How to play PUBG, the esports medal event at Asian Games 2023
PUBG was among the seven games that were medal events at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) is undoubtedly one among the most popular games in the world, especially among the younger generation.
The shooter game is played on mobile, console as well as on personal computers and witnesses several high-profile competitions every year, no less admired than regular sporting events like football, tennis or cricket. PUBG was released in 2017.
With an aim to attract young gamers, PUBG Mobile was included as a medal event at the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, the People's Republic of China.
The Asian Games version of PUBG Mobile was among the seven games that offered medals in the esports category at Hangzhou 2022.
Indian gamers can play the rebranded version of PUBG, called Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), which was released in 2021.
For those who are yet to experience the chart-topping esports game, here’s a quick guide to get you up to speed.
What is PUBG?
PUBG is an online battle royale game, meaning it is a survival game at its core.
Gamers need to survive the longest while eliminating other players or squads by using weapons collected during the game.
Different modes and maps will have different weapons and gameplays, but the objective of PUBG remains the same – shoot, survive, win.
Players can either play solo or team up with a partner in the duo mode. However, the most popular choice is the squad mode, where four players team up to take on 25 other teams.
The gameplay in BGMI is the same.
Maps in PUBG
There are different maps in PUBG, with each having unique terrain, weapons and vehicles.
The most common maps in PUBG are Erangel, Miramar, Livik, Karakin, Sanhok and Vikendi but the game is regularly updated with new maps. Battle landscapes range from snowy lands to deserts and urban environments.
After selecting the map and mode, users can hit the start button to begin the match.
How to play PUBG?
All players begin a PUBG match on a plane and need to parachute down into buildings and houses to pick up weapons (pistols, rifles and grenades), armour (helmet and vests), healing items (bandages, first aid kits and injections) and backpacks. This is called looting.
Items are randomly scattered across the map so players can choose to land anywhere. After all players have landed, a white circle is placed on the map, which represents the safe zone. Failure to get into the safe zone in the given period results in loss of ‘health’.
The safe zone shrinks every few minutes, making sure all players get closer to each other and are not camping far away, waiting for opponents to come to them.
Players need to take up fights with opponents and eliminate them by shooting till their ‘health’ reaches zero. You can also loot the slain players’ left-over items from their crates.
What is chicken dinner?
A PUBG match ends when all opponents/squads are defeated and the last surviving player/squad takes the chicken dinner, a term used to denote the winners.
The phrase winner winner chicken dinner in PUBG is displayed after the match ends to celebrate the victory.
There are many terms and phrases used in PUBG. Here are a few that the pros use in their gameplay.
KD in PUBG
KD is the kill to death ratio in PUBG. It defines the number of enemies you kill for every time you die. A KD of one means the player kills one enemy in every match before being eliminated. A skilled user will usually have a KD of more than three.
OP in PUBG
The full form of OP in PUBG is overpowered. OP is used when a player eliminates the enemy using extraordinary skills.
Gyroscope in PUBG Mobile
A gyroscope sensor detects the screen orientation in a phone. A player using a gyroscope for aiming in PUBG Mobile can control the movement of the character by simply tilting the phone in the direction they wish to aim, instead of using their thumb.
This helps in quicker reflexes and better recoil control.
IGL in PUBG
The IGL or the in-game leader in PUBG is responsible for deciding the strategies in a match, like style of approach, rotations in the map and routes to take.
Now that you know how PUBG / BGMI works, it’s time to secure your first chicken dinner.
PUBG Asian Games version
The PUBG Mobile Asian Games version is violence-free and hence different from the standard title. Gamers will play in a cross-country shooting competition instead of the traditional battle royale (BR).
The objective of each team in PUBG Mobile Asian Games version is to shoot targets in each stage. After completing the shooting mission, the team needs to drive a vehicle to complete the track as well. The ranking will be determined according to the order in which the participating teams arrive at the finish line.
“The classic gameplay mixes modern sports events such as triathlons, giving rise to an esports event that corresponds with the sportsmanship,” says the Asian Electronic Sports Federation (AESF), referring to the cross-country shooting competition.