- PUBG: Dednet was revealed at Gamescom 2026
- The upcoming shooter has roguelike elements and crazy abilities
- Creative director Dave Curd says the game is meant to bring the franchise "to an audience that hasn't historically connected with it."
Upcoming PUBG: Battlegrounds spinoff Dednet is intended to bring the franchise to a whole new audience. Revealed at Gamescom 2026, Dednet is a multiplayer shooter with a smattering of roguelike elements.
Speaking to TechRadar Gaming at the show, creative director Dave Curd explained how Dednet fits into the wider battle royale franchise.
"We're already getting into what PUBG is as an IP and what makes PUBG, PUBG," he said. "For me, it's not necessarily a closing circle or a level three helmet. PUBG is desperate survival. It's a dark sense of humour. It's survival of the fittest.
"Dednet is kind of my attempt at spreading the gospel of PUBG to an audience that hasn't historically connected with it."
Curd also said that the game is being "developed console first" with matches that unfold at a much faster pace. "We're faster, leaner, and meaner, taking more fights and coming back."
Persistence is an important part of the formula too, with each match progressing you in a way that carries forward into the next.
He continued: "Between every match, you're gaining crazy abilities like sliding like a snake or having blade hands, and you're also gaining funny injuries like fumbling your weapon or sneezing in smoke. All on your way to chase a perfect build."
He described the team's overall mission as "to create an unhinged, f***** up adult sandbox" that allows "players [to] tell interesting stories."
In the same interview, the creative director also touched on how the '90s-inspired multiplayer shooter stands out with its zany abilities and unique style.
Although there's no official release date yet, players can pre-register for the closed beta now for an early taste of the action.
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