Image via Bluehole

When Can You Play Vikendi? Now. PUBG 21.1 Patch Notes

A lot of reading, that's for sure!

PUBG has reached version 21.1 and we have quite a rich Patch Notes article to show you here at Prima Games. Vikendi is back, and below you will be able to find out how you can play it. It has gotten a hefty update, which we are certain many players will like.

Recommended Videos

Patch Notes for PUBG 21.1

Here are the Patch Notes for 21.1 version of PUBG. We know you’re eager to read about Vikendi!

Related: What Does PUBG Stand For? – Answered

Live Maintenance Schedule for PC and Console servers (the times shown below are subject to change).

  • PC
    • PST: December 5, 4:30 PM – December 6, 12:30 AM
    • CET: December 6, 1:30 AM – 9:30 AM
    • KST: December 6, 9:30 AM – 5:30 PM
  • Console
    • PST: December 14, 8 PM – December 15, 4 AM
    • CET: December 15, 5 AM – 1 PM
    • KST: December 15, 1 PM – 9 PM

Related: Does PUBG Have Crossplay Between PC and Consoles? Answered

Map Service

  • Test Server
    • Featured Map: Vikendi
    • Normal Match: Erangel / Sanhok / Paramo
      • AS region: Squad
      • NA region: Squad – FPP
  • Live Server
    • Featured Map: Vikendi
    • Map Selection Region
      • Normal Match: Erangel / Miramar / Taego / Sanhok / Paramo
      • Ranked: Erangel / Miramar / Taego
    • Random Map Region
      • Normal Match: Erangel / Miramar / Taego / Sanhok / Paramo
      • Ranked: Erangel / Miramar / Taego
    • Console (Xbox, PlayStation®, Stadia)
      • Normal Match: Erangel / Miramar / Taego / Sanhok / Paramo
      • Ranked: Erangel / Miramar / Taego

FPP Mode(PC) The FPP queue for Solo, Duo, and Squad will no longer be available in KR/JP regions. Not only have we needed to align our available services with other platforms, but we’ve also confirmed the current FPP matchmaking in these regions were not striving enough to maintain the queue. 

Please keep in mind the features and updates shown below may be modified or even possibly removed due to reasons such as bugs, in-game issues, and/or community feedback. Also, the images shown below are provided as visual guidelines – they may look different in the actual game as builds are continuously developed and fixed before they go live.

Vikendi RebornIt all started with the sudden climate change ravaging Vikendi’s lands that once flourished with greenery and crystal clear skies. Habitants of Vikendi were forced to retreat from the area as blizzards drove cities to the point they were no longer able to function. No traces of life were to be found for months.

Now a desolate snowfield, the northern part of Vikendi is covered with sheets of snow – meanwhile, in the south, glimpses of new land begin to peep out; survivors of the cold start to gather back, clutching on to desperate hopes of a new domain.

Starting now, Vikendi commences its comeback as a harsh winterland and is prepared to pit players into its ruthless depths of snow.

Welcome to the rebirth of Vikendi.

  • Vikendi…
    • Is available as a Featured Map.
    • Has expanded from a 6x6km map to a 8x8km map.
    • Is composed of various environments such as glaciers, snowfields, and greenery.
    • Presents sharp slopes and heavy snow in the north, with relatively less snow and flatter terrain in the south.
    • Features Clear and Cloudy weathers. This is done to reduce eye strain from looking at the snow, by the developers’ words.

New Feature: Cable Cars

Introducing the new transportation system: Cable Cars. Round trip fares will cost you 300 BP.

  • There are two routes for each station, with only one Cable Car running per route.
  • Cable Cars move automatically.
    • You can board Cable Cars once Cable Cars arrive at their station.
  • Cable Cars will stop briefly at each station before moving on to the opposite route.
  • You may also board Cable Cars with a vehicle.
  • Available modes
    • Only available in Vikendi.
    • Normal Matches, Custom Matches

Related: When Did PUBG Come Out? – Answered

We do not know how cool it is to charge BP for a ride, but it is what is…

New Area: Lab Camp

Meet the new Lab Camp, a new area holding high value items in the northwest!

