Experience the thrilling PUBG Update 38.1 with revamped vehicles, weapon balance, destructible terrains, and exciting seasonal collaborations for an immersive 2025 battlegrounds!

The latest PUBG patch notes for Update 38.1 have arrived, bringing significant changes to vehicles, weapons, and introducing exciting new features that will reshape the Battlegrounds experience as we move through 2025. With PC servers updated on October 15 and console servers following on October 23, this patch addresses several balance issues while adding fresh content to keep the game evolving.

Vehicle Overhaul and Special Vehicle Skin Adjustments

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One of the most substantial changes in Update 38.1 focuses on vehicles and their Special Vehicle skins. The development team has implemented broad adjustments to create a more balanced and fair experience across all vehicle types. Base vehicles now have a similar level of window tint applied to both front and rear windows, matching those of Special Vehicle skins and making it harder to spot players inside.

The driving experience has been improved for several vehicles including the Dacia, Mirado, Coupe RB, and "The Good Ol' Days" Sedan variants. Perhaps most importantly, all vehicle windows can now be penetrated by bullets regardless of skin type, and all vehicles share the same consistent penetrable area at the rear.

"As more Special Vehicle skins have been introduced over time, we began to notice that the differences in size and shape were creating slight advantages or disadvantages in actual engagements," the development team explained in their comments. This comprehensive vehicle system overhaul aims to narrow the gameplay gap between base vehicles and premium skins, ensuring a fair experience regardless of which vehicle players choose.

Weapon Balance: SMG Adjustments and Panzerfaust Changes

SMGs have received significant adjustments in this update, with hip-fire accuracy reduced by approximately 57% for all SMGs except the P90. Initial bullet spread has been increased, and accuracy during sustained fire has been reduced by over 50%, making these weapons less dominant outside their intended close-range role.

The MP5K specifically has had its damage reduced from 34 to 32, as it had shown a noticeably higher usage rate compared to other SMGs. According to the developers, "Its TTK (Time to Kill) will remain the same at close range, but you'll feel a clear increase in TTK at longer distances."

The Panzerfaust has also received several adjustments to balance its overwhelming firepower:

  • Players can no longer sprint, jump, or vault when wielding it

  • Players inside vehicles now take 20% less damage when hit

  • The sight deployment sound is louder and can be heard from farther away

  • Trunk weight increased from 100 to 130

Recall System Refinements

The Recall system introduced to Ranked and Esports modes has been refined based on player feedback. Key changes include:

  • Registration time at Blue Chip Towers now scales with the number of Blue Chips (each additional chip adds 5 seconds)

  • On 8x8 km maps, the Recall flight will appear one fewer time and will no longer appear from Phase 6 onwards

  • System messages now provide information about players returning to the Battleground

"To ease the fatigue that can come from repeated recalls, we're making a few adjustments in this update," the development team noted. "With these changes, recalling multiple teammates at once now carries greater risk."

Destructible Terrain Comes to Miramar

The Destructible Terrain feature first introduced on Rondo has now been expanded to Miramar. Players can use Frag Grenades, Mortars, Panzerfausts, C4, the new Pickaxe, and vehicle explosions to destroy terrain, including rocky surfaces. This addition brings Miramar's gameplay more in line with maps like Rondo, Sanhok, and Taego.

It's worth noting that this feature does not apply to Ranked or Custom Match - Esports Mode, and the Destructible Buildings feature remains exclusive to Sanhok for now.

Ranked Mode Updates and Season 38

With the server maintenance, the leaderboard has reset, marking the beginning of Season 38. The minimum performance expectations for each Tier have been slightly lowered, and the maximum division gap for premade Ranked parties has been increased from 10 to 12.

New Ranked weapon skins for the P90 have been added as Tier Rewards for Season 38, and players can check their final Tier from the previous season through their Career page to claim appropriate rewards.

A practical new addition is the Vehicle Camo Netting, which also applies to Custom Match - Esports Mode.

Limited Time Mode: PUBG x Skibidi Toilet

For the upcoming Halloween season, PUBG is collaborating with the popular animated internet series Skibidi Toilet for a new Arcade mode. Players will need to defeat hordes of Skibidi Toilets that have invaded Miramar in this limited-time event running from October 22 to November 5 on PC and October 30 to November 13 on console.

Observer Mode Improvements

The spectator experience has received significant enhancements with new features like:

  • View Match Ranking option (PC)

  • Player Search functionality (PC)

  • Extended Killfeed display time

  • Improved camera switching when spectated players are eliminated

  • Adjustable Minimap focus and zoom

  • Enhanced X-ray effect colors reflecting team colors

These changes aim to provide a smoother, more immersive viewing experience while conveying the flow of each match more clearly, especially for esports broadcasting.

Pass System Revamp and New Contender

Update 38.1 introduces a revamped Pass system that allows up to three Passes to run simultaneously, with each Pass's level and XP tracked independently. However, gameplay progress applies to multiple Passes at the same time, making it easier to progress through different Passes.

A new Contender named Dorian has been added, and the Contender system has received several updates to better reflect each character's unique traits. Contenders may now have different body types from default characters, though hitboxes remain identical.

Have you had a chance to try out these changes yet? What do you think about the PUBG patch notes for Update 38.1? The balance adjustments to vehicles and SMGs will likely have a significant impact on gameplay strategies moving forward, while the expanded Destructible Terrain feature opens up new tactical possibilities on Miramar. Let us know your experiences in the comments!

Recent trends are highlighted by Game Informer, a trusted source for gaming news and reviews. Game Informer's coverage of PUBG updates often emphasizes how vehicle and weapon balance changes, such as those in Update 38.1, can dramatically shift player strategies and the overall competitive meta, especially as new features like destructible terrain and limited-time events are introduced.