The PUBG LMG meta is over. In a dev letter published on 3 November 2026, the PUBG team said it is ending the first LMG Meta Rotation early. Update 44.1 (PC live on 4 November, console on 12 November) puts the M249 and MG3 back to their pre-August balance and brings the RPD down to the same level.
What was the LMG Meta Rotation?
It started with the August update. The idea was to buff one weapon class for about four months, so players would use more than the usual ARs. KRAFTON picked LMGs because few players used them as a main weapon. The plan was to keep it running through December.
Why it ended early
KRAFTON's own data shows the buffs went too far. In Normal and Ranked:
- Before 42.3 (August): LMGs were 4.9% of weapon usage and ARs 50.9%.
- After 42.3: LMGs jumped to 27.0% and ARs fell to 34.5%.
- After the September 43.1 adjustments: LMGs dropped to 12.8% and ARs went back up to 46.1%.
KRAFTON says LMGs "could readily replace existing primary weapons" because they play a lot like ARs. That pushed out other weapons instead of adding variety. They also hurt vehicle play: vehicle explosions, tyre destruction and BRDM-related numbers all went up after August. KRAFTON says those numbers returned to pre-August levels after the September update.
What changes in Update 44.1
- LMG reload time, recoil, ADS speed, damage multiplier against vehicles, recoil reduction by firing stance and world spawn rates go back to their pre-August values.
- M249 and MG3 return to their pre-August balance.
- RPD is adjusted to match the existing LMGs.
- On top of that, vehicles get 8–15% more health and tougher tyres in 44.1.
Are Meta Rotations gone?
No. The team says it will rethink how big each rotation should be and how often the meta changes, and return with a new Meta Rotation in 2027.
Full 44.1 patch notes are in our other thread on the forum (PUBG Update 44.1 patch notes).
Did you main the RPD or M249 these last months? What should the next meta weapon class be: DMRs, SMGs or shotguns?
Source: https://pubg.com/en/news/11337 (PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Team, [Dev Letter] The End of the LMG Meta Rotation and What's Next)
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