PUBG: Blindspot - 5 Essential Highlights

PUBG: Blindspot is a bold new PUBG: Battlegrounds spin-off in development, showcased at IGN Live. This 5v5 top-down tactical shooter features a gripping team deathmatch mode that captivated us amid the event's chaos, plus a Demolition mode where teams deploy traps and obstacles to outsmart opponents. It draws parallels to a top-down Rainbow Six Siege, demanding sharp strategy alongside quick reflexes to secure kills.

1. Master Tactical Vision

Ditch FPS instincts for this top-down PvP, where strategy rivals reflexes. Navigate maps packed with corners, windows, and doorways, where line of sight is critical. Hunt enemies before they ambush you, using your vision cone and teammates’ sightlines. It’s deceptively simple—until a sniper catches you off-guard through a window while you’re fixated on a corridor.

2. Demolition Mode Elevates Strategy

Though we didn’t play Demolition Mode, it promises deeper complexity than the 5v5 deathmatch, emphasizing teamwork and planning. Production Director Seungmyeong Yang shared at IGN Live: “Demolition Mode, seen in games like Counter Strike or Valorant, pits an attacking team against defenders. Defenders block breaches while attackers infiltrate.” Its strategic depth fuels the Rainbow Six Siege comparisons, reimagined from a top-down view.

PUBG: Blindspot at IGN Live

3. Adapt to Unique Controls

The keyboard-mouse setup mimics a twin-stick shooter, requiring adjustment. Move with WASD, aim your vision cone with the mouse, and hold the right mouse button to fire, slowing movement. Balance speed to evade detection with precision for shots. Master controls to target headshots, body shots, or crouched foes using the mouse wheel and keyboard.

4. Choose Your Fighter Wisely

Your five-person squad’s composition is crucial. The demo offered 10 characters with unique looks and loadouts. I leaned toward close-range chaos with Collision’s Winchester 1300 shotgun and booby traps or Kayak’s O12 shotgun and sticky bomb. Support players might pick Fanatic’s P90 and First Aid Kit or Buddy’s sniper rifle and drones. Dropdown’s dystopian Harley Quinn flair and Toxic Gas Grenades are tempting for style alone.

5. Beta Hits in August

No full release date yet, but a PC beta is set for August. Check the official Steam page for updates.