PUBG: Battlegrounds Update 40.1 dropped on February 4, 2026 for PC and followed on February 12, 2026 for Console. It’s one of the more packed mid-season patches in recent memory — Erangel gets its seasonal reset, two DMRs receive balance tweaks, the squad UI gets a meaningful overhaul, PUBG Bridge launches as an entirely new companion platform, and Season 40 kicks off with fresh Ranked rewards. Oh, and Spring Fest 2026 is here.
This guide walks you through every change in plain language — what changed, why it matters, and what it means for your actual gameplay.
You can read the full official Update 40.1 patch notes on pubg.com.
40.1 Maintenance Schedule
| Platform | Maintenance Window (UTC) |
|---|---|
| PC | February 4, 00:00 – 08:30 |
| Console | February 12, 01:00 – 09:00 |
Erangel: Subzero Season Ends — The Map Resets
The biggest visual change in 40.1 is the return of standard Erangel. The Subzero seasonal overhaul — which introduced winter weather, snowstorms, and environment-specific loot — has officially wrapped up, and the map has been restored to its familiar form.
That said, it’s not a perfect rewind. KRAFTON confirmed that traces of the Subzero conditions remain scattered across the map, which is a nice bit of environmental storytelling. Think of it as a post-winter thaw rather than a hard reset.
Spawn Changes
- All Erangel: Subzero-specific items and features have been removed from world loot
- The All-In-One Repair Kit, Emergency Cover Flare, and Jammer Pack now spawn exclusively in Secret Rooms, rather than as open-world loot
This is a noteworthy shift in how you encounter these high-utility items. If you were accustomed to finding Jammer Packs and Emergency Cover Flares in regular loot runs, expect to route through Secret Rooms more intentionally now.
Erangel Additions
A few new environmental features also drop with this update:
Destructible Gas Tanks have been added across the map. These add a new tactical layer to engagements — they can be shot to create explosive hazards or used to deny cover. Expect players to start treating gas stations and storage areas differently going forward.
Improved interior building lighting across Erangel. This is a quieter but welcome change. Indoor fights in PUBG have historically suffered from poor visibility, particularly at night or in darker structures. Better interior lighting should make CQC more readable and reduce those moments where you lose a fight because you simply couldn’t see your opponent clearly.
The Red Zone and ferries have returned. Both were removed during the Subzero season — the Red Zone likely to avoid a visual clash with the winter environment, and ferries presumably for the same reason. They’re back.
Dev comment: KRAFTON noted that the Subzero season gave them valuable data on how environmental changes affect combat flow. The implication is more seasonal overhauls are coming in the future.
Gunplay: Mk12 Nerfed, SLR Buffed
Update 40.1 makes targeted balance adjustments to two DMRs. This is specifically aimed at Ranked play, where weapon diversity had become lopsided.
Mk12 — Nerfed
| Stat | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Damage | 44 | 43 |
| Horizontal Recoil | — | Increased ~8% |
The Mk12 has been one of the most dominant DMRs in Ranked for several seasons. Its combination of 5.56mm availability, high velocity, and relatively manageable recoil made it the clear pick over almost every other DMR in the class. KRAFTON confirmed it was showing an “excessively high usage rate compared to other DMRs in Ranked” — and the nerfs are a direct response to that.
The damage reduction from 44 to 43 means you’ll now need one extra shot in certain scenarios where you were previously one-shotting or two-shotting opponents with headshots on specific armor tiers. The 8% horizontal recoil increase makes sustained burst fire slightly harder to control, which matters most at medium-to-long range engagements where the Mk12 was most dominant.
What this means for your loadout: If you’ve been running Mk12 as your primary DMR, it’s still a solid weapon — but the margin that made it clearly the best choice over the SLR has narrowed. Expect weapon selection in Ranked to diversify.
SLR — Buffed
| Stat | Change |
|---|---|
| Horizontal Recoil | Decreased ~4% |
The SLR (7.62mm DMR) gets a modest but meaningful horizontal recoil reduction. It was previously one of the harder DMRs to control in sustained fire, particularly when managing horizontal drift across longer engagements. A 4% reduction in horizontal recoil doesn’t completely transform the weapon, but it makes the SLR more approachable and competitive in the meta where the Mk12 previously overshadowed it.
If you’re already comfortable with the SLR’s power and enjoy the 7.62mm damage profile, this patch makes it a legitimately compelling choice now rather than a fallback option.
