From the moment you spawn on PUBG’s iconic Erangel map, Stalber’s peak is visible in the distance. You may find yourself on a tiny island, dodging punches from players in dinosaur costumes or avoiding being run over by a McLaren. You might even make a beeline for the plane wreckage to pull off a specific jump. Everyone has their unique ritual on this battle royale island.
A map that defines a generation
As the game begins, you share a plane with 99 others, all intent on eliminating you. You mark your landing spot, parachute down, rush into the nearest building, and gear up. Even if you’ve been landing at the same spot since PUBG’s Steam Early Access release in March 2017, your experiences in each match will always be different.
Erangel’s charm lies in its familiarity, yet every visit puts you in a new situation. By December 2017, when the Early Access phase ended, and the game hit version 1.0, Erangel already felt like home. 2017 was the year of the battle royale, and PUBG, alongside its rival Fortnite, dominated conversations.
Players had hundreds of matches on Erangel before Christmas 2017. The map remained the only official one until Miramar joined in 2018. Millions googled the best drop locations and debated which spots offered the highest loot potential.
The early days of Erangel
During the first few months of PUBG’s Early Access phase, players shared old wives’ tales about the map. For instance, bridges were rumored to be the deadliest spots, with campers waiting to ambush unsuspecting travelers. However, this psychological cat-and-mouse play eventually led to most players avoiding bridges, making them statistically safer.
Another example was players’ paranoia about open doors in buildings, fearing either looters or ambushers. Decision paralysis could strike, leading to a player’s demise outside the play zone.
Everyone has a special place on Erangel, where they bunkered down during “The Game.” The events of The Game differ for every player, but these spots hold sentimental value. Erangel became more than just a multiplayer map; it was a hangout space for friends.
While Fortnite may have evolved and taken the battle royale concept in new directions, Erangel remains mostly unchanged since its creation six years ago. Despite the world transforming in unimaginable ways and virtual hangouts becoming the norm, Erangel has stood the test of time, with only minor tweaks made over the years. The map holds a special place in players’ hearts and will forever be remembered as a comforting island in the world of gaming.
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