PUBG: Dednet Bets on '90s Chaos to Stand Out in a Crowded Battle Royale Market

The first trailer for PUBG: Dednet is not what most players expect from the battle royale series that helped define the genre. It shows characters slithering across the ground, swords for hands, and a tiny doll driving a toy car with a power drill. According to creative director Dave Curd, that jarring contrast with the series' traditionally realistic military style is deliberate.

"If you want to excite and delight people, you have to give them something fresh," Curd told TechRadar at Gamescom. "If you want a cool, stoic, mil-sim, take your pick; they're everywhere." Curd described the game's tone as "my version of the 90s filtered through a meatgrinder."

The trailer backs up that description. It depicts gunfights inside arcades, car chases through rural towns lit by neon signs, and an overall grungy, punk aesthetic. There is no suggestion that this visual identity reflects how the final game will actually play.

Curd said the team judges its ideas with an internal test: does it make us laugh, does it sound like an interesting challenge, and do we think about it the next day. He also acknowledged that such an approach can be polarizing. "The audience will forgive almost anything but being bored. So, I think this trailer will get a lot of love and hate," Curd said. "As long as they're feeling something passionately, I think we've done a good job. But if people look past that and their eyes glaze over, then that would be worrying."

Despite the outlandish presentation, the core structure remains that of a battle royale. Multiple teams of three compete to be the last ones standing. The twist comes from roguelite progression layered on top. Players begin a 'run,' where they may specify how many wins or placements they can achieve before hitting a set number of losses. Regardless of the result, each match ends with choices that can upgrade or alter the abilities and play style of the selected character.

Those choices can push a character toward a support role—healing teammates or using a riot shield fashioned from a car door. Alternatively, players could focus on the previously mentioned doll, which can ride on a teammate's back or perch on an opponent's shoulder to cause disruption. Curd pointed out the idiosyncratic nature of these options compared with competitors, joking: "I'm pretty confident this isn't going to be in this year's Battlefield update."

What this means in practice is that PUBG: Dednet is positioning itself as an intentionally unserious entry in a genre often defined by gritty realism. The abilities and roguelite runs are not merely cosmetic; they are designed to change how a match unfolds and how players respond to both success and failure. The closed beta is not yet open, but players can pre-register for it now, according to the original report.

It's worth noting that everything described here comes from a trailer and a single interview. Curd's comments offer insight into the team's design philosophy, but they do not confirm how the balance of abilities will work, whether all classes will feel equally viable, or how long a typical run lasts. The publisher has not shared details on monetization, platform availability beyond that pre-registration, or a release window. Those looking for a grounded tactical shooter may need to wait for a different game. Those who want a battle royale that embraces absurdity have something to watch.