PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Xbox One Review

"Tactical Battle Royale"

Multiplayer

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is a tactical battle royale title that has finally released from Xbox Game Preview. This is a simple title in terms of what the general concept is. You pick a map playlist and then hop into a lobby to wait as others join. You can battle alone in a free for all, in pairs of two for the duos or as a squad of four for the squads. The grouping size does dramatically alter the combat situations and there's an option for whatever party you're heading in there with or searching for.

The general goal is to be the last individual or team standing, this is achieved by eliminating everyone else anyway you can. You're all dropped into a large landmass and are constantly pushed inwards by a storm. Along the way you gather loot and attempt to survive using tactical means. It doesn't have a lot of complexity to it, but there's a lot of depth in the tactical elements of how you keep yourself alive. The strategy you are using is always changing as well based on the location you end up in or the loot you end up with towards the final battle.

Gameplay

The performance of PUBG is hit or miss, at times it runs decently though during other moments it does have some problems. It's fine enough at the point of launch and it does look quite good on Xbox One X visually. They give a great sense of distance with excellent rendering and this is important for long distance weapons. The provided maps each offer something new and it's great to have a choice for how you'd like to play. There are two large maps of varying styles and a smaller jungle one that provides even faster combat. The worlds are largely open, but feature many buildings that can all be explored and some landmark areas to check out.

You're free to drop out with a parachute anywhere so strategies are built based on where you choose to land. The UI is well tuned and provides the fast switching of items which is essential. It's easy to understand and they've got the controller down well with many hotkey options. You're able to get varying gear types and enhance weapons with attachments. Occasionally cargo drops also mix things up with even better items. The looting seems well spaced out and it works fairly. The movement feels good whether you're running, using prone or driving a vehicle to hit folks.

The Conclusion

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds isn't a perfect game, but it does battle royale right with a tactical style and few titles provide this addicting of an atmosphere. I've spent countless hours playing this with others, whether that's friends or randoms online. It's an easy and accessible title that doesn't take much dedication to enjoy. It's an equal battle and one that has had some solid improvements towards the final release.

The selection of maps are great, they each offer something different in terms of gameplay. The visuals are solid on Xbox One X with some performance issues here or there. It has come a long way on Xbox One and this final iteration is solid. It's quite enjoyable if you like battle royale and a mature tactical version of it.

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PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds Review on Xbox One X
Review Code Provided by Microsoft

Rating Overall: 8.8