PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Update 42.2 introduces a rebuilt tutorial, beginner missions, new console graphics mode, and exciting gameplay changes.

Krafton just dropped a massive mid‑July patch for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, and whether you’re a fresh‑faced recruit or a battle‑hardened veteran, there’s plenty to dig into. Update 42.2 lands on PC starting July 15, 2026, and on consoles a few days later, bringing a completely rebuilt tutorial, a dedicated beginner mission track, a new graphics mode for console players, a reworked Rondo, a fierce new Contender, and two arcade modes that flip the usual Battle Royale script. Let’s break down everything that’s changed.

🎓 Brand‑New Basic Training — Your Friendly Bootcamp

If the old tutorial left you feeling like you were tossed off the plane without a parachute, the new Basic Training is here to catch you. Accessible through Play → Training → Basic Training, this revamped experience puts you in a duo with an NPC partner who guides you through 17 bite‑sized chapters. Voice‑over and radio message hints walk you through everything from basic movement and looting to surviving the Blue Zone, driving vehicles, reviving teammates, and even recalling downed squad members.

Each chapter presents a checklist of objectives—complete them all and you advance. If you get eliminated, don’t sweat it: you just restart that chapter from the beginning. At the end of a chapter, your performance earns a Clear Rank from B all the way up to S+, and returning to the lobby grants rewards tied to that rank. The whole experience takes around 10 minutes and is designed to feel like a real match, making it perfect for players who want to get comfortable with PUBG’s mechanics before jumping into the deep end.

📋 Beginner Training — Daily Missions for Everyone

To keep new players (and anyone who feels like sharpening up) engaged, the update also introduces the Beginner Training tab right at the top of the lobby. Over 14 days, a fresh set of missions drops on your first login after the patch, and you have 30 days to complete them all. Each daily mission gives a reward, and clearing the full daily checklist unlocks an extra bonus. It’s a low‑pressure way to earn loot while exploring different aspects of the game.

Pro tip: If you still have unclaimed rewards from the old tutorial system, grab them before the update. After July 15 they’re gone for good.

🖥️ Console Graphics Mode — Finally, That 120 FPS Smoothness

Console players, rejoice! Update 42.2 adds a long‑requested Graphics Mode setting on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PS5 Pro. You can now choose between two presets:

• Resolution Priority (default): sharp visuals and detail at a stable 60 FPS, works on any display.

• Framerate Priority: unlocks up to 120 FPS, but only on displays that support 120 Hz or higher refresh rates. You might need to disable HDR first for this option to appear.

Krafton says this is just the first step toward a better console experience, so keep an eye out for further enhancements.

🕹️ Smarter Controls and Smoother Menus

The user interface gets a generous dose of polish across both platforms. Inventory interactions on console have swapped: L3 and R3 inputs have been rearranged for better flow, and driving now switches between Aim and Driver modes with a double‑tap of R3 instead of a long hold. If you’re running a custom preset, you can now bind “show/hide teammate pings” and “show/hide flight path” to whatever buttons you like.

PC players benefit from the new tabbed World Map (M), Missions (U), and Match Log (Y) screen, which pulls all that info into one place. The old system menu shortcuts are gone, so you may need to rebind some keys, but it’s a much cleaner way to track your session.

📢 Radio Message & Action Radial — Talk With Your Fingertips

Voice chat got you tongue‑tied? The communication wheels have been completely reorganized. When you open the Message Radial, you’ll now see icons alongside text in the center, and pages are themed by situation: combat, looting/prep, and emojis. World Map pings can be opened by holding RMB and then selecting a marker, and you can even preview exactly where a ping will land before confirming it.

The old Emote Wheel is now the Action Radial. Slot 1 is locked to weapon inspection, and Slot 5 lets you join group emotes without digging through menus. Regular markers now automatically send a radio message to your teammates, and Item Markers help you highlight specific gear without confusion.

🔥 Arcade Madness: Hot Drop & Solo Deathmatch

Two fan‑favorite modes are back with a vengeance. Hot Drop Mode returns as a frantic squad experience on Erangel, Miramar, Vikendi, and Taego. The safe zone starts tiny and closes fast, vehicles and care packages don’t spawn, and anyone still in the plane when it leaves the play area gets forcibly dropped. It’s pure early‑game chaos.

Completely new is Solo Deathmatch, a 10‑ to 14‑player FPP arena set inside iconic compounds like Erangel’s School and Taego’s Palace. Kills earn 2 points (3 after a 3‑kill streak), and every 100 damage adds 1 point. The first to 100 wins, but if time runs out the highest score takes it. Players respawn with brief invincibility after dying, and boost gauge from eliminations fuels health regeneration. Press M to swap your spawn kit or check the leaderboard mid‑match.

🗺️ Rondo Rework & General Map Touch‑Ups

Rondo got a full pass to improve traversal and looting. New roads connect previously isolated areas, water depth in some valleys has been reduced so you can wade across, and underused edge buildings have been removed. Several ridgelines were tweaked to make them more practical for cover, and loot path has been improved through adjusted building placements.

Across all maps, Secret Rooms now spawn a fresh weapon list—Vector, ACE32, M24, Kar98k, Micro UZI, UMP, and S12K join the fray—while care package weapons inside secret rooms move to their own dedicated slot. Erangel’s Hall of Fame also updates to celebrate FULL SENSE’s PGC 2025 championship.

⚔️ New Contender: Glasya & Exclusive Execution

Meet Glasya, the deadliest Contender yet. When you reach Contender Level 2 and equip the Final Verdict Hammer (or its gold variant) alongside a Crowbar, a special effect activates. On knocked enemies, Glasya can perform a brutal Exclusive Execution Move unique to this character. The full cosmetic set arrives in the Store shortly after the update.

🎁 Survivor Pass & Chest Additions

A brand‑new Survivor Pass—“Just Married”—launches alongside this update, and both the Hunter’s Chest and Archivist’s Chest receive fresh item sets. Previous special events like Punk Bunny’s Hoppy Chuseok and Donut Debacle continue to add flavor to the store.

🔧 Bug Fixes & Quality of Life

A heap of smaller improvements polish the experience: incorrect death message “You were killed by you” has been stamped out, Sanhok’s frame drops have been optimized, and various clothing clipping issues—from Lamborghini gloves to 9S’s hairstyle—have been fixed. Console audio now respects your sound settings properly, and the lobby always shows high‑quality graphics no matter your in‑game setting.

Update 42.2 is live on PC right now and arrives on consoles on July 23. Whether you’re jumping into the new Basic Training or trying to top the Solo Deathmatch leaderboard, there’s never been a better moment to hit the Battlegrounds.