PUBG's first-person update LIVE: servers launch detailed

After a slight delay, the update enabling PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds' hardcore mode has gone live. Hardcore mode has been in the works for a little while now, and is a highly anticipated feature, as it restricts players to a first-person perspective while playing the game. Many players believe that this will make the game more tactical in nature, which has been contributing a lot to the excitement.

Why do those players think it'll make the game more tactical? There are a variety of reasons, but the main one revolves around a player's field of view while playing in a third-person perspective. When you're in third-person, you can see over walls and around corners if you position your camera correctly, setting up ambush opportunities on opponents who have no way of knowing you're about to spring a trap.

On hardcore servers, however, there is no such advantage to be gained. If you want to track an opponent, you need to be looking directly at them, thereby making yourself visible if they happen to look in your direction. Essentially, players are excited for this update because they think it'll cut down on cheese strategies, which seems to be a fair expectation.

Hardcore servers aren't the only thing going live in today's patch. Players will also have three new cosmetic crates to spend their Battle Points on. Two of those – the Wanderer and Survivor crates – will be free to open, while the Gamescom Invitational crate will require keys that are purchased with real money. Those Gamescom Invitational crates have a chance of dropping special outfits inspired by the movie Battle Royale, so if cosmetics in this game are important to you, get ready to drop some cash.

Finally, this update will be adding a new weapon to the game. Last week, developer Bluehole revealed the Mk14 EBR, a new designated marksman rifle that will be found exclusively in care package drops. Make no mistake: There's a lot of new stuff being added today, so if you've got some free time on your hands, hop in and check it out.