Grand Theft Auto V Legacy - contact@rockpapershotgun.com (Alice O'Connor)

Ho ho ho! John still hasn’t returned after Christmas, missing presumed drowned in egg nog, so I’m filling in today. Valve have already blarbed about 2018’s best-selling games so we’re back on the weekly charts. Last week’s top ten was largely familiar, though catching the tail end of the Steam Winter Sale has introduced a few surprises.

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PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS - contact@rockpapershotgun.com (Ollie Toms)

Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds, as we all know, is simply bursting with guns to choose from, each with their own behaviours, stats, and available attachments. And knowing the ins and outs of whatever you choose is just as important as the choice you make, because if you don’t understand the differences between a SCAR-L and a Groza, you’re unlikely to nab that sweet, sweet chicken dinner anytime soon.

But fear not, for that’s where our PUBG weapons guide comes in! Below, you’ll find a complete rundown of every weapon in PUBG, including exclusive weapons such as the G36C and the QBZ, and air drop-only weapons like the AWM and the M249. We’ll walk you through the stats of each gun, as well as our personal opinions on each and the situations in which they are best used. Scroll down a little further and you’ll find a useful table of PUBG attachments, to boot.

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PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS

It looks like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds has turned something of a corner - it's back up to over one million concurrent players on Steam for the first time since October.

PUBG has steadily lost players on Valve's platform since an incredible January 2018 peak of 3.2 million concurrent players.

After November 2018 saw a low of 895,650 peak concurrent players, this week has seen a significant increase, with, at the time of publication, 1.1 million concurrent players. It's the first time PUBG's peak concurrent player count has risen since January 2018. All this and we haven't even mentioned the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions.

Read more…

Dec 20, 2018
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS - Valor


Of all the Battlegrounds in the world, none are quite as dangerous as Vikendi. A 6km island blanketed in snow and bathed in the Aurora Borealis, is it as harsh as it is beautiful. Yet before it was a Battleground, Vikendi thrived as a space exploration hub, a tourist attraction, and to some, a quiet place to call home.

To get players up to date with the sights of this new map, we’re covering some of the points of interest around the island. Read on!

With only a third of the island untouched by snow, Vikendi is a tracker’s paradise. Fresh footprints across a sea of snow leave no question as to who has been there before. But while open fields and forests are abundant, there are also dozens of small villages dotting the entirety of the island.

There are also locations where the rivers have frozen over, allowing you to cross on foot or with a vehicle and see cover around one of the many frozen objects in the ice.

Cities within Vikendi feature a very prominent European building style and their stone walls and densely placed buildings make for great opportunities for cover, or leaping across the rooftops to catch your opponents off guard.

Now, let's look into a few key cities and points of interest.


Cantra



Cantra is the often talked about village by the sea on the edge of Vikendi. The natural hot spring in this area made the village a popular destination for tourists looking to enjoy Vikendi’s stunning beauty while soothing away the cold.


Castle



The Castle, complete with a moat formed by Vikendi’s largest river, is a standing reminder of Vikendi’s past. Well protected and with a vantage point across much of the surrounding land, the Castle is a statement of power from a time long past. Even today, Survivors hold up in the Castle are a force to be dealt with as its high towers provide a heavy advantage against a would-be siege.


Cement Factory



Volk Cement saw a huge opportunity with Vikendi’s abundance of limestone and set up their factory to meet the demands of Vikendi’s rising Commercial and Tourism needs. High rising silos, walkways, and warehouses make up the factory, providing plenty of areas for Survivors to gear up.


Cosmodrome



Cosmodrome and it’s unlaunched rocket are a stark reminder that not all dreams come true. An abandoned space center with huge maintenance hangars, control centers, and the remains of one of Vikendi’s tallest structures, Cosmodrome still leaves visitors with a strong impression-- everything on Vikendi eventually dies, even dreams.


Dino Park



Dino Park is the perfect example of how prosperous Vikendi used to be. A prehistoric amusement park, filled with various attractions including a roller coaster, bumper cars, and a “thrilling” dino maze, Dino Park was touted as fun for the whole family, as long as they were willing to drop some serious money on overpriced dino plushies in the gift shop.


Dobro Mesto



Dobro Mesto is one of Vikendi’s first major cities and as such remains one of the largest. Its glorious central plaza housed a famous clock tower and once attracted hundreds of people buying and selling crafts in a sort of communal market.


Goroka



Goroka is a unique lakeside town near central Vikendi. At the base of Mount Kreznic, the frigid temperatures of the island keep the lake frozen nearly all year round that once supported a small industry of ice fishermen. Nowadays, the ice is much more dangerous to be on with the high ground around it a prime spot for an ambush.