Sensitivity note: If you’re adjusting to the new recoil patterns on either of these DMRs and play on mobile, you might want to revisit your scope-specific ADS values. Our PUBG Mobile sensitivity guide for low-end devices walks through how to dial in your 4x and 6x ADS settings for DMR-heavy play. And if those sensitivity tweaks feel inconsistent because your game is stuttering, check our PUBG Mobile lag fix guide to get stable frames first.
Gameplay: Major UI Overhaul
Update 40.1 delivers the most significant UI refresh in several patches. The goal, as KRAFTON put it, is to let players “track information without needing to check additional UI panels” during high-pressure situations. Here’s what’s new.
Throwable Inventory Display
When you pull out or switch a throwable using a hotkey, a live list of your available throwables and their quantities now appears in the bottom right of the screen for a short duration.
Up to six types are shown at once, including the currently equipped one. Items stored in a Tactical Pack are excluded from this display. It’s not available in Spectator, Replay, or Observer modes.
This might seem like a small quality-of-life touch, but it genuinely changes how you manage grenades and smokes in late-game scenarios. Previously you had to either memorize your inventory or open the full item menu to check what you had left. Now a quick grenade key press tells you exactly how many of each type remain without breaking your awareness of the fight.
Squad Status UI — New Icons and Visual Feedback
Squad communication just got meaningfully better at a glance.
New status icons now appear in the squad list (bottom-left), on the World Map, and on the Minimap, showing:
- Healing
- Reviving
- Carrying
- Swimming
- Firing (with damage indicators)
When two squad members interact — such as one reviving another — the affected member’s squad number is displayed alongside the icon. You can now tell immediately whether a downed teammate is actively being revived without needing voice chat or a text call-out.
The firing and damage indicators are also visible in spectator mode, which makes observer-mode coverage for esports and content creation significantly more readable.
Why this matters: In squad play, the delay between a teammate going down and the squad understanding the full situation is often the difference between a successful rotation and a wipe. These new indicators close that gap, especially in ranked games where coordination determines outcomes.
Blue Zone Alert UI Improvements
Three new visual cues now signal 1 minute, 30 seconds, and 10 seconds remaining before the Play Area restriction begins. The UI elements and effects indicating the actual start of restriction have also been enhanced, and a new visual effect shows each phase change.
This addresses a long-standing complaint: the previous Blue Zone warning was easy to miss during intense fights, and players frequently got caught — not because they weren’t aware the zone was moving, but because the warning wasn’t clear enough in the moment. The 10-second countdown cue in particular should reduce the number of unnecessary deaths to the late-game zone.
Other UI Improvements
- Kill and assist information per squad member is now visible through the Team Management UI from the System Menu in all modes
- When using a heal or consumable item, the item’s icon now appears within the center-screen timer
- The Emergency Pickup plane flight path on the World Map has been changed to grayscale — reducing visual clutter when you’re tracking multiple moving elements
- Squad member numbers and colors now display on the vehicle UI when boarding
- Item pickup messages have been standardized for a cleaner, more consistent presentation
PUBG Bridge — Watch 2D Replays in Your Browser
This is a brand-new feature and one of the more interesting additions in 40.1. PUBG Bridge (bridge.pubg.com) is a companion website that lets you watch 2D match replays outside the game.
How it works:
- Log in with your KRAFTON ID on the PUBG Bridge website
- Browse your linked platform’s match history
- Select any match and click “View in Browser” below the 2D Replay option
- A QR code appears — scan it to watch the replay on your phone or in any browser
This means you can review your matches on your phone, at work, on a second monitor — anywhere. For players who like to analyze their positioning and decision-making between sessions, this is a significant convenience upgrade. Previously, all replay viewing was locked inside the game client.
Ranked: Season 40 Begins
Season 40 is now live. Here’s what you need to know.
New Tier Rewards
MG3 Ranked weapon skins have been added as permanent Tier Rewards for Season 40. These are earned based on your peak tier at the end of the season.
A new UI element now shows the remaining time for time-limited Tier Rewards, so you’ll always know how long you have to claim what you’ve earned.
