Dev Letter: Ranked Points

The developers of PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS have published a new blog, in which they revealed what changes await the rank mode in the upcoming patch 29.1. It is about the improvement of the rank points system.

In our 2024 Roadmap, we laid out major Ranked updates scheduled for June. This year, we're set to introduce several changes aimed at fostering a Vibrant, Challenging, and Honorable Ranked experience. In today's Dev Letter, we'll delve into the initial adjustment: Rank Point (RP) system enhancements.

These changes are driven by our belief that RP, Tiers, and ultimately Ranked should more accurately reflect skill, ensuring that Ranked rewards and your dedication hold genuine significance. The adjustments outlined in this Dev Letter will roll out in Season 29 on April 9, with ongoing assessment thereafter. It's important to note that these changes are subject to refinement or even cancellation based on data and your feedback before implementation.

Rank Point (RP)

RP is a measure of your skill that adjusts after each match and isn't solely influenced by wins or losses. We consider multiple factors because we believe that each decision you make in the Land-Loot-Survive process shapes your growth. Moving into Season 29, we're implementing two changes related to the factors that impact RP.

First, in Calculating Rank Points, Kills Will Carry More Weight Than Assists.

Survival is probably the most important thing in Battle Royale, yet we believe it's not just about survival; it's also about how well you can navigate the engagements you encounter along the way and strategize your next move. To reflect this perspective, we're revising the way RP is calculated to encompass not only match placement but also engagement handling, with particular emphasis on kills. However, our intention isn't to prioritize kills over placement but to adjust the existing RP calculation, which currently assigns equal weight to kills and assists.

Consequently, the difference in RP earned by each teammate will be more pronounced, even if they finish the same. We hope this change will encourage a more active playstyle by accurately reflecting individual contributions. 

Second, the Minimum Performance Expectations for Each Tier Will Be Adjusted.

In Ranked, there are minimum performance expectations for different RP segments – Tiers – and we've made some adjustments to the existing performance standards that we believe could be improved. First, for lower RP segments, we're making sure that dying early in a match and placing lower no longer offers RP. For higher segments, we've slightly lowered the minimum standards for both match placement and kills required to earn RP, aiming to make the Ranked experience less demanding.

Goals

With the changes outlined above, we aim to provide the following experiences in Season 29:

  • Players with similar skills will compete against each other. 
  • An environment where individuals can set appropriate goals and challenges for each RP segment will be established. 
  • RP will serve as a measure of performance, and Tiers will serve as an objective measure of skill.

We anticipate that these adjustments will expedite players' progression to Tiers that align with their skill levels. In the long run, our aim is to enhance Ranked mode, promoting fairness and increased challenge while offering all players a platform to hone their skills and climb the ranks.

Concluding Today's Dev Letter

Ranked mode embodies the essence of PUBG's gameplay, with each player undertaking numerous unique journeys, shaping their own narratives. Quantifying this process and its outcomes is never easy, which is why we meticulously monitor even the slightest adjustments and their effects on players.

Following the implementation of enhancements to the RP system in Season 29, we'll keep a close eye on the player experience and assess the resulting changes to the Ranked ecosystem.

Drawing from the statistics gathered since Season 7 and listening to community feedback, we remain dedicated to refining Ranked mode to ensure fairness and value, providing all players with a meaningful platform to demonstrate their skills.