  • Lab Camps are scattered around the frozen lake in the northwest.
    • Each Lab Camp differs in size and structure.
  • Supply Drops, a new type of crate spawning certain items with certain probability distributions, will spawn in Lab Camps.
    • Yellow Supply Drops: Boost items, Throwables, M79, or Level 3 Equipment may spawn.
    • Red Supply Drops: Weapons available in Vikendi (including ammo) may spawn.
      • You may even find Care Package weapons if you’re very lucky!
    • Blue Supply Drops: Attachments available in Vikendi.
  • Alarms are installed in certain Lab Camps. They will immediately activate once items are extracted from Supply Drops.
    • Activated alarms will emit a loud siren and red lights for a certain period of time.
    • Interacting with Supply Drops while the alarm is activated will not restart the alarm’s activation.
      • Interacting with Supply Drops after an alarm’s activation time will reactivate the alarm.

A new high-loot area which a lot of players will contest for sure.

Related: How to Convert PUBG Mouse Sensitivity to Call of Duty: Warzone 2 Mouse Sensitivity

New System: Comeback BR. What is Comeback in PUBG?

It’s not Better Luck Next Time when you die during a match. Comeback BR has arrived to Vikendi to present you not only one, but three opportunities!

  • Players will spectate their team member(s) once they die during specific phases of the match.
  • Once Comeback BR’s countdown is over, a loading screen will pop up and move the appropriate players to the Comeback BR arena.
    • Every player’s health will reset.
    • Every item/equipment/boost a player had before death will be removed.
  • During a Comeback BR Phase,
    • Players who survive will return to the match with every item they obtained in the arena.
      • A total of three Comeback BR Phases will proceed during a single match.
        • The first, second, and third Comeback BR Phases will proceed consecutively during certain phases of the match. The Comeback BR participant recruitment phase will be shown on the top left of the world map screen.
        • Players who only die during a Comeback BR Phase participant recruitment phase will be able to participate in a Comeback BR Phase.
        • After a player returns to a match after a Comeback BR Phase and dies again, they’ll be able to join the next Comeback BR Phase if they die within the participant recruitment phase.
    • Players who die will spectate their teammates until the next Comeback BR Phase.
      • Players who die in the first/second Comeback BR Phase are provided the opportunity to retry in the next Phase.
  • A dead player waiting for a Comeback BR Phase to start will instantly lose the match if every teammate dies in the match and/or if they quit the match.
  • A Comeback BR Multidrop will be available per Comeback BR Phase.
  • A separate Blue Zone from the match will be activated in Comeback BR.
  • Various items (including Backpacks) will spawn in the arena.
    • A single arena will be used for every Comeback BR Phase per match. Therefore, item spawns/deathboxes/destroyed structures will not reset per Phase.

Related: Best Gaming Headsets for Competitive FPS Games Listed

New Features: Map Utility Items, Ascenders, and Ascender Towers

The features only available in Deston have set their foot in Vikendi.

  • Map Utility Items will be provided to every player in Vikendi.
    • Ascender Attachment
    • Utility Parachute
  • Ascenders have been attached to buildings in Observatory and Coal Mine.
  • Ascender Towers are located throughout the map.

New Feature: Fuel Pump

The Deston-only Fuel Pumps are also joining the winter party. Fill up your vehicle or make Fuel Pumps explode to make your enemies fly into the snow!

  • Vikendi’s wintery concept has been applied to Vikendi’s Fuel Pumps.

New System: Crowbar Interaction or How to Be Gordon Freeman in PUBG

Players may now use Crowbars to interact with various map objects.

  • Cabinets scattered throughout the map can be opened with Crowbars to obtain various items.
  • Crowbars can also be used to open locked buildings, which are located throughout Vikendi.
  • Crowbars must be equipped to Interact with cabinets/locked buildings.

Vehicle: The Return of the Snowmobile

Streak through the snow with the Snowmobile.

  • Carries up to 2 players.
  • Max speed: 120km/h
  • Movement speed will no longer decrease on flat surfaces/concrete/roads/hard ground.
  • Players can now shoot from the driver’s seat with handguns.
  • Available modes
    • Snowmobiles will only spawn in Vikendi.
    • Normal Matches, Custom Matches

Train

Train noise has been reduced by approximately 30%. And allegedly, you will be able to board vehicles on it now.

