PUBG has introduced a new PvE mode called ‘Xeno Point.’ It is a roguelite mode with a synopsis where four players resist an alien invasion on Miramar, making it perfect for those who want to enjoy some casual small talk with friends. It offers a chance to experience casual co-op gameplay beyond the standard ‘Battle Royale’ format of PUBG.
🏢 DeveloperKRAFTON
🏢 PublisherKRAFTON
💻 PlatformPC(Steam)
🎮 GameplayPC(Steam)
📅 ReleaseApril 8, 2026
🔧 Keywords#PvE #Survival #Roguelite
Low-Risk Zones for ‘Growth,’ High-Risk Zones for ‘Jackpots’
▲ Xeno Point features ‘Low,’ ‘Medium,’ and ‘High’ risk zones.
Xeno Point is designed primarily for a PvE experience. Since it is player vs. AI, it offers a lighter gameplay feel compared to the traditional PUBG ‘Battle Royale.’
The gameplay is intuitive. Xeno Point consists of various sectors, each classified by risk level: ‘Low,’ ‘Medium,’ and ‘High.’ The goal is to start by clearing ‘Low’ risk zones to farm essential survival items, then gradually move into ‘Medium’ and ‘High’ zones to acquire ‘high-value items’ and ‘upgrades.
▲ Naturally, as the difficulty increases, gimmick aliens appear that grant ‘immunity (invincibility)’ to surrounding aliens.
There is little difficulty in low-risk zones. The aliens themselves are mostly ‘Crawlers’ or ‘Grunts,’ which are somewhat cute(?) or non-threatening. In these zones, the progression is so straightforward that you might wonder if the aliens are actually invading Miramar or if you are just hunting them.
Of course, this sentiment fades once you move into high-risk zones. From this point on, tougher elite aliens known as ‘Tank Ultra,’ ‘Tank Master,’ ‘Grunt Master,’ and ‘Crawler Master’ appear, along with ‘Guardian Master’ aliens that grant invincibility to others. This is why you must farm as efficiently as possible in the lower-tier zones.
At the end of each sector, there is always a ‘super-high-risk entity’ called a ‘Sector Commander.’ Their attacks are quite fierce and damaging, making concentrated firepower through cooperative play essential.
▲ The ‘Sector Commander’ at the end of a sector uses highly threatening attacks, so caution is required during the encounter.
‘Field Farming,’ ‘Blue Chip Skills,’ and ‘Super Management’ are Key
▲ It is important to carefully collect high-value items scattered across the field.
So, what can players do to counter a ‘Sector Commander’? First and foremost, you need to focus on ‘field farming.’ Be sure to thoroughly search for ‘container boxes’ in the field and collect ‘dropped items’ from defeated aliens to secure high-grade gear.
After that, you should invest points earned from completing missions and defeating aliens into ‘Blue Chip Skills’ and ‘Super Management.’ ‘Blue Chip Skills’ is a skill tree that aids in defense, survival, and offense. You can customize it to your preference and reset it if you are not satisfied. With abilities like ‘Start the next session after death with a random weapon,’ ‘Start the game with a medical kit,’ and ‘15% reduction in Super cooldown,’ it is best to secure as many points as possible to unlock as many skills as you can to gain an edge in combat.
There is also a ‘special fire support’ system called ‘Super Management.’ It is important to continuously invest points, known as fragments, to unlock and upgrade various super abilities. From the basic ‘Turret’ to the ‘Damage Wave’ that fires crystal spike pulses over a short distance to deal heavy damage, and the ‘Flame Nexus’ that scatters fire, these act as a ‘joker’ card that teammates can quickly deploy if they are being overwhelmed by firepower.
Lighthearted Fun, but Limited by the Constraints of a Time-Limited Mode
Playing ‘Xeno Point’ for five hours, I felt it was definitely lighter than the traditional ‘Battle Royale’ and easy to enjoy with acquaintances. It was enough to feel the fun of strengthening characters and cooperating by complementing each other through individual ‘Blue Chip Skill trees’ and ‘Super Management’ usage.
‘Light’ did not mean ‘unchallenging.’ As mentioned earlier, at lower difficulties, anyone—regardless of their experience with the main game—can easily adapt by hunting aliens. As you move to higher-difficulty sectors, factors like how well you’ve built your skill tree and managed your super abilities, as well as your teamwork, become crucial.
The downside was that the limitations of a ‘time-limited mode’ were clearly felt. Since it is not a core mode included in a ‘full-price game,’ it is bound to have the same setting (Miramar), a repetitive gameplay loop, and a lack of cinematic progression to spark interest.
In this regard, I wished for more interesting narratives, tense cutscenes showing the alien invasion, mechanics that vary the playstyle, or more enticing, challenging rewards. The lack of elements like rare rewards for defeating all Sector Commanders—which would be easy to implement and could drive player interest—remains a missed opportunity.
▲ It is certainly fun to blast aliens with friends at first, but it hits a limit with repeated play.
PUBG: Still Not Resting on Its ‘Battle Royale’ Laurels’
Setting aside the shortcomings, PUBG has announced that it will continue to introduce various gameplay content beyond ‘Xeno Point.’ In the upcoming month of May, they plan to release a collaboration with the Swedish developer ‘Starbreeze’ for PAYDAY. As PAYDAY is a game centered on bank heists, we can look forward to new gameplay styles not previously seen in PUBG, much like Xeno Point.
Through Xeno Point, PUBG is showing a move to break away from the genre framework of ‘Battle Royale’ and leap forward as a platform that offers diverse shooting experiences. It is also a decent PvE experience for users who are tired of the heavy ‘Battle Royale’ genre to return, or for new users to try out.
PUBG Xeno Point is playable until 4:00 PM on May 6, so if you want to enjoy a free, casual round with friends, it would be a good idea to try it before it ends.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated with the help of NC AI. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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