PUBG fans have something fresh and exciting to look forward to. PUBG Studios, the team behind the popular battle-royale game, is creating a brand-new first-person extraction shooter called Black Budget. The studio’s parent company, Krafton, has now confirmed that the first closed alpha playtest will run from 12 to 14 December and again from 19 to 21 December.
These early Black Budget tests will help the developers check important parts of the game, such as how the opening moments feel, how fast the action moves, how extraction works, and whether the player progression system is balanced. Anyone who wants to join can apply on the game’s Steam page, but the test is only open to players in North America, Europe, and Asia. You will also need a RTX 2060 or equivalent AMD GPU with 8 GB VRAM, so the game may be visually demanding even in this early stage.
Black Budget is designed as a PvPvE survival experience with a strong focus on teamwork and careful planning. You play as a Contractor, a hired soldier sent on a secret job to a strange island stuck in a time loop. Each run sends you deeper into a hidden operation that you must uncover piece by piece. Sessions can last up to 30 minutes and take place on a large open-world map filled with different biomes, landmarks, and underground areas to explore.
The island is affected by an “Anomaly,” a mysterious force that causes the playable area to shrink over time. The footage shown so far suggests this may appear as a thick purple fog that pushes players forward, adding tension as they search for loot and fight other teams.
The Steam page also reveals a surprising amount of depth in the game’s progression systems. Players will deal with three rival factions, each offering unique rewards, missions, and loyalty-based benefits. Your character will grow with every match through skills, proficiencies, and upgrades, making each run feel meaningful. There is also a base you can expand with crafting stations, stash upgrades, and facilities that generate income. A research station ties the story and progression together, giving players a reason to return after every extraction.
Weapons and gear can be customised heavily, including special items tied to certain factions. Players can also use healing items and stimulants to boost their chances of survival, and full character and equipment customisation means you can build a Contractor that feels personal to you.
With its strong focus on survival, strategy, and long-term progression, Black Budget already looks like a promising new entry in the PUBG universe. The coming alpha will give the first real taste of the game, and fans are eager to see how this fresh direction plays out.
If you want to join the test Black Budget, you can sign up now through Steam and check if your PC meets the minimum requirements.
