PUBG Update 44.1 patch notes are out. KRAFTON published them on 3 November 2026. The update ends the LMG Meta Rotation early, makes vehicles tougher, brings back two PvE modes on harder difficulties and starts Ranked Season 44. It also adds the PUBG x IVE collab.
When does PUBG 44.1 go live?
Live server maintenance (UTC, which is also UK time right now):
- PC: 4 November 2026, 00:00–08:30
- Console: 12 November 2026, 01:00–09:00
KRAFTON says these times may still change.
PUBG x IVE collab
The PUBG x IVE collaboration arrives with this update. According to the 44.1 highlights, three locations on Rondo are turned into IVE spaces: a special Emote Stage, an IVE-themed mansion, a spinning roulette and a heart-shaped pool. If you hit the Cupid Chicken Man with the crossbow on the starting island, you unlock temporary IVE outfits. We covered the announcement here: https://veteranii.com/forum/d/119-from-korea-pubg-x-ive-collab-announced-love-dive-arrives-on-4-november
LMG Meta Rotation ends: M249, MG3 and RPD nerfed
The first LMG Meta Rotation, which started with the August update, is ending early.
- LMG reload time, recoil, aiming speed, vehicle damage multiplier, recoil control by firing stance and world spawn amounts go back to their pre-August values.
- The RPD, added in August, is balanced to match the other LMGs.
KRAFTON says LMGs ended up "a stronger-than-intended option" and that a new Meta Rotation will come back in 2027 in a different format. We explain the dev letter in a separate thread.
Vehicle balance: more health and tougher tyres
- +8% health: Motorcycle, Scooter, Dirt Bike, Snowmobile, Motor Glider, Aquarail, Boat, Buggy, Quad
- +10% health: Pillar Security Car, Dacia, Mirado, Coupe RB, Pony Coupe, Tukshai, Zima, UAZ, Pickup, Rony, Blanc
- +15% health: Porter, Pico Bus, Van, Food Truck, Pillar UAZ, BRDM-2
- Tyre durability: Buggy, Pillar UAZ and Quad +7.5%; Zima, UAZ, Blanc, Rony and Pickup +30%; Porter, Food Truck, Van and Pico Bus +75%
- BRDM-2: better acceleration and hill climbing, plus a higher top speed
- Buggy: more tyre friction, so it slides less on some terrain
- Trunks: Van, Pico Bus and Food Truck now have a trunk (capacity 300). The Coupe RB trunk goes from 100 to 120.
Other gameplay changes
- Item spawns: items that spawn in the same area are spaced further apart, so they overlap or hide behind each other less often.
- Kicks: a kick no longer cancels your emote in the pre-match waiting area. A bug that pushed players too far on sloped ground is fixed.
- Spectating (PC): you can see the spectated player's Blue Chip count, and you can press I to open their inventory. You can also view an enemy player's inventory while spectating.
- Vehicle skins (PC): holding H opens the Vehicle Skin Radial even while you are crouched.
- PGC 2026 theme: the Starting Plane on every map and the map billboards get PGC 2026 branding. PUBG Fantasy returns for PGC 2026 on both PC and console, and KRAFTON will share details at the end of November.
- Rondo: destroyed terrain now has darker textures, so it is easier to spot.
HLB: Dawnbreakers of Rondo returns on Nightmare
- One difficulty only, Nightmare, played only on Jadena City (with Rondo on fire)
- Hungers are stronger, spawn more often and have more HP and attack power. You need more fuel canisters for the generators.
- The mode is balanced for a 4-player squad with no scaling, but you can still join solo.
- PC: 4 Nov (after maintenance) to 25 Nov, 07:00 UTC. Console: 12 Nov to 3 Dec, 07:00 UTC
Xeno Point: Hell
- A single Hell difficulty. Sector 1 plays like the old Normal, Sector 2 like Hard, and Sector 3 plus the Mothership like Impossible.
- Enemy HP, damage and currency now scale with squad size (1–4 players).
- Death penalty: when you die, you lose one random equipped weapon or piece of gear, plus your whole inventory.
- Reload invincibility with a vest is replaced by a temporary damage reduction.
- You can't use Contender skins or progressive weapon skins.
- PC: 18 Nov, 07:00 UTC to 2 Dec. Console: 26 Nov to 10 Dec
Ranked Season 44
- The permanent Tier Reward is a Ranked P90 weapon skin.
- The leaderboard resets with the maintenance.
- The minimum requirements for Platinum and above are higher.
Matchmaking changes
- PC: SA Duo (FPP) runs 12:00–07:00 UTC, NA Duo (FPP) 14:00–09:00 and KAKAO Duo 00:00–21:00.
- Console: NA Solo (FPP) and Duo (FPP) are removed, and so is APAC Duo. EU Duo on console now runs 08:00–00:00 UTC.
- Skill-based matchmaking for Normal matches is improved, so wait times may be longer in some modes.
Console controller fixes (PC gets them in 44.2)
- The tap vs hold detection time for gameplay actions drops from 0.3 s to 0.2 s, and for menu actions from 1.0 s to 0.5 s.
- The Message Radial now stays open after you release the R Stick.
Workshop, crates and other changes
- New items in Hunter's Chests: Survivor Pass: Off Range and True Elegance
- You can now use Special Disassembly on Contender items (Hanna, Dorian, Glasya) for Artisan Tokens.
- Crates being deleted in 44.2 (December): Steam Market trading for these crates and keys is restricted from this update. You get BP or G-Coin compensation in December, so use them or open them before then.
- PC confirmation shortcuts change from Space Bar to Enter. Voice chat quality and stability are improved.
- Fixes include unintended damage when jumping onto an Emergency Cover airdrop placed on moving vehicles, and the Void - Pan and Faded Ghost - AWM visual bugs.
Are you happy to see the LMGs nerfed, or did you enjoy the RPD meta? Tell us below.
Source: https://pubg.com/en/news/11338 (PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Team, Patch Notes - Update 44.1)
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— TyGaNu