Multiplayer
