Up until now, parachuting has been the only way to fly in PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. At least, it was if you don't count the air you can get off of hills with the motorcycle. That's now changed, as PUBG Corp. is introducing a brand new vehicle that gives players wings. Introducing the Motor Glider, a new flying vehicle coming to PUBG. For now, the Motor Glider is only available on the PUBG Labs server, but depending on the reception it may become a more permanent addition.
The Motor Glider is an impressive contraption that fits right into PUBG's aesthetic. Some players may, at first notice, be averse to the idea of a flying vehicle in PUBG. The idea of a helicopter, jet, jetpack, or even a biplane just doesn't make sense in PUBG's weird and grungy post-apocalypse/Chernobyl style. A glider that could easily be a motorcycle sidecar with a glider attached via welding, however, fits perfectly. PUBG Corp. even goes out of its way to give the vehicle appropriate weathering and rust.
Two players can fit into a single Motor Glider and the cab of the vehicle is very open, so it's not going to provide much of an advantage beyond verticality. It also doesn't turn, rise or drop particularly fast either. But don't let that persuade anyone that the Motor Glider doesn't have value. Not only does the new PUBG vehicle give players an angle of attack that'd otherwise be ignored, but it does let players travel impressively fast cross-country. Like the bat in PUBG, the Motor Glider will be excellent in certain circumstances, but not the best choice no matter where or when it's found.
As the short trailer that PUBG Corp. put together shows, players can even now have mid-air duels. It's unclear if the wings can be damaged directly, but the vehicle can definitely catch fire just like any other. Unlike other vehicles, however, players may think twice about escaping the vehicle as soon as it catches fire.
The Motor Glider is certain to be controversial in PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. It's guaranteed to shake up the experience and not in a straightforward manner. Players that prefer PUBG's realism are certainly not going to be pleased about gliders flying around shooting players from the air. Other players who like the PUBG meta to change, for new gameplay to be constantly introduced like in Fortnite, will be much happier. The Motor Glider will be available via PUBG Labs until December 23.
PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.