Podvosto



A traditional river city, Podvosto had larger town comforts such as bakeries and cafes, yet the “right at home” feeling of a small town. The old Podvosto Walkway was the original bridge connecting the two parts of this city, but in later years became a popular destination for young couples to walk together before marriage in a symbolic display of their upcoming life together.


Trevno



Located on the Northeastern coast of Vikendi, Trevno was a place where the poorer families of Vikendi went to live. Many of those who were lucky enough to have steady work were employed by the Zupan company, who hand stitched every dinosaur plushie sold by Dino Park. Being relatively far away from the island’s other destinations and with only their old lighthouse as a tourist spot, Trevno was never high on must-see lists. The low tourism income led to infrastructure in need of repairs and a large pipeline explosion didn’t make tourists feel much safer.


Volnova



Volnova was as big and bustling of a city as they come in Vikendi, with its first buildings dating back to the middle ages. Heritage and history were important to Volnova’s residents, but they were always eager to welcome a new restaurant or cafe. Centrally located between some of Vikendi’s main attractions, Volnova’s several hotels were always full, and the popularity of the city led to many buildings being built on top of each other. Even as part of a battleground, Volnova is still a popular destination where danger can strike from any direction.


Winery



The Dolinšek family took advantage of one of Vikendi’s warmest spots to set up their business and grow grapes for their traditional wine. They remained a popular tourist destination for wealthy people doing the “world tour of wine” and had daily showings and tastings in their heated underground lounge. The family business never quite recovered from a mysterious collapse of their lounge during one of these tours, which caused the deaths of several wealthy patrons.


Zabava



Zabava was a small artists’ town near the the old harbor. Sailors who passed through often fell for the town’s charm and culture and many wound up eventually laying down roots there. Zabava was also the first location of the famous Horvat’s Chicken restaurant, which spread to several locations around Vikendi and beyond.



Vikendi is a unique and diverse island and there are many more places, businesses, and attractions awaiting survivors dropping onto the island. While you should be watching your back first and foremost, we hope you find the time to also enjoy the beauty, style, and culture that let it stand out among the battlegrounds.
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS

Vikendi, PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds' new snow map, has left the test servers and is now live for everyone to skid around in on their snowmobiles. You’ll want to dress up warm if you’re going to brave the chilly island, but unfortunately all the new warm clothing necessitates working through the Survivor Pass.

Tourists should have a good time, as Vikendi’s got some unusual sights. There’s the dinosaur amusement park, for instance, complete with a roller coaster and bumper cars. You can even climb the roller coaster tracks and take potshots at scurrying enemies below. There’s a cosmodrome, too, if you fancy getting your science on. It has a rocket! 

I had a chat with PUBG’s world art director about the new map a couple of weeks ago, and PUBG Corp’s goal with the island has been to create something that sits between the big maps, like Erangel, and the faster-paced 4x4 Sanhok map. It’s a map that’s designed to be fun for snipers, but also full of close-combat encounters in towns, cities and the aforementioned amusement park. 

Outside of civilisation, the thick alpine forests should make for some tense hunts, too, reducing visibility and providing loads of cover. And you don't want to get caught in a snowstorm, where it will be even harder to see what's in front of you. 

Along with the new map, there’s the new pass. The Survivor Pass can be levelled up by completing missions, netting yourself new items and skins. It’s free for everyone, but you'll need to spend cash to get the best stuff. The Premium Survivor Pass will set you back £7.49/$10 and includes over 60 skins and emotes. 

PUBG isn’t free-to-play, so it’s worth noting that as a new player you would need to drop £25.57/$29.98 to get access to everything, and it will become more expensive when PUBG’s winter sale ends on January 3. 

PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS - contact@rockpapershotgun.com (Alice O'Connor)

It shall be a white Christmas in Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds this year, as the snowy new map Vikendi has launched on the main client. It’s a mid-size map, 6x6km, with exciting spots including a cosmodrome, castle, and dinosaur park. Here’s a little festive secret for you: all those assault rifles, pistols, shotguns, grenades, bulletproof vests, and boxes of ammunition are lovingly hand-placed for you by Father Christmas before the start of the round. If you only find terrible loot, well, clearly Santa knows what you’ve been up to this year.

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PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS - Valor


PUBG’s newest Battleground, Vikendi, is officially live and you can gear up for it with the all-new Survivor Pass! Survivor Pass: Vikendi works similarly to the Event Pass that launched with Sanhok, except it’s jam-packed with over 100 levels that let you earn great new skins and rewards to help you look the part on the harsh landscape of Vikendi.