Season 39 Rewards
If you competed in Season 39, your final tier determines which rewards drop into your inventory once Season 40 maintenance completes:
| Tier | Rewards |
|---|---|
| Bronze | Bronze PUBG ID Emblem |
| Silver | Silver PUBG ID Emblem |
| Gold | Gold PUBG ID Emblem + Ranked Weapon Skin + Ranked Parachute Skin |
| Platinum | Animated Platinum Emblem + Weapon Skin + Parachute Skin + Platinum Medal |
| Crystal | Animated Crystal Emblem + Weapon Skin + Parachute Skin + Platinum & Crystal Medals |
| Diamond | Animated Diamond Emblem + Weapon Skin + Parachute Skin + Platinum, Crystal & Diamond Medals |
| Master | Animated Master Emblem + Animated Master Nameplate + Weapon Skin + Parachute Skin + All Medals up to Master |
| Survivor | Animated Survivor Emblem + Animated Survivor Nameplate + Weapon Skin + Parachute Skin + All Medals |
Parachute skins, weapon skins, and Medals are permanent. All other rewards are season-specific and will be withdrawn after Season 40 ends.
Regional Ranked Queue Changes
In line with PUBG Esports’ full transition to TPP format in 2026, KRAFTON is aligning the Ranked queue structure to match the competitive standard:
Added:
- RU: Duo (TPP), Squad (TPP)
- NA & SA: Squad (TPP)
Removed:
- NA & SA: Squad (FPP)
This is a deliberate decision to create a unified meta between casual Ranked play and professional competition. KRAFTON has said openly that they want your ranked achievements to carry meaning within the same format professional players compete in. For NA and SA players who were playing Ranked Squad FPP, you’ll need to transition to TPP Squads going forward.
Console: Virtual Cursor System
Console players receive a major quality-of-life upgrade in 40.1 — the Virtual Cursor system, which brings mouse-like menu navigation to controller inputs.
The cursor is accessible across all menu screens: Lobby, Store, Customize, and Career. Use the L-Stick to move it, with clicking and hovering triggering the same visual and sound feedback as the PC version. UI layouts for Store browsing, Team Slot management, and Emote customization have been aligned with the PC interface.
| Action | Xbox | PlayStation |
|---|---|---|
| Move Cursor | L-Stick | L-Stick |
| Select (Left Click) | A | ✕ |
| Scroll | R-Stick | R-Stick |
Press L-Stick (L3) to toggle cursor speed between fast and slow. Existing wheel-based controls in the Lobby Action Wheel and text input remain unchanged.
Workshop & Spring Fest 2026
Update 40.1 arrives alongside the return of Spring Fest 2026, PUBG’s annual end-of-winter celebration. This year’s theme is the Transcendents — a group of four experimental survivors with cosmetic designs inspired by diverse Battlegrounds environments.
What’s New at the Workshop
New Progressive Weapon Skins and Chromas — craftable exclusively through Special Crafting at the Workshop. These include a new M416 Progressive skin featuring always-on effects, along with new Chroma variations for multiple weapons.
The 10-level progression structure for the M416 skin unlocks:
- Lv. 3: Inspect Weapon Animation
- Lv. 4: Magazine / Muzzle Skin
- Lv. 6: Killfeed Skin
- Lv. 9: Scope Skin
- Lv. 10: Rare Skin Cosmetics with always-on effect
Special Crafting closing dates (UTC):
- PC: April 13, 00:00
- Console: April 21, 00:00
Use your Spring Fest Tokens before these dates. Expired tokens cannot be exchanged or refunded.
New Crafter Pass
A brand-new Crafter Pass tied to Spring Fest 2026 is now available, with rewards including Spring Fest Tokens, Vouchers, Loot Caches, a Prime Parcel, and G-Coin. The pass caps at level 120, with XP earned through daily/weekly missions and in-match survival time. Note: the Crafter Pass is not available in Belgium and the Netherlands due to local regulations.
Hunter’s Chest & Archivist’s Chest
New item sets have been added to both chests, including items from the Survivor Pass: Steampunk Revival.
Contraband Coupons
You can now open up to 10 Contraband Crates at a time with Contraband Coupons — up from the previous single-open limit. A small but welcome change for anyone who accumulates coupons across multiple sessions.
