PUBG: Blindspot is an exciting new spin-off from PUBG: Battlegrounds currently in development and was playable on the show floor at IGN Live. This 5v5 top-down tactical shooter features a classic team deathmatch mode that hooked us even amid the show's chaos, alongside a Demolition mode where teams use traps and obstacles to outsmart opponents. It's often likened to a top-down Rainbow Six Siege, and for good reason: securing kills demands strategic thinking alongside sharp reflexes.
1. It's Like a High-Stakes Game of Peekaboo
Forget your standard FPS reflexes. This top-down PvP experience values clever tactics as much as quick reactions. You’ll navigate maps filled with corners, windows, and doorways—all designed to make line of sight a critical factor. You can view the entire map but only spot enemies within your vision cone or your teammates'. This seemingly simple setup gets intense when an opponent snipes you through a window while you're watching a corridor doorway.
2. Prepare for Demolition Mode
While we didn't experience Demolition Mode firsthand, it promises a more complex challenge than the 5v5 deathmatch, emphasizing strategic planning and teamwork. Production Director Seungmyeong Yang elaborated at IGN Live, explaining, "Demolition Mode is familiar to fans of Counter-Strike or Valorant. One team attacks while the other defends, with defenders blocking entry points and attackers attempting to breach. Watching players engage with it has been a blast—they genuinely enjoy the mode!" This mode is a major reason for the Rainbow Six Siege comparisons, albeit from a fresh top-down viewpoint.
PUBG: Blindspot at IGN Live
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3. Master the Unique Control Scheme
The keyboard and mouse controls resemble a twin-stick shooter, which might take some getting used to. Use WASD for movement while your mouse directs your field of vision. Aiming and firing require holding the right mouse button, which slows your movement. This creates a constant trade-off between staying mobile to avoid detection and pausing for precise shots. As you improve, use the mouse wheel and keyboard to target headshots, body shots, or crouching enemies more accurately.
4. Strategic Character Selection Matters
As in any team-based game, your five-person squad composition is vital. The demo offered 10 distinct characters, each with unique appearances and loadouts to suit varied playstyles. If you prefer aggressive, close-quarters combat, characters like Collision—a bearded cowboy armed with a Winchester 1300 shotgun and booby traps—or Kayak, with a semi-automatic O12 shotgun and remote sticky bomb, are ideal. Support players might opt for Fanatic and her P90 plus First Aid Kit, or sniper Buddy with scanning drones. Some characters, like Dropdown with her dystopian Harley Quinn aesthetic, are tempting purely for their design, even if toxic gas grenades aren’t your usual choice.
5. Get Ready to Play in August
While the full game doesn’t have a release date yet, a PC beta is scheduled for August. Stay updated by following the game’s official Steam page.
