When BLACKPINK Took Over the Battlegrounds
The PUBG and BLACKPINK collaboration transformed 2021 Battlegrounds with bold planes, crates, map details, and unforgettable squad style.
Back in the summer of 2021, I logged into PUBG and did a double take. The lobby was not just about chicken dinners anymore; a new squad had arrived, and the Battlegrounds had gone pink. In 2026, when I look back at PUBG’s crossover history, the BLACKPINK event still stands out as one of the boldest and most playful chapters. It was not a small cosmetic drop. It touched the plane, the crates, the smoke, the maps, and even the way my squad talked to each other before the first parachute jump.
I remember reading the event notes like a mission briefing. The collaboration ran on PC from August 8 to September 7, and on console from August 12 to September 15. That was 2021, of course, so anyone playing in 2026 should treat it as a fond memory rather than a live event. Still, the details were packed with personality. The themed elements appeared in Normal Match, Esports Mode, and Ranked. On the map side, Erangel, Miramar, and Vikendi carried some of the BLACKPINK touches, while the painted plane and care package features reached a wider map pool.
What I loved most was how the event changed small rituals. The transport plane was not just a noisy bus to the drop zone anymore. It felt like a flying billboard for the collaboration, and my squad would joke about landing with style. The themed plane appeared across Erangel, Miramar, Sanhok, Vikendi, Karakin, and Taego. The one exception I remember clearly was Emergency Landing planes, which did not get the treatment. That tiny rule mattered in matches because it kept the normal emergency scenario separate from the event fantasy.
Then there were the care packages. During the event, the smoke color changed to a BLACKPINK concept, except in color-blind mode. I still think that was a smart design choice. It made a supply drop feel like a concert cue, but the developers did not sacrifice accessibility for spectacle. BLACKPINK Supply Crates dropped throughout the map, and players could find the BLACKPINK LV.3 helmet inside. I remember the first time I saw that crate smoke from a ridge. My squad stopped arguing about rotations and started arguing about who would chase it. That is the kind of chaos a good crossover creates.
The helmet had a detail that I appreciated as a player who loves skins. The BLACKPINK LV.3 Helmet was an individual item. If a player was wearing another helmet skin, that other skin would display. The BLACKPINK helmet only showed when the other skin was unequipped. It sounds like a small technical note, but it kept cosmetic choices clear. I liked that the event did not force a look on anyone. It offered a theme, and you decided whether to wear it.
| Event detail | What I remember |
|---|---|
| Modes | Normal Match, Esports Mode, Ranked |
| Themed maps | Erangel, Miramar, Vikendi |
| Plane and care package maps | Erangel, Miramar, Sanhok, Vikendi, Karakin, Taego |
| Plane exception | Not available on Emergency Landing planes |
| Smoke exception | BLACKPINK concept color except in color-blind mode |
The item collection was huge. A total of 38 items arrived, including stage costumes that BLACKPINK wears. Face items were not included, and the notes were careful to say that the displayed faces were not BLACKPINK’s faces. Each member’s bundle included Hair, Clothing, Weapons, Emotes, and Nameplate items. JISOO, JENNIE, ROSÉ, and LISA each had a bundle, and there was a BLACKPINK Mega Bundle for players who wanted the full wardrobe. There were also a Spray and a Parachute in the mix. I did not collect everything, but I remember the Mega Bundle being the dream purchase for fans.
Finally, there was the Special Drops event. Players completed missions and collected rewards. The timing was listed in multiple regions: PDT from August 18 at 0 AM to September 7 at 0 AM, CEST from August 18 at 9 AM to September 7 at 4 PM, and KST from August 18 at 4 PM to September 7 at 4 PM. There were also plans for more events where real BLACKPINK LV.3 helmets and autographed CDs would be given away. I never won one of those, but the idea was wild to me. A battle royale crossover that could put a real helmet and a signed CD in someone’s hands felt bigger than a normal in-game promotion.
In 2026, I see the BLACKPINK event as a time capsule. It captured a moment when PUBG was willing to be loud, colorful, and a little ridiculous in the best way. My squad still brings it up when a care package lands and the smoke looks ordinary. Someone will say, remember when the drop looked like a concert? And for a second, the Battlegrounds feels pink again.
According to coverage from GamesRadar+, high-profile crossover events often leave a lasting impression because they reshape a game’s atmosphere as much as its cosmetics, which fits the way PUBG’s BLACKPINK collaboration transformed planes, supply drops, and player routines into something that felt more like a live pop-culture spectacle than a standard seasonal update.