Bug Fixes
Gameplay
- Fixed: Interaction range at gas stations was inconsistent between TPP and FPP
- Fixed: Adrenaline Syringe pickup sound played incorrectly
- Fixed: Level 2 helmet goggles were visible above water while swimming underwater
- Fixed: Backpack blocking view when looking behind on a bicycle in FPP
- Fixed: Placing certain UGC Mode buildings also placed oil drums
- Fixed: ‘No-Fly Zone’ medal could be earned incorrectly in certain conditions
World
- Fixed: Various Paramo collision, texture, and performance issues
- Fixed: Rondo firework sounds didn’t scale correctly with distance
UX/UI
- Fixed: Disabling login notifications didn’t work for clan members not on your friends list
- Fixed: Squad member profile could display incorrectly in lobby after team formation
- (PC) Fixed: Banned players saw secondary password prompt instead of ban message
- (PC) Fixed: Waypoint fragments could remain on-screen in Observer Mode after removal
- (PC) Fixed: Aiming/sound practice results UI was cut off on certain aspect ratios
Items & Skins
- Fixed: Stay Frosty Head skin hat floating with Thermal Protection Suit
- Fixed: Clipping on female character’s back (Nightclub Dress + QBZ Schematic Sweatshirt)
- Fixed: G-DRAGON character skin head clipping with Porsche Socialite Hat
- Fixed: Ankle clipping with Pigff’s Tactical Striker Pants and Donut Mess With Me Sneakers
- Fixed: Female character’s hands turned transparent in Wicked Waddle Bodysuit + PGC 2021 Contingent Chaos Jacket
- Fixed: Footwear clipping during emotes with G-DRAGON’s Boots and Pillar Security Uniform (male)
- Fixed: PKL Hoodie hairband showing through/above hood on male characters
PC Lobby Shortcuts — New in 40.1
Alongside the Virtual Cursor console addition, PC also receives new lobby and menu shortcuts in Update 40.1:
| Function | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Navigate Top Menu | Q / E |
| Navigate Bottom Menu | A / D |
| Confirm / Primary Action | Space |
| Back / Cancel | Esc |
| Ready / Play | F |
| Open Action Wheel | F4 |
| Open Social Menu | X |
What Update 40.1 Means for Your Game
A few takeaways worth thinking about as you head into Season 40:
The Mk12-SLR balance shift is real. If you’ve built habits around the Mk12, this is a good time to put 15–20 minutes into SLR practice on the Training Grounds. The gap is smaller now, and the SLR’s 7.62mm damage profile has always been potent — it just needed the recoil cleanup to make it worth choosing over the Mk12 consistently. Pair that SLR practice with optimized sensitivity settings; if you’re playing across mobile platforms too, our PUBG Mobile sensitivity guide for low-end devices covers exactly how to tune your 4x and 6x ADS values for DMR control.
Erangel’s Secret Room meta has changed. Three previously open-world items — the All-In-One Repair Kit, Emergency Cover Flare, and Jammer Pack — now only spawn in Secret Rooms. If you’ve been using these mid-game without routing to Secret Rooms, your access just got gated. Start incorporating Secret Room runs into your rotation, especially in the early-to-mid circle.
The new Squad Status UI is legitimately good. The icons showing when teammates are healing, reviving, or swimming are the kind of information that previously required call-outs or assumptions. In coordinated squad play, seeing a revive-in-progress on your minimap without needing a voice cue closes a real decision-making gap. Give it a few matches to learn the new visual language.
Performance and connectivity reminders: With a new season and major update, server load in the first few days post-patch can be higher than usual. If you’re experiencing stuttering or frame drops in early Season 40 matches, running through the core PUBG Mobile lag fix steps — clearing cache, checking your network, and verifying your in-game graphics settings — usually resolves most common post-update performance issues.
FAQs — PUBG Update 40.1
Q: When did Update 40.1 go live?
PC maintenance ran from February 4, 00:00 UTC to approximately 08:30 UTC. Console went live after an 8-hour maintenance window starting February 12, 01:00 UTC. Both platforms are now fully updated.
Q: Is the Mk12 still viable after the 40.1 nerfs?
Yes, but it’s no longer the dominant no-brainer choice it was in Season 39. The damage drop from 44 to 43 and the 8% horizontal recoil increase are noticeable in high-magnification, long-range sprays. It remains a strong 5.56mm DMR — just now more on par with alternatives like the SLR rather than above them. If you’ve been sleeping on the SLR, now’s the time to try it.
Q: What happened to Squad FPP Ranked in NA and SA?
Squad FPP Ranked has been removed in NA and SA regions, replaced with Squad TPP to align with PUBG Esports’ competitive format transition to TPP in 2026. This is a deliberate design decision to unify the competitive and ranked experience. Solo and Duo FPP modes are unaffected.
Q: Do I need to be in the game to watch my PUBG replays now?
No — that’s exactly the point of PUBG Bridge. Head to bridge.pubg.com, log in with your KRAFTON ID, and you can view your 2D match replays directly in a browser on any device. You can also generate a QR code in-game to send a specific replay to your phone.
