PUBG: Battlegrounds’ (PUBG) tenth map, RONDO, features a vast playing field. Unlike previous maps, there are no surrounding seas or mountains, which makes it appear even more immense than its actual size of 8×8 km. A modern city with sophisticated buildings coexists alongside traditional sites with a hint of the past, allowing for various strategic tactics. Join us as we explore RONDO and its numerous new features with two die-hard PUBG users and KRAFTON employees, Splatter and Tythonic S.R. (Tythonic Senior Researcher).
※ This review was conducted after the Patch 27.1 update.
※ Please be advised that this review consists of the reviewer’s opinion and is based on the reviewer’s concept. It is not the official stance of KRAFTON or the PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS developers.
#By Tythonic S.R.
Hello, PUBG players. This is Tythonic Senior Researcher (Tythonic S.R.) I’m back after a year to introduce RONDO, PUBG’s 10th map.
RONDO offers users new environments they have never encountered before. First, we’ll head south, where the Tin Long Garden features impressive waterfalls and rocky mountains. Here, you can see traditional Eastern scenery and architecture. The pavilion in front of the waterfall and the massive tree in the center of the building are very awe-inspiring. If you choose this place as your landing point, be careful not to let the scenery captivate you. The tall rocky mountains surrounding the area make it easy for enemies who arrive through emergency pickups to target you, so you have to clear the area as quickly as possible.
Jadena City, a modern city located southeast of the battlefield, offers a stark contrast to Tin Long Garden’s traditional feel. This city boasts modern skyscrapers and various buildings where one can find arsenals and supplies.
One tip to keep in mind is that there are no items placed on skyscraper rooftops. If you excel in intense urban warfare, consider Jadena City as a landing point.
RONDO introduces a new firearm called JS9. The JS9 is a modern bullpup-style submachine gun (SMG) that uses 9mm ammunition, featuring a high rate of fire and low recoil. It will give you a head start in close-range combat. Also, it only allows for muzzle attachments and magazine attachments, so there is no need to spend time looking for additional attachments. For those struggling with the assault rifle (AR), here’s your chance to be the last one standing with the JS9.
Due to the larger area of the RONDO battlefield compared to the previous ones, we have devised a way for participants to land at various points. To test this, we are frequently operating two planes for deployment on the battlefield. If you’ve joined a round with dual planes, try landing in a location that doesn’t coincide with another plane to avoid early combat encounters.
Last tip for you. In the past, residents of RONDO kept birds as popular pets, so some homes have bird cages. The birds in these cages sing when they see strangers, so if you need to approach secretly, it’s advisable to avoid these cages.
I’ve provided information on the new RONDO battlefield. I hope you keep them in mind and find success on the battlefield. Perhaps we’ll meet as survivors.
☞Who is Tythonic S.R.?
Tythonic S.R. is a senior researcher at KRAFTON and a renowned master-class PUBG player with a playtime of nearly 7,000 hours. He has a great affection for the PUBG IP and loves watching PUBG esports events, reading PUBG webtoons, and collecting merchandized goods.
#By Splatter
Hi everyone, this is Splatter. After some time away, I’m back to go over the features of PUBG’s tenth map, RONDO. PUBG consistently surprises us with new features and scenery in each new map, so my teammates and I started playing as soon as Patch 27.1 was released.
The introduction of the new firearm was one of my most highly anticipated features of the new map. With RONDO, the JS9 has entered the scene. It would have been disappointing to fail in the first round, so I chose to land in a city well off the flight path and get a new gun there. There was a bit of competition among my colleagues to be the first to find a new gun, and I was the lucky winner. The first time the new weapon was fired, I remember my team was startled to hear a sound they had never encountered before.
I’m not sensitive to sound, and it reminded me of the time when FAMAS was introduced, and I confused it with the Groza. The new gun, JS9, has a sound similar to other submachine guns (SMGs), and it has a characteristic dull noise that makes it easy to tell apart from other firearms. When I tried firing the JS9 at a wall, it demonstrated high DPS, establishing it as a top-tier submachine gun (SMG).
I explored every nook and cranny of the map using the new Blanc vehicle. Unlike previous maps surrounded by sea or mountains, RONDO feels like a 10kmx10km open space map. If you start playing from the outskirts and make your way to the center, you will be able to enjoy plenty of sights and opportunities for farming.
The new Blanc vehicle is easy to handle, and driving is stable, with a minimal chance of accidents. It also features a trunk, like the previous UAZ. I rode the Blanc all over the map before deciding to start the first round with a chicken dinner and heading towards the central area.
I stood my ground, but the magnetic field kept eluding me. I blamed the location of the magnetic field and checked the map to see where I should go. To the left of the Test Track, there were shadows, making me wonder if it was a deep valley. Upon arrival, we discovered it was not deep enough. As we were planning to relocate, we came into contact with an enemy who had thought along the same lines as my team and had been waiting for us.
Finally, the time had come to use the JS9! I attached the 3X scope and attempted a riding shot on the Blanc, but couldn’t hit anyone. I was surprised that I could control the gun’s recoil in such a situation. If you are returning to PUBG or find controlling the AR difficult, give the JS9 a try.
Afterward, seeing that the highland above the Test Track was strategically well-positioned, my team and I all climbed up there. While climbing, I felt RONDO had more low ridges and places to cover than other maps. By leveraging the geographic features to your advantage, you may not even need to climb to a higher altitude to secure a chicken dinner.
The magnetic field that kept eluding us must have felt bad, so it gave us the last circle (chuckle). We felt this was our last chance, so we watched each other’s backs until the end and were able to secure the chicken dinner. I think it must have been the first chicken dinner of Patch 27.1. Another thing I noticed with RONDO is that it seems to have attracted both returning and new users, as matches were made very quickly. After trying out RONDO, I found it really satisfying. As soon as work ends today, I’ll be running off to RONDO again.
☞Who is Splatter?
Splatter is an old fan of PUBG who has seen the release of every new item and map. He has played the game since the early access days when Erangel was the only map in PUBG. He’s also known as a skilled player who won a company-wide PUBG tournament in KRAFTON, recording over ten solo kills.
