PUBG Black Budget This is one of the games of 2025 that surprised me, but not in a good way. This is an upcoming extraction shooter, and since its name is PUBG, I have high expectations for it. For those new to the extraction shooter genre or its gameplay loop, it’s pretty simple.

You spawn on a deserted island that happens to be stuck in a time loop. The goal is simple. Arrive at the island, loot items, complete quests, contracts, and get out alive. What’s next? Well, after completing these tasks you will get XP and coins.

You can then use this loot to upgrade your gear. In some cases, you can even sell your loot to make quick cash and buy the items you need to upgrade your gear.

This is the basic game loop. You should now have a basic understanding of how headers work. But the question is, how does it play? Don’t worry, we’ll discuss this further below. For this article, I’m going to keep it simple. We’ll start by discussing my first impressions of it, then what I liked about it, and finally what I didn’t like about the game. Don’t worry, I’ll keep it short and try to avoid spoilers.

So, without further ado, let’s get started with the preview of PUBG Black Budget.


PUBG Black Budget – My first impressions

The first time I launched PUBG Black Budget, the game crashed. In short, it was a disappointing start. However, the game is still in its infancy, and the alpha version doesn’t necessarily reflect the final product.

So, I tried again. This time it started normally. I was introduced to a short movie that explained the premise of the game. As promised, I won’t go into the background here, but suffice to say it’s a solid start. Skip the character customization part of the game, black budget Looks great so far!

Tutorial section in PUBG Black Budget (picture from KRAFTON)Tutorial section in PUBG Black Budget (picture from KRAFTON)
Tutorial section in PUBG Black Budget (picture from KRAFTON)

Then, it’s tutorial time. This section will help you familiarize yourself with the basics of game mechanics. These include looting, shooting, extraction, and importantly, the basics of inventory management.

The game then transfers you to your base, where you can set up a crafting station and access a terminal, which allows you to select missions, craft items, and perform many other aspects of the game, such as buying/selling items.

What follows is my first mission and hands-on PvPvE experience. We’ll talk more about this later.

Speaking of the tutorial part, it’s pretty well done. You won’t learn everything it has to offer, but you’ll get the hang of it. The real learning happens after you actually play the game.

For me, it took me a while to understand the basics of inventory. I sincerely believe that this is the case for most people who have played casual extraction shooters like ARC Raiders. Call of Duty: DMZ.

Predating wild animals in “PUBG Black Budget” (picture from KRAFTON)Predating wild animals in “PUBG Black Budget” (picture from KRAFTON)
Predating wild animals in “PUBG Black Budget” (picture from KRAFTON)

On the other hand, if you’ve played a game like Escape from Tarkov, you won’t find too many problems with it. In fact, you might prefer Black Budget’s stripped-down system.

All in all, this tutorial is well done. It taught me almost everything I needed to know to hit Coli Island for the first time. This is great and popular for newcomers and veterans alike.

Now, let’s take a deeper look at the game and explore what I liked and didn’t like about Black Budget.


Explore the pros and cons of PUBG Black Budget

In this section, I’m going to share my two thoughts on what I like and what I don’t like about various aspects of the game. Let’s start with the things to say yes to PUBG Black Budget.

PUBG Black Budget Do the right thing

The game gets a few things right. The first is the inventory system. It may take newcomers a while to understand and use it correctly, but once they do, they’ll be obsessed with managing their inventory. For players looking for something more realistic, this is a great start.

Coli Island in PUBG Black Budget (picture from KRAFTON)Coli Island in PUBG Black Budget (picture from KRAFTON)
Coli Island in PUBG Black Budget (picture from KRAFTON)

The next thing Black Budget does right is create a mysterious world. Navigation on Kohli Island is complex. Now, many readers may disagree with me, but I firmly believe that making the map more confusing and difficult to navigate is a step in the right direction, making it more immersive, at least for the themes this game is pursuing.

There is danger around every corner. Remember, this is a PvPvE game. Therefore, you’re put into a situation where you not only have to worry about the island’s mutated wildlife, but also other players.

