PUBG's October 43.2 patch gives console players new controller presets and adds more Custom Match options, including observer and nickname controls. The official notes explain which modes support each tool.

Update 43.2 changes the way some players set up matches

PUBG: Battlegrounds Update 43.2 includes several changes that are easy to miss if you only skim the headline. The official notes describe new console controller presets and more options for Custom Matches. These are practical changes rather than a promise that every weapon or map feels new. For players who host games or struggle with controller layout, they may still make a real difference.

The patch notes distinguish modes and platforms carefully. Some observer settings apply only to a Custom Match variant, and some controls work differently on console. Read those labels before expecting a new menu option in every lobby. A missing option may simply be unavailable in your selected mode, not a failed installation.

This guide focuses on the specific changes published by KRAFTON. It does not claim that a preset will improve your aim or that a new host option fixes every tournament issue. Try one adjustment, play a few matches, and keep the layout that makes your actions more predictable under pressure.

Two new controller presets arrive on console

PUBG Standard and Shooter Standard are the two new console presets. KRAFTON says PUBG Standard adapts familiar controls from other console games and becomes the default for new players. Shooter Standard aims for consistent button behavior across actions, reducing exceptions. Existing Type A, Type B, Type C and Custom remain available.

If you already have saved controller settings, the official notes say they will be retained. You therefore do not need to rebuild your setup just to see what changed. Check the preset menu and compare button mappings before changing anything. The two new presets do not support customization, which makes Custom the better route if you rely on a very specific layout.

A good test is to enter a low-stakes setting and repeat common actions: aim, fire, lean, interact, swap equipment, open inventory and mark a location. Pay attention to errors, not only speed. A layout that feels familiar in a quiet area may still cause a mistake during a fast inventory exchange. Give yourself enough repetitions before deciding whether the new default is better for you.

Radial communication is easier to inspect

The patch notes say console players can navigate the Message Radial with the right stick and select an item. Changes to marker and message controls matter because PUBG squads often need to communicate without a microphone. A clear ping can identify an enemy, route or item more quickly than stopping to type.

Try the revised radial in a training or casual match. Open it, move through several options, and check how the selection appears to teammates. If you accidentally choose the wrong message, review the control mapping before blaming the feature. Muscle memory from an older preset may be the real issue.

The value of a marker also depends on context. A direction without distance can be vague; a repeated alert can drown out useful information. Use the tool to give teammates a specific action to consider. The update changes access to communication controls, but good squad communication still requires clarity and restraint.

Custom Match observers get more options

KRAFTON lists new Intense Battle Royale observer settings under Custom Match rules. Hosts can configure whether dead players become observers, whether killer spectating is available, and whether observers can use voice chat. The official notes say that on console only the killer-spectating option is available. That platform exception is important when planning the same event across PC and console.

For a community match, decide the observation rules before players join. Spectating can help organizers follow a game, but voice and information access may affect competitive fairness if participants can relay what they see. The settings give hosts choices; they do not choose the right rule for every group.

Run a small rehearsal with friends if you manage a tournament. Have one person be eliminated, check the observer transition, and verify who can hear whom. Write down the settings you used. That is more dependable than assuming an option behaves exactly as its name suggests during a live event.

Hosts can hide player nicknames

Update 43.2 adds a Hide Player Nicknames option to Custom Matches. When enabled, most participants see names such as Unknown #000 for players outside their squad. KRAFTON says real nicknames can still appear in Death Cam and the Report screen, and they appear again in results and replays after the match. Treat the feature as a live-match presentation tool, not complete anonymity.

The setting can help a community event reduce target selection based on familiar names. It can also make broadcast or observer workflows more complicated, so decide what the event needs. The official notes specify where names remain visible; tell participants about those exceptions if privacy is part of your reason for enabling it.

Hosts can set the option in the lobby creation flow or under Match Settings. Review it before the lobby fills. If an organizer needs a public bracket or post-match identification, the results and replay behavior can help, but it should be tested in advance. A setting that changes names during play deserves a clear explanation to the players.

Small host changes reduce friction

The official notes also say players can join a match by double-clicking it in the list. A previously selected mode now remains selected when leaving a Custom Match lobby, and team numbers have been synchronized between lobby and observer screens. Hosts can kick a player from lobby chat as well as through lobby slots. Each change is small, but event setup is full of small repeated actions.

Do not assume every Custom Match feature applies to normal matchmaking. The patch notes mark their scope. If you are a regular Battle Royale player, the new console controls may be the most relevant part of 43.2. If you organize scrims, the observer and identity controls may matter more. Read the official notes through the lens of the mode you actually play.

After installing, visit settings and a test lobby before your next serious session. Save your old controller layout if you are experimenting, check host options with a friend, and keep the official patch page nearby for exceptions. Update 43.2 is most useful when its new choices are tested calmly before a match depends on them.

SOURCES & FURTHER READING

CHECK THE ORIGINALS.

Facts and update details above are based on these official sources. Details can change as the game is updated.

TAGSPUBG BattlegroundsUpdate 43.2Console ControlsCustom MatchPatch Notes