Remember PUBG: Black Budget? It's okay if you don't. This extraction-shooter spin-off of the original battle royale has been kinda lurking in the shadows for months. Krafton hadn't really spilled the beans on the game's details or when we'd actually get our hands on it.

However, that's all changed! The publisher and developer, PUBG Studios, have finally revealed some information about the upcoming shooter.

Black Budget is being described as a "tactical" extraction shooter. Imagine squads of players dropping into a mysterious island stuck in a time loop. There's a STALKER-like vibe with unpredictable environmental changes and anomalies. This island, called Coli, has a research facility holding secrets and artifacts that players will try to extract. It's very much a PvPvE type of game, but PUBG Studios mentioned the focus will be more on exploration and discovery, instead of non-stop combat, which I appreciate.

Alpha Test Details

The first set of closed alpha tests is scheduled for December. The first test is December 12-14, and another is planned for December 19-21. So, that's six days across two weeks, and it'll only be available on PC. Both sessions are open to players in North America, Europe, and Asia.

Like these Steam tests, the game's Steam page has a spot where you can request access. If you're lucky enough to get in, you'll find the closed alpha in your library, ready to download when the time comes.

Even though it's a closed test, Krafton confirmed that players can capture and livestream their gameplay. Watching your favorite content creators could even be how you get access, since Black Budget will have Twitch Drops running alongside the sessions.

When I first saw Arc Raiders, it reminded me of the early days of PUBG. It'll be interesting to see what PUBG does with the extraction shooter concept. So far, it seems like they are leaning into the adventure side of things, which I am excited to see.