This adds a lot of excitement. It makes things grounded and immersive, but also scary at the same time.

Explore the world of PUBG Black Budget (Image from KRAFTON)Explore the world of PUBG Black Budget (Image from KRAFTON)
Explore the world of PUBG Black Budget (Image from KRAFTON)

Best of all, the game looks really great when using the highest or maximum graphics settings. Luckily, if it doesn’t work properly on your device, you can also scale it down and it maintains its overall appearance. Sure, things might look a little confusing, or some details might be missing, but for the FPS boost, the deal is worth it.

Graphics settings that scale well are always a good sign for online gaming.

In addition, it provides free equipment for players to carry, and depending on your score in different factions, you can get better equipment. This allows new players or casual fans to learn about the game without risking their entire inventory. We highly appreciate this.

Unfortunately, that’s all the good stuff I have to say right now. Frankly, there’s nothing else in the game right now that’s any fun.


Some issues in “PUBG Black Budget”

PUBG Black Budget More things are done wrong than right. The gameplay felt clunky, at least in the last alpha test. The movements were a little shaky and not smooth at all. Traveling across Coli Island becomes a chore rather than an adventure – not because of a bad map, but because of the movement mechanics.

But that’s not all. With the name “PUBG”, I expected the shootout to shine. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Discussing the shootout in PUBG Black Budget (picture from KRAFTON)Discussing the shootout in PUBG Black Budget (picture from KRAFTON)
Discussing the shootout in PUBG Black Budget (picture from KRAFTON)

Somehow the gunfight felt worse. Forget about the smooth gunplay mechanics implemented by the developers PUBG. It feels terrible to be in this game, and frankly one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had.

In fact, even as someone who loves shooters, when I play more, I avoid shooting at all costs. It’s inconsistent, and most of the hit registration is off.

I don’t know what happens to the community later on, but in alpha testing you had to be the first to shoot and ask later or you would die. It’s that simple. Diplomacy had no chance.

Now let’s talk about extraction. Frankly, extraction here is not exciting. If you have a ton of loot, you’ll be scared out of your mind, but honestly, that’s it. In short, the experience was pretty bland. That said, the game allows for multiple extraction methods.

Extraction through wormhole (picture from KRAFTON)Extraction through wormhole (picture from KRAFTON)
Extraction through wormhole (picture from KRAFTON)

One of the extraction methods requires you to enter a portal. My problem is that it currently takes a lot of time. I’m sure the developers could make some adjustments to the timing of various in-game events to make it a comprehensive and streamlined experience.

Loot generation and distribution are inappropriate. Many house structures exist on the map but are inaccessible. This is actually a step back for PUBG. Why are these structures being built if we can’t even access them? No, you don’t need any special keys or secret routes to enter these houses. They are simply inaccessible. They exist for the sake of existing.


PUBG Black Budget: Should you be excited about this game?

In short, no, at least not in its current state. With the rise of extraction shooters, this game feels like a quick cash grab thrown together at the last minute.

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It’s an extremely rough experience and the game lacks soul. The story and maps are well crafted, but that’s about it. with games like ARC strategyArena of Valor , Delta Force , Escape from Tarkov and Hunt: Showdown are already on the market, I don’t think Black Budget makes any sense.

It doesn’t give players any new experiences and doesn’t respect your time. With so much experience to explore, I think the developers need to make a lot of changes to make it more engaging.

You might say it has mutated animals and zombies to fight against. Sure, but would it make the game better? Hunter: Showdown does this better. Even MWZ’s Call of Duty offers a better experience.

PUBG Black Budget doesn’t seem to cater to a hardcore audience, nor is it really a casual-friendly game. So, I don’t see what segment of the market it’s trying to capture or appeal to.

If PUBG Black Budget wants to continue being a live game today, it needs to go back into the oven and undergo a complete overhaul.


Played on: Windows computer

platform: Microsoft Windows

Developer: PUBG Corporation

Publisher: Krafton

Release date: TBD