Check out the video below for a quick overview or read on for all the details!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIU0yCL2EQk



As before, all players will have access to the basic Survivor Pass for free, which allows everybody to bring home some sweet new looks. Each level earned also gives a brand new Coupon, which can be used to purchase items from the Coupon Shop available during the Survivor Pass period. For those who want everything the pass has to offer, a Premium Survivor Pass may be purchased for $9.99 which gives access to over 60 exclusive skins and emotes as well as great rewards for completing premium missions. You can see which rewards are unlocked at each level by viewing the pass in the client or on the Survivor Pass microsite.



To participate, simply play the game and complete Survivor Pass missions to earn XP and level up your pass. There are Beginner, Daily, Weekly, Premium, and Challenge missions available, but some missions and rewards are only available to Premium pass holders. Progress your pass as far as you can during the 10 week period and claim your awesome new rewards!



For players who want to boost their progress, instant level packs with 5, 20, and 50 levels are available for purchase, which will immediately grant their levels and the rewards attached to them!

PUBG and the Premium Survivor Pass are available now through Steam and the in-game store. If you don’t own PUBG yet, you can pick up a bundle with the game and Premium Pass together for the discounted price of $34.99. Even better, PUBG is part of the Steam Winter Sale! From now through January 3rd, you can pick up the PUBG Survivor Pass Bundle for just $24.99 and the base game for only $19.99!

You can learn more about the Survivor Pass on the new microsite.

Update 24 and Vikendi are on live servers now and you can check out the updated patch notes here, highlighting all the changes between test server and launch.

Now’s the best time to get in on the action, so drop in, level up, collect your rewards, and hit the slopes of Vikendi in style!

For more information, see our FAQ below or visit the Survivor Pass: Vikendi microsite.



FAQ

Q. If I don’t buy the Premium Survivor Pass, will I still be able to participate in the event?
A. All players can level up and earn rewards, but some missions and rewards are exclusive to Premium Survivor Pass holders. Holders of the Premium Survivor Pass will have access to 6 additional Weekly Missions every week, exclusive rewards for completing Premium Missions, and 60+ exclusive rewards from leveling up.

Q. How do I get the Premium Survivor Pass?
A. The Premium Survivor Pass may be purchased for $9.99 through Steam or the in-game store.

Q. How many missions are available with the Survivor Pass: Vikendi?
A. The Survivor Pass features 300+ missions over the course of 10 weeks in the form of Daily, Weekly, and Premium Missions. There are also Beginner for those just starting out, and Challenge missions to test the grit of even the most seasoned survivor.

Q. When are Weekly Missions updated?
A. After the Survivor Pass opens on December 19, Weekly Missions will be updated every Wednesday at 9AM KST (Tuesday at 5PM PDT).

Q. What if I buy the Survivor Pass late in the event period?
A. You will immediately receive all Premium rewards up to your current level, and will have until the Pass period ends to earn the rest of your rewards. Level packs can also be purchased to supplement levels if time is running short.

Q. How do I level up?
A. You can level up by earning XP by completing missions from the Survivor Pass. If you want to level up quicker, instant level up packs are available in the store for purchase.

Q. Do I get to keep my rewards after the event is over?
A. Yes, these are permanent rewards that you unlock and keep on your account forever.

Q. Is it possible to trade reward items from the Survivor Pass with other players?
A. All reward items from Survivor Pass: Vikendi are non-tradable and non-marketable.

Q. I’m having a problem claiming rewards from Survivor Pass: Vikendi. What should I do?
A. Please contact PUBG customer support with any issues.

Q. Can I refund the Premium Pass?
A. Please contact Steam customer service for any inquiries related to refunding the Premium Pass.

PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS - contact@rockpapershotgun.com (RPS)

We’ve been to the forest, the desert, and a tropical island in Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds, but Vikendi, the newest map in PUBG, takes us to a hilly frozen tundra, located on an island somewhere between the size of Erangel and Sanhok. The map release also comes with a host of exclusive features and game adjustments, so we’ve put together this Vikendi map guide, where you’ll find everything you need to know to get started with playing the new map, such as the deadliest areas to drop into, best loot locations, Vikendi-exclusive weapons and vehicles, and some tips for getting that warm chicken dinner to feed you through the winter. (more…)

Grand Theft Auto V Legacy - contact@rockpapershotgun.com (John Walker)

Hey, remember the good old days? Those giddy times I like to think of as last week? When the Charts felt fresh and new, filled with potential, as if any interesting game could take a top spot? Well, forget all that because it’s all gone to shit again.

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Stellaris - contact@rockpapershotgun.com (John Walker)

I don’t what is this? How many? Are we sure we’re in the right charts? This is definitely the Steam> Charts, where the mad-brained broken people just buy the same four games over and over and over? Because something is up. People have only bought the same three games over and over!

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