PUBG Black Budget Alpha—First Impressions and Preview

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KRAFTON has just launched the first closed alpha for PUBG Black Budget, a new extraction shooter game. It’s designed to be easy to pick up and play, with some interesting new features. The game is trying to compete with popular titles like Escape from Tarkov and ARC Raiders, but it remains to be seen if it can succeed.

I really love games where you collect and manage resources – not the kind of fan that removes smells, of course! I’ve played these types of games for thousands of hours, so I was excited to try the early version of PUBG Black Budget and share my opinions.

Is PUBG Black Budget Looking Good?

PUBG: Black Budget is shaping up nicely. It’s aiming for a faster-paced, arcade-style experience as an extraction shooter, unlike more realistic games like Escape from Tarkov. However, it still feels grounded. The game is set in a sci-fi world on the island of Coli, which is being destroyed by a spreading anomaly that shrinks the playable area during each raid.

Essentially, this game combines the intense competition of battle royale with the strategic elements of extraction shooters, offering a unique experience that builds on the strengths of PUBG while tapping into the popular extraction genre.

What makes PUBG Black Budget different, though?

I recently discovered some unique features that are helping PUBG: Black Budget stand out from other extraction shooter games.

In Black Budget, players choose their starting point on the map, giving them a degree of control over how their raid unfolds. They can mark locations, use a changing map to plan their route, and easily experience what makes extraction shooter games fun.

It’s how ARC Raiders found so much success recently, by being welcoming rather than punishing.

A great feature of this game is how it forces players to adjust on the fly. The locations where you can escape change constantly throughout the match, appearing randomly across the map. These escape routes become more common towards the end of each round, giving players a reason to stick around and keep playing.

The map is incredibly large, particularly for a game of this type. It will take players a significant amount of time to fully explore, and the ever-changing anomaly constantly removes sections, making it even more challenging.

Enter The Anomaly

PUBG: Black Budget takes place on an island with a unique twist: a time loop. Each raid feels fresh, but you’re essentially repeating the same mission over and over. The goal is to parachute in, capture key areas, collect gear, eliminate opponents, and successfully escape.

Data extraction is a common practice, but I was particularly impressed by how PUBG: Black Budget approaches it.

This game is designed to appeal to a broad audience from the start, much like classic arcade games. It features fun ways to get around – think ziplines, climbing, and quick movements – and the shooting feels familiar and fast-paced, as you’d expect from this style of game.

By that, I mean it’s point-and-shoot without worrying too much about intricate calculations.

The constant search for better gear is really engaging, and there’s a lot to discover. The game gently guides you through important skills like managing your inventory and health. It’s simple, but that’s a big part of what makes PUBG: Black Budget work so well. The tutorial is especially well-designed, offering a perfect introduction to the game’s key ideas.

This game really stands out from other extraction shooters thanks to its excellent quality-of-life features – things like easily accessing loot nearby, simple healing, and a fast-paced experience. It feels like a blend of different games: the map is reminiscent of Gray Zone, the core gameplay is similar to Escape from Tarkov, and it’s as easy to pick up as ARC Raiders.

After each raid, once you’ve returned using a submersible or wormhole, you’ll arrive back at your hideout. This hideout isn’t static – you can expand and improve it over time. However, it differs from similar systems in games like Escape from Tarkov because you have full control over what you build and where you place everything.

As someone who loves base-building mechanics, this spoke to me quite nicely.

Is PUBG Black Budget Worth It?

PUBG: Black Budget is currently being tested in a closed alpha, and a second test phase is scheduled for next weekend. Participation is free, but you’ll need to follow a specific process to get access to the alpha.

I’d definitely buy PUBG: Black Budget as it is right now, but it would need to be free-to-play or cost no more than $30. I also noticed a lack of AI enemies – there was only a small amount of wildlife, which is unusual for a game that combines player-versus-player and player-versus-environment combat.

I didn’t encounter any problems while actually playing the game; the only difficulties were getting access to it initially. Once I had a key, I really enjoyed my time with Black Budget.

As a fan, I’m really excited about Black Budget! Knowing KRAFTON is supporting it, and with all the content creators already gearing up to play, I’m pretty sure it’ll have a strong start and hopefully stick around in the extraction shooter genre for a good long time.

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2025-12-13 12:49