PUBG cuts its machine gun experiment short after the weapons became too strong, while vehicles get tougher
PUBG is ending its light machine gun experiment earlier than planned after the weapons became stronger than the developers intended. Update 44.1 rolls back changes to the M249 and MG3 while increasing vehicle health, giving players more protection when crossing the map.
The PC update follows November 4 maintenance, scheduled from midnight to 8:30 a.m. UTC. Console maintenance is scheduled for November 12. The developer notes that maintenance times and update features can change.
It is a substantial shift for players who adapted their loadouts around the machine guns introduced into the spotlight in August. PUBG’s team says the changes narrowed weapon choice instead of encouraging the variety it wanted.
Why the machine gun rotation is ending early
The August meta rotation adjusted light machine gun behavior to encourage different playstyles. In its 44.1 patch notes, the team says the weapons became a stronger-than-intended choice and decided to bring that first rotation to an early close.
The M249 and MG3 return to their pre-August balance. That rollback covers reload time, recoil, aiming speed, damage against vehicles, recoil control by firing stance and world spawn amounts. The RPD, added in August, is being adjusted to a similar level as the other light machine guns.
The developers have not abandoned the idea of changing the meta. They say they will review the duration and format and return with a new approach in 2027.
Vehicles gain health and a harder mode returns
Vehicle health rises by 8% to 15%, depending on the vehicle. Motorcycles and buggies get an 8% increase, the Dacia and UAZ are among those receiving 10%, and vans and food trucks get 15%. Some tires also become more durable, although the amount varies considerably by vehicle.
The BRDM-2 gets better acceleration, hill climbing and maximum speed. Vans, Pico Buses and food trucks gain trunks with a capacity of 300, while the Coupe RB’s trunk capacity increases from 100 to 120.
There is also a temporary PvE challenge for squads. Dawnbreakers of Rondo returns with a single Nightmare difficulty focused on Jadena City, tougher enemies and no difficulty scaling for smaller teams. On PC, the mode runs after maintenance until November 25 at 7 a.m. UTC.