Erangel

  • Players can now board vehicles to the ferry.
  • Several improvements have been made to the ferry and pier for a more flexible vehicle navigation.
    • Certain objects have been removed from the ferry and pier.
    • The widths of certain bridges have expanded.
    • Planks have been added to parts where the height of the ferry and pier differed.
  • Ferry routes have been added to the minimap.
  • A new building has been added to the building below Hospital.
  • The location of the fences has been readjusted.
  • New fences have been added.
  • The current building has been moved slightly to the left.
  • Streetlights and benches have been added to the area.

Sanhok

  • Celebrate the holidays with BROWN, CONY, SALLY, CHOCO and more as LINE FRIENDS land in Sanhok, Paradise Resort!
    • Players will not receive damage from colliding with the moving toy train.
    • The toy train will project a choo choo! noise.

Related: Choo Choo Charles Review | Not for the Siderodromoarachnophobiacs

World Decorations

  • PGC 2022 and Neymar Jr. objects have been removed from all maps.

Temporary IssueThere is an issue where the Secret Room Key is unable to open Secret Rooms in Taego and Paramo. We are currently investigating the issue but have unfortunately confirmed the fix required more time and will be difficult to apply this update. 

Therefore, Secret Room Keys will not spawn in Taego and Paramo during Update 21.1.

  • This applies to every mode.
  • This issue will be fixed in Update 21.2.

Related: PUBG Creator Says He’s Done With Battle Royale

Vehicle Balance

  • Zima
    • Health: 900 → 1200
    • The Trunk feature has been added.
      • Trunk capacity: 250
    • Vehicle movement and control has improved on snow/ice terrain.
    • An area of the vehicle relatively vulnerable to extra damage has been slightly reduced.
  • Porter
    • Health: 1200 → 1500
    • General speed has increased.
      • Max speed has not changed.
    • Vehicle control has improved.
  • Pony Coupe
    • General speed and torque in low RPM range has been slightly decreased.
      • Max speed has not changed.
  • MiniBus
    • Health: 2000 → 2500
    • Torque in low RPM range has increased.
      • Max speed (normal) has increased to 87km/h.
      • Max speed (boost) has not changed.
    • Vehicle control has improved.
    • The vehicle’s tires’ health has slightly increased.
  • UAZ
    • Torque in low RPM range has increased.
      • Max speed has not changed.
  • Mirado
    • Torque in low RPM range has increased.
      • Max speed has not changed.
    • Vehicle control has improved.

Ranked – Season 21

Begin a new competitive endeavor among the best of best at Season 21 of Ranked!

  • The leaderboard will reset after the Live Server maintenance.
  • Check out your final Tier from the previous season at the Career page.

Season 20 Rewards

Below are the rewards you’ll be receiving based on your final Tier from the previous Ranked season.

Related: PUBG – How to Win

Bronze:

Bronze PUBG ID Emblem

Silver:

Silver PUBG ID Emblem

Gold:

Gold PUBG ID Emblem
Ranked Parachute Skin

Platinum:

Animated Platinum PUBG ID Emblem
Ranked Parachute Skin
Platinum Medal

Diamond:

Animated Diamond PUBG ID Emblem
Ranked Parachute Skin
Platinum, Diamond Medal

Master:

Animated Master PUBG ID Emblem
Animated Master Nameplate
Ranked Parachute Skin
Platinum, Diamond, Master Medal

Top 500:

Bonus rewards for Top 500 players:
– Animated Top 500 PUBG ID Emblem
– Animated Top 500 Nameplate

  • TheParachute skin and Medals are permanent rewards.
  • The rest of the obtainable rewards are available for use during a single Ranked season.
  • Rewards can be found in your Inventory once Season 21 starts.
  • Once Season 21 is over and the server undergoes maintenance, every reward but the Parachute and Medal will be withdrawn from your Edit Profile page.

Training Mode

  • Players can now enter an ongoing Training Mode session.
    • A single session can hold a maximum of 20 players.
    • Players can only enter an ongoing session when approximately 10 minutes of the session remain.
    • This feature does not apply to players in queue for Ranked.
  • The starting countdown for Training Mode has been removed.

