PUBG Mobile update 0.17.0 is dropping this week on Android and iOS, and the latest reports indicate that the release date has been set for March 3, 2020. This doesn’t mean that Season 12 will start on the same day, but the good news is that Tencent will likely share its plans for the launch of the new Royale Pass very soon. Based on how previous patches have been released, Tencent will probably perform server maintenance before releasing update 0.17.0.
If this does happen, PUBG Mobile gamers can expect downtime to last several hours and be followed by a new download to install.
Meanwhile, PUBG Mobile Season 11 looks set to end very soon, meaning a bigger update regarding Season 12 is expected.
And before all that happens, Tencent has started to tease what will be included in PUBG Mobile update 0.17.0.
This weekend has seen Tencent confirm the return of Hardcore Mode as part of the new patch.
And this will be joined with the new death replay feature, which is a mainstay of the PUBG franchise on PC.
Death Replays will be available for you to peruse the last few seconds before your untimely downfall and is a feature fans have been waiting for.
We also know that fresh Season 12 content is being lined up, meaning a new Royale Pass to buy and cosmetics to earn.
Another big change reportedly launching with the next PUBG Mobile update is a reworked Erangel.
Erangel will see a few notable changes and is something that has been in development for the Android and iOS platforms for some time.
Tencent has also confirmed that they will be launching its latest anti-cheat initiative as part of the new update.
This will be called Project: Ban Pan and the new Death Replay feature, launching on Tuesday, March 3, will provide extra help combatting cheats.
A message from Tencent explains: “Within the game, PUBG MOBILE continuously updates the coverage and accuracy of each security component, adding more samples of software and code to respond daily to new evolutions in cheating.
“Approximately 95% of violations are punished by real-time banning by the security system automatically, while players can also report any suspicions to build a larger software database, which also helps with imposing offline punishment.
“Outside of the game, the PUBG MOBILE Safety Station website offers a place for players to report suspicious behaviour more effectively and verify that punishments have been handed out as a result of their joint efforts.
“As a new anti-cheat measure of “Project: Ban Pan”, the Death Replay function will be available in PUBG MOBILE in the latest 0.17.0 version update beginning on Tuesday, March 3, allowing players to immediately see how they were killed from the perspective of their opponent.”
Vincent Wang, General Manager of Global Publishing, Tencent Games, added this: “Like our players, we’ve always had a zero-tolerance policy for cheating.
“To protect the fair and competitive environment of the game, creating a fair and even playing field is always one of our highest priorities.”
According to Tencent, reported accounts of cheating have decreased 90% among the daily active users, compared to the peak.