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Closed Alpha and Playtests
May 26, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Initial version (2026-05-27)
Ahead of release, PUBG Studios has run several testing phases for PUBG: Black Budget to gather feedback from creators and the community on key gameplay elements. These tests have been held on PC and have been used to refine the game's systems and performance. The game's release date remains to be announced.
The first Closed Alpha Test was announced alongside the game's reveal in November 2025 and ran in December 2025. It took place exclusively on PC and consisted of two public test sessions across two weeks: the first from December 12 to December 14, and the second from December 19 to December 21. The test was available to players in North America, Europe, and Asia, with support for English, Korean, Russian, and Chinese.
This test was run without a non-disclosure agreement, so participants were free to stream, capture, and share their gameplay throughout the period. Players could sign up for access on the game's store page, and additional access keys were distributed through streaming platform drops. The first alpha was played in first-person only mode and focused on early-game systems, combat pacing, extraction balance, and player progression.
Session | Dates | Region Coverage |
|---|---|---|
Closed Alpha, Week 1 | December 12 to 14, 2025 | North America, Europe, Asia |
Closed Alpha, Week 2 | December 19 to 21, 2025 | North America, Europe, Asia |
After the alpha concluded, the developers reported strong interest and participation, and noted that feedback helped them assess the game's atmosphere, visuals, and overall system design. Feedback also highlighted areas to improve, including combat perception, situational clarity, and fatigue during repeated runs. Security and anti-cheat measures were strengthened during the test in response to reports of unauthorized programs.
In April 2026, a smaller, invite-only Closed Community Test was held for players in the European region across April 22, 23, and 24, with daily play windows in the evening. This test was a community-driven development phase aimed at experienced extraction shooter players and previous test participants, used to verify new features in development and collect structured feedback rather than to offer open play.
On May 8, 2026, PUBG Studios announced a second Closed Alpha Test and opened applications, with the detailed schedule to be confirmed later. This test is planned for North America, Europe, and Asia on PC, and it adds Turkish to the supported languages alongside English, Korean, Chinese, and Russian. Like the first alpha, it will run without an NDA. Accepted players will be able to invite a limited number of friends through the platform, with conditions on how long accounts must have been friends.
These testing phases reflect an ongoing development process. For an overview of the game itself, see PUBG: Black Budget, and for the systems being tested, see Gameplay and Extraction.