PUBG SPECIAL FREE TO PLAY TRANSITION PACK gave eligible owners a free BATTLEGROUNDS Plus upgrade; PS players had to claim it by 2022.

Hello, Survivors — or maybe I should say hello, fellow players who are looking back at one of PUBG's strangest little moments. I was there for the free-to-play transition chatter, and I still remember how the SPECIAL FREE TO PLAY TRANSITION PACK felt like a loyalty badge for anyone who had already owned and played PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS before the switch. In 2026, this is ancient history, but it is still a useful story because it shows how a big platform transition can create a pile of confusing rules. If you are reading an old guide and wondering whether you can still grab the pack: no, you cannot. The window closed years ago. But let me walk you through what it was, how it worked, and why PlayStation players had one extra step.

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The basic idea was simple. Anyone who owned and played PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS before the free-to-play service transition was eligible for the PUBG – SPECIAL FREE TO PLAY TRANSITION PACK. That pack included a free BATTLEGROUNDS Plus upgrade and various rewards. On most platforms, those benefits arrived automatically after the transition. On PlayStation, however, you had to claim the pack in advance. That one detail caused a lot of confusion, and I remember seeing players ask about it again and again.

Here is the PlayStation claim flow as it was described:

  • Go to PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS in-game STORE – ADD-ONS.

  • Select PUBG – SPECIAL FREE TO PLAY TRANSITION PACK.

  • You could also find the pack under CUSTOMIZE – UTILITY – CRATES.

  • The crate could not be opened.

  • The DLC could not be purchased from the PlayStation™ Store. It was only available from the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS in-game store.

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The claim window was free of charge, but it was also very much a limited-time thing. Here is the schedule I remember from the original announcement:

Time zone Claim window
PST December 12, 2021 11 PM – January 10, 2022 11 AM
CET December 13, 2021 8 AM – January 10, 2022 8 PM
KST December 13, 2021 4 PM – January 11, 2022 4 AM

After the free-to-play transition on January 12, 2022, the BATTLEGROUNDS Plus account upgrade was applied automatically with the game launch. Rewards apart from BATTLEGROUNDS Plus could be found under CUSTOMIZE – UTILITY, and you needed to open the crates to acquire the items. That is a small but important distinction: the upgrade was automatic, but the extra items still lived in crates. I remember thinking that was a very PUBG way to handle a loyalty reward — half automatic, half scavenger hunt.

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There was also a streaming catch. PS Now streaming play did not support DLC purchases, so rewards could not be claimed through streaming play. Players had to download and install PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS on their PS4 or PS5 consoles to claim the rewards. In 2026, that sounds like a relic from another era, but at the time it was a real hurdle for anyone who mostly played through streaming. It is a good reminder that platform rules can quietly decide whether you get a reward or not.

So what does this mean for you now? If you are a newer player in 2026, the short answer is: nothing to claim. The transition pack was a one-time loyalty reward for pre-free-to-play owners, and the claim period ended in January 2022. You cannot buy it from the PlayStation™ Store, you cannot open an old crate, and you cannot retroactively qualify. If you see a video or post suggesting otherwise, it is either outdated or misunderstood. The only honest advice I can give is to enjoy the current game and ignore the old FOMO.

For me, the SPECIAL FREE TO PLAY TRANSITION PACK is a time capsule. It captures a moment when PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS was changing its business model, and the developers wanted to soften the landing for veteran players. I liked the gesture. I did not love the platform-specific hoops. But that is live-service gaming, isn't it? You get a free upgrade, a few crates, and a lesson in reading the fine print. In 2026, I look back at it with a shrug and a smile. See you on the battlegrounds — just not in that old claim screen.