rewrite this title PUBG: Blindspot is a 5v5 tactical shooter that resembles a top-down Rainbow Six Siege

Months after unveiling under the codename “Project Arc,” the upcoming PUBG spin-off has received an official title – PUBG: Blindspot. A free demo for the top-down tactical multiplayer shooter drops on February 20, a few days ahead of Valve’s Steam Next Fest.

Krafton describes the game as a competitive match-based shooter that transfers PUBG’s brand of “realistic” tactical action from the main game’s open-world environments into a close-quarters setting. The smaller maps and five-versus-five gameplay will ensure faster and shorter matches. Overall, Blindspot sounds like a mirror opposite of PUBG: Battlegrounds.

The list of weapons is typical for this game type: assault rifles, submachine guns, shotguns, sniper rifles, DRM, pistols, grenade launchers, and more. Some familiar guns include the Mk14 and P90. Players can also utilize blue zone grenades, recon drones, proximity explosives, flashbangs, and smoke grenades.

Although top-down games normally afford players a range of vision beyond what their avatars would see, Blindspot hides opponents and other vital items behind walls and other obstructions. This line-of-sight mechanic makes explosives and hammers essential since they can destroy walls. This feature is akin to the fog of war systems in strategy games. The line-of-sight mechanic makes maintaining and destroying cover a crucial aspect of the game.

Furthermore, anything visible to one player becomes visible to the entire team, enabling instant communication. Automatically sharing visual information diminishes the need for voice chat, facilitating teamwork between randomly matched strangers.

Blindspot follows bomb mission rules: an attacking team must reach and hack a hidden “Crypt” to activate a “Blue Chip.” Defenders must prevent opponents from reaching the Crypt by blocking doors and erecting barricades. The game features a few characters with distinct specialties, like close-range attacks, long-range combat, or gas grenades.

Krafton introduced Project Arc in early November and held an invitational competition later that month. A brief closed beta ran in January, but release details beyond the demo remain unclear. Steam Next Fest will include hundreds of free demos, including Blindspot, and runs from February 24 to March 3.

Although the company is mainly known for PUBG, Krafton will soon release its take on The Sims – inZOI. When the company unveiled it last year, the life simulation game impressed audiences with its high-end Unreal Engine 5 graphics and flexible character customization system. Early Access availability begins March 28.