Custom Match

  • The modes/settings using the Vikendi map before Update #21.1 have been removed.
    • Normal Mode: One Weapon Wonder
    • Team Deathmatch: Peshkova / Podvosto
    • Zombie Mode: Default Settings, Zombie Survival, Zombie Elimination, Zombie Royale
    • War Mode: Default Settings, Dead Factory, Bomb Kit (Dodgebomb), VSS Kit, Overpower Kit (Desert Knights), Sniper Kit (One Shot One Kill)
    • War Mode: Conquest: Default Settings
    • Esports Mode: Default Settings

Team Deathmatch

  • The Peshkova / Podvosto maps of the Vikendi map before Update #21.1 have been removed.

Lobby

  • The background music “Winter Like No Other” has been applied as default.
  • A Vikendi theme has been applied to the basic lobby.
    • Players currently using the Customize – Lobby skin feature are required to switch their lobbies back to the basic skin to see the Vikendi theme lobby.
  • An end of match screen displaying your Survival Mastery XP/BP/Weapon Mastery XP/Medal rewards/mission progress will now be shown after every match.
    • Available in Normal Matches and Ranked.
  • Improvements have been made to the “Join Team” feature.
    • The “Join Team” feature will be the default button for friends’ profiles on Social.
    • You may also join the party of a friend who is in a match.
      • Once you join, you’ll be waiting at their lobby until their match concludes.
    • You may Invite or Join teams through chat as well.
      • Clicking the player’s nickname in the chatbox will display a menu with the Join Team/Team Invite buttons.
        • The “Remove Friend” button has been removed from the menu.
      • A “Team Invite” button has been added to the notification pop-up when a friend is online.

Settings

  • (PC) A key binding option for BZ Grenades has been added.
    • Access Settings → Key Bindings to customize your keys.

Customize

  • Preview slots for Gear skins have been added.
    • The preview slots will be divided per Gear level.

Survivor Pass: Vikendi Reborn

New Survivor Pass will be available.

Workshop

  • New item sets have been added to the Hunter’s Chest and Archivist’s Chest.
    • High Noon
    • PNC 2022
    • Emotes
      • PNC 2022 Dance – Champion’s Struggle
      • Victory Dance 88
      • Victory Dance 89
      • Cell Phone Photo

Performance

  • Game launch has been improved through player input logic optimization.
  • (Console) Data compression has improved memory usage and gameplay hitches on Xbox devices.

Bug Fixes

  • General in-game bugs have been fixed.
  • Fixed the issue of the inaccurate location of markers in Custom Match – War Mode: Conquest.
  • Fixed the issue where it’s possible to crawl under another player while prone.
  • Fixed the issue where a melee weapon floats in the air when placed on top of a Folded Shield and displays the Folded Shield damage effect.
  • Fixed the issue where a weapon, vehicle, or footstep sounds are not heard infrequently during a match.
  • (PC) Fixed the issue where the QBU’s prop does not fold when unequipping it while prone.
  • (Console) Fixed the issue where players end up sprinting when using the L-Stick after using a consumable item.
  • Fixed collision, texture, performance, and more general issues in Erangel.
  • Fixed the issue where the character’s movements look awkward when moving on the east cliff of Erangel’s Sosnovka Military Base.
  • Fixed the issue where throwables/melee weapons stick to a specific wall in Erangel when thrown.
  • Fixed the issue where chain-link fences in Erangel can not be destroyed by vehicles at high speed.
  • Fixed the issue where a character is able to penetrate through a door when standing on the corner of a certain balcony in Erangel.
  • Fixed the issue where debris of a destroyed door did not fall off and disappear immediately in Erangel.
  • Fixed the issue where the decal of a building in Erangel can be seen through smoke.
  • Fixed the issue where dropped items can fall through container gaps in Erangel.
  • Fixed the issue where a specific shed in Erangel does not render when observed from a certain distance.
  • Fixed the issue where the color of a certain building in Erangel changed

Prima Games is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy

About the Author

Nikola L

Nikola has been a Staff Writer at Prima Games since May 2022. He has been gaming since being able to hold an Amiga 500 joystick on his own, back in the early 90s (when gaming was really good!). Nikola has helped organize dozens of gaming events and tournaments and has been professionally attached to gaming since 2009.