PUBG’s new extraction shooter looks to take on Arc Raiders and Escape from Tarkov, as closed alpha test arrives on Steam next month

PUBG Studios has announced a closed alpha test for its forthcoming extraction shooter PUBG: Black Budget.

The game promises to redefine the genre, with a focus on exploration and discovery as opposed to survival and combat. It’s set on a mysterious island trapped in a time loop by a supernatural phenomenon.

It faces stiff competition, however, as the likes of Arc Raiders and Escape from Tarkov have recently released, not to mention the parody Escape from Duckov, as well as the recent Battlefield and Call of Duty releases.

Perhaps, though, PUBG Studios is looking to capitalise on those successes to bolster interest in Black Budget.

The test will take place on Steam for players across North America, Europe, and Asia in two sessions. The first will be 12th – 14th December; the second from 19th – 21st December. That’s across two weekends.

Players can sign up for access on Steam.

Project Black Budget, as it was initially known, was first spotted in a Krafton financial report back in 2023, described as including “an ever-changing PvPvE open-world and satisfying gunplay that deliver unpredictable and exciting experiences”. It appeared to be aiming for a 2024 release, but its release date remains TBA.

Still, next month’s test will provide a first hands-on opportunity, suggesting a full launch could finally be on the horizon.