In PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, stealth is an important component of many game-winning plays. One of the most useful tips on how to win a match and gain that chicken dinner is to do a surprise attack, where one attacks their opponent before they have a chance to react. However, unfortunately for those who utilize that strategy, going stealth just got a whole lot harder.

In a new video, YouTuber WackyJacky101 conducted a test regarding PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds footstep sounds. After holding suspicions that the game had recently changed its footstep audio, the YouTuber tested the hypothesis. The game has indeed changed the range in which footsteps can be heard. According to the results of the experiment, the range in which one can hear another player's footsteps is approximately 60 meters.

WackyJacky101's tests, in which the PUBG player enlisted others to help out, saw that a standing run can now be heard from 56 meters whereas before the range was just 40m. Meanwhile, a standing sprint can be heard up to 58 meters away. There is a 20-meter difference in the audible range of the standing run and sprint when compared to the tests that WackyJacky101 conducted back in March 2018. It's quite a thorough test, as the YouTuber also compared sounds barefoot or with shoes on, as well as running on normal terrain compared to the snow on Vikendi.

It's unclear exactly how long that this change has been live, but if the comments of WackyJacky101's video are to be believed, players aren't happy about it. The consensus is that the development team at PUBG Corp should focus more on making improvements, such as new gameplay content like the Vikendi map, than on disruptive changes like this.

Many are also puzzled as to why PUBG Corp would make an update like this when the stealth is such a big part of why people play the game. Surprise attacks that require tactical thinking are one of PUBG's strongest selling points, argue the players. Many say that they enjoy trying to get the jump on opponents. While the change to audible footstep distance hasn't been quite as controversial nor has it got quite as much attention as changes like region locking, it's disgruntling enough that some players want it changed back as soon as possible.

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is available on PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.

Source: YouTube - WackyJacky101 (via PCGamesN)