PUBG Celebrates 9th Anniversary with Major 40.2 Update
KRAFTON has officially launched the 9th anniversary celebration update for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, marking nine years since the battle royale game first entered early access on March 23, 2017. The game, which once held the record for highest concurrent players on PC platforms with 3.25 million users, has expanded across multiple platforms and content types to become the core pillar of the PUBG IP series. The 40.2 version update transforms the game into a festive celebration with numerous anniversary-themed additions and gameplay improvements across multiple maps and modes.
The update introduces extensive anniversary content throughout the game. Spawn areas now feature 9th anniversary statues that transform into a player’s likeness when hit nine times with holographic flashbangs. A celebratory drone light show further enhances the festive atmosphere. For the first time, players can obtain a free “Event Pass: ALL DAY Party” simply by logging in, which offers rewards including ALLDAY PROJECT items, emotes, G-Coin, and BP upon completing missions. The Rondo map receives particularly heavy decoration with anniversary pop-up shops and congratulatory message displays appearing throughout the location.
Special gameplay elements have been added for the anniversary. “PUBG Man” enemies now appear in Rondo, and defeating these fleeing foes yields “Lucky Eggs” that can be opened for one of 13 random rewards including weapons, level 3 gear, and special 9th anniversary ghillie suits. Lucky Eggs can also be obtained via pop-up shop roulettes, while special anniversary supply crates have been added to Rondo. The Vikendi map receives significant changes in version 40.2, with secret rooms and lockers now containing new items like signal interference backpacks, emergency call devices, foldable shields, and mountain bikes to enhance strategic options.
Several quality-of-life improvements accompany the anniversary content. Previously locked doors in certain Vikendi buildings that required crowbars have been changed to regular doors, optimizing space utilization. Arcade mode receives optimizations with adjusted map frequency for Team Deathmatch and improved supply crate configurations in War Mode. PC players gain new creator information features in the UGC initial version, supporting mode name settings and creator designation, along with “Erangel: Zero Project” related items. Chinese players receive exclusive benefit codes and prize draws as part of the regional celebration. The anniversary update demonstrates PUBG’s continued evolution nine years after its groundbreaking debut in the battle royale genre.
