PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS will turn its player-made mode tools into a more public matchmaking service when the upcoming August Update introduces PUBG: Playgrounds on PC. The new hub will gather selected community creations so players can find a mode and queue for it without waiting for a creator to organize a custom lobby.
Until now, UGC Alpha has operated through Custom Match. Creators could build their own modes, but they also had to gather players and send invitations themselves. Finding other players’ creations was just as awkward, which left plenty of inventive ideas hidden behind private lobbies.
With PUBG’s August 11 announcement, the developer outlined a dedicated page for selected modes, direct matchmaking, search tools, and a rotating lineup that will be refreshed each month. The notice does not provide a specific launch date for the August Update.
Playgrounds will live under the Play menu
Once the August Update arrives, PC players will be able to open [PUBG: Playgrounds] under the [Play] menu. The main page will show the modes currently available, with each entry presenting its name, primary tag, and thumbnail. An information panel will also show the creator, secondary tags, maximum player count, and maximum team size.
The hub will be split into several sections:
- New will show recently added modes in a randomized order. It will not appear immediately when the service launches, since PUBG needs more modes in the lineup first.
- Recently Played will keep the modes a player has tried, with the newest sessions shown first.
- All will display every currently available mode in a randomized order.
Players will also be able to search by mode name or creator name, then filter the results by primary tag. The available categories cover team battles such as 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, 4v4, and NvN, along with Battle Royale, Deathmatch, Conquest, Puzzle, Racing, Party, Defense, Gun Game, Wave, Training, Parkour, Casual, and PvE.
Selecting a mode will open a details page with its main image, creator information, mode type, number of rounds, player limits, team size, perspective, and update history. Creator-written descriptions will also support an AI translation feature, giving players another way to understand a mode before joining.
How community modes will reach the hub
There will not be a direct submission form at launch. Instead, PUBG will examine modes through gameplay data from Custom Matches. Creators who want their work to be noticed will need to get players into their modes, since more play sessions create a larger pool of data for review.
The selection process will look at factors such as total playtime and average participation. Modes that meet the developer’s criteria can then be added to PUBG: Playgrounds, where matchmaking can put them in front of a much larger audience. PUBG also plans to source modes through other channels, including community-created mode contests.
Creating a mode through Custom Match remains limited to BATTLEGROUNDS PLUS accounts. Creators can set a separate thumbnail, use primary and secondary tags to help players find the mode, and potentially have certain settings adjusted if the mode is selected for Playgrounds. PUBG specifically mentions values such as the score limit and number of rounds as settings that may change for stable matchmaking.
Rules for modes and descriptions
Player-made modes will not count as official PUBG content, and unexpected bugs may appear during play. PUBG can restrict access to a mode if it develops a critical bug that prevents normal gameplay.
Other reasons for exclusion include content on the map that violates the Rules of Conduct or the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS Mods Policy, inappropriate text, commercial links or website addresses, personal social media accounts or websites, clan information, and other policy violations in the mode’s description.
Players who only want to use Playgrounds matchmaking will not need to agree to the Mods Policy. That agreement is required for features such as creating or joining Custom Matches that use player-created modes.
Matchmaking has a 90-minute limit
After selecting a mode, players can start matchmaking from its details page. Each matchmaking session can remain active for up to 1 hour and 30 minutes, although PUBG says that duration may change later.
Switching between a community-created mode and Normal or Ranked Mode can automatically disband a party if the group is larger than the destination mode’s player limit. Players who want to launch a mode directly through Custom Match can use Go to Custom Match or Create, but that route requires BATTLEGROUNDS PLUS. The preset, map, and maximum player count cannot be changed in that Custom Match setup.
PUBG: Playgrounds gives the game’s custom-mode scene a public front door instead of leaving every creation behind a manually assembled lobby. Tell us which kind of community mode you would try first, and share your thoughts in the comments. You can also follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
PUBG: Battlegrounds
Developed by PUBG Corp
PUBG: Battlegrounds is a battle royale shooter that pits 100 players against each other in a struggle for survival. Gather supplies and outwit your opponents to become the last person standing.
- Genre Shooter
- Platforms Google Stadia, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox One
- Perspective First person, Third person
- Modes Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Battle Royale
- Release December 20, 2017
- Publisher Bluehole Studio, Microsoft Studios
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